The new season of the FAWSL is finally here and promises to be one of the most exciting and perhaps unpredictable yet with so much transfer activity and change within clubs. New teams and new venues, a new second tier as well, plenty of quality football to look forwards to over the coming summer. Where to start? Well okay we had a game on Monday the curtain raiser setting off the new FAWSL 2 between Oxford United WFC & London Bees if you don't know what happened there you'll find a report further down the page. Tonight the FAWSL 1 campaign got underway and I went along to see Notts County Ladies make their bow at home in the league to the long time powerhouse of the women's game Arsenal Ladies.
New season equals new beginnings and all that. Notts County Ladies as we all know is the rebranding of former FAWSL side Lincoln Ladies. This team is far removed from that now you can count the number of players left from the old squad that started the 2013 campaign on one hand. The club has been one of the most active in the transfer market bringing in 10 new faces and some quality and experience too, certainly a competive squad to compete in the league. Going full time and moving counties to attract a bigger crowd and to be affiliated with the men's club one of the oldest in the country and play their home matches at the Meadow Lane stadium it is a new era in women's football.
Likewise their opponents Arsenal Ladies had seen a lot of comings and goings over the winter something the club nor it's fans were used too, at least the going part. The club having lost the title to Liverpool Ladies last season are it's fair to say in a period of transistion. Manager Shelley Kerr has brought in a number of experienced internationals such as Casey Stoney, Siobhan Chamberlain, Anouk Hoogendijk and the japanese stars Shinubo Ohno and Yukari Kinga. Meeting in the 1st game of the season it would be an interesting match up a close call very tough to predict.
My 1st trip to Meadow Lane it is an impressive stadium very well laid out with top notch facilities albeit an unimpressive cheeseburger. Plenty of people around it was clear a good sized crowd was building and good to see for a game in the top tier of women's football, taking our seats in the stand running along the pitch behind the dugouts the weather a perfect for a game of football, the pitch a little worn and bare, but then it has seen alot of action already this year and looked to be in good nick as Arsenal in their traditional red and white kit got the game under way Notts County Ladies lining up in their purple and yellow strip.
The home side had England striker Ellen White out injured and lined up with speedy forward Jess Clarke up top with Dunia Susi & Courtney Sweetman-Kirk in support, a midfield three of Katie Holtham, Katie Hoyle and Desiree Scott, with a back four, right to left of Sophie Walton, Sophie Bradley, Rachel Corsie & Amy Turner with Carly Telford in goal.
For Arsenal in was a similiar formation to start with Danielle Carter up top supported by Rachel Yankey and Shinubo Ohno, Kelly Smith, Christine Murray & Yukara Kinga operating in midfield with a back four of Alex Scott, Leah Williamson, Casey Stoney & Emma Mitchell, with Emma Byrne preferred in goal.
It was Arsenal's Danielle Carter with the 1st shot towards goal, the strike off target. The home side were soon on the attack with Dunia Susi showing a good turn of pace looking to support Jess Clarke almost plays her in but play is pulled back by the linesmans flag. Susi reaches the by line soon after puts a good cross in Byrne is well placed to collect. A break then from an Arsenal corner see's Jess Clarke in on goal being closed down she gets a shot away but drags it wide of the goal.
Notts County were forced to make an early change as New Zealander Katie Hoyle has to come off replaced by her fellow countrywoman Anna Green she goes to left back as Amy Turner switches to right back and Sophie Walton moves into the midfield. Anna Green makes a good run down her flank and whips in a good cross towards the edge of the penalty box jumping for it Katie Holtham is leaning back and cannot get enough power in her goal bound effort to trouble Byrne.
Good pressure from the home side the pace of the game is frantic the ball spending very little time in midfield. Notts County in particular trying to play the ball to Susi or Clarke as soon as possesion is won, very direct but very effective when your attack has so much pace means Arsenal have no time to build an attack of their own from the back if they know the ball is coming back at them. Jess Clarke has a sighter on goal time to turn and unleash a shot from outside the box as Alex Scott attempts to close her down the effort curling goes wide.
Soon after Clarke with a couple of sharp moves of the ball beats her marker and has another go from long range this one going behind too. At the other end Kelly Smith has the ball inside the Notts County box slides it across to the running Alex Scott she attempts a back heel that very nearly plays in Shinubo Ohno.
The home side take the lead then Jess Clarke is fed the ball backs up then turns driving into the box even as Casey Stoney is trying to stop her she gets a shot away and the ball finds the back of the net 1-0. Notts County are on top winning the ball particulary from Arsenal's midfield. Kelly Smith working higher up the pitch to look for an opening pounces on a lose ball from Sophie Walton outside the box the effort sails over the bar.
Half-time Notts County Ladies 1-0 Arsenal Ladies
Notts County get the 2nd half underway as the floodlights take full effect and the crowd continue their good form the attendence 1,583 which is a fantastic achievement, making for great atomosphere and what you want to see at this the top level of the women's game.
Arsenal Ladies started the half better however. Arsenal defender Leah Williamson with a good header from a corner that brings a top draw save out of Carly Telford. Notts County still look dangerous on the break Clarke's pace causing Arsenal's defence real problems winning a corner the ball is lifted in dangerously Bryne needing to snatch it out of the air as it threatens to creep under the cross bar.
Arsenal make a change then bringing on Freda Ayisi for Christine Murray which see's Shinubo Ohno take a more central midfield role as Ayisi looks to support Carter and in turn put some pressure on the Notts back line stop them feeding the ball forwards. A good spell of keep ball around the home sides penalty box brings about an equalising goal the ball floated in is headed out of the six yard box falls however to Arsenal's Alex Scott who meets the dropping ball sweetly to send it home. 1-1.
Alex Scott makes a good run is finding some space with Ayisi occupying the Notts County defenders makes a good cross Danielle Carter has a shot which is blocked as Kelly Smith smashes the rebound over the bar. Ayisi herself has a driving run at goal the shot unleased rising over. Arsenal have a golden opportunity to take the lead then as one of their players is tugged back by Sophie Bradley inside the D. Kelly Smith lines up the effort it smashes hard into the crossbar bounces down and Notts County smuggle the ball clear.
Emma Mitchell has to come off with an injury her replacement Anouk Hoogendijk moving into centre back alongside Casey Stoney was Leah Williamson comes to left back. Courtney Sweetman -Kirk comes off to be replaced by Australian Cailtlyn Friend.
Susi is now the furthest player forwards and looking to run at her marker when she receives the ball is through on goal Alex Scott in pursuit as Byrne rushes out makes a last ditch tackle wins the ball as Susi is taken down the home crowd screaming for a penalty the referee waves play on. Notts County have to bring off Anna Green in the closing stages her replacement Laura Jane O'Neil.
Susi with the ball runs across the penalty box turns and gets a shot away her effort curling has too much to do as Byrne plucks it out of the air. Notts County are looking to have settled for the point with only Susi up top she is a threat with the ball but lacking support has to fashion her own chances puts an inviting cross along the six yard line no one gambling the ball rolls out for a throw. The last chance is once more Susi's managing to beat everyone challenging her she unleashes a shot as she falls lacking power Byrne gathers.
Full-time Notts County Ladies 1-1 Arsenal Ladies
A good opening game Notts County will probably be the happier but both teams will be relieved to have a point on the board. A good workout a nice opening game to watch looking forwards to plenty more this season.
A fan of the sport doing my small part to help promote the women's game
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