Match Report - Arsenal Ladies v Birmingham City Ladies FAWSL 1

    It has been an interesting start to the WSL season with some unpredictable results that has seen a very tight league table with no teams breaking away from the pack. Tonight saw 2 midweek fixtures taking place, Manchester City Women v Everton Ladies & Arsenal Ladies v Birmingham City Ladies. It is to the latter I travelled along to watch.

    Taking place at Borehamwood, the home of Arsenal Ladies this is actually the 4th time the 2 teams have faced each other this season with Birmingham City Ladies beating Arsenal Ladies twice over 2 legs of their European Champions League quarter final, and Arsenal getting some small measure of revenge by knocking Birmingham out of the Women's FA Cup at the quarter final stage.

    This though was the 1st league meeting between the teams, with their European commitments they are both a game behind their rivals having played 2 a piece. Birmingham have started with a draw and a victory to sit in mid-table whereas Arsenal have started with a draw and a defeat which see's them in the rather unfamiliar position at the foot of the table, a victory over Birmingham would see them move level onto 4pts with the midlands team. For Birmingham however this represented a chance to go top of the early league table with a win.

     Arsenal Ladies starting XI - Emma Byrne, Alex Scott, Leah Williamson, Casey Stoney, Emma Mitchell, Jade Bailey, Yukari Kinga, Kelly Smith (C), Shinubo Ohno, Freda Ayisi & Danielle Carter

    Birmingham City Ladies starting XI - Becky Spencer, Chelsea Weston, Aoife Mannion, Kerys Harrop, Jess Carter, Jo Potter, Jade Moore, Remi Allen, Melissa Lawley, Karen Carney (C) & Kirsty Linnett

   Taking up a position in the new stand a Borehamwood a nice modern construct, it's nice to see the stadium looking complete rather that the boarding that cordened off one side of the ground for most of last season. The weather bright a little cool after the mini warm spell, it was Arsenal Ladies in their red and white kit to get the match under way against Birmingham lined up in all blue.

     The early exchanges were fairly non eventful the ball going long from both sides as they looked to test each others formation out. Both more or less a 4-3-3 with Karen Carney & Melissa Lawley looking to support striker Kirsty Linnett for Birmingham. Freda Ayisi and Shinubo Ohno looking to provide support for Danielle Carter for Arsenal.

    On the left for Arsenal full back Emma Mitchell was looking make runs and support Shinubo Ohno whenever she could. It was Arsenal with the 1st effort a Danielle Carter strike from the outside of the box that was put wide of Becky Spencer's goal. Birmingham's Remi Allen was looking to get into the box and be a threat, stole the ball from ex-Lincoln team mate Casey Stoney as she intercepted a Kirsty Linnett cross from the right. The ball comes out to Aoife Mannion 30 yards out, the defender attempts to loft the ball back in it is too close to Emma Byrne and the goalkeeper takes the catch.

    Receiving the ball central Kirsty Linnett holds it up well, makes room to have a shot opening up her body for the strike it is on target from outside the D hasn't the power to beat Byrne as she drops quickly to make the save.

    Birmingham are working hard to press the Arsenal team, not letting them have the time on the ball to get the ball forwards to a team mate. Mitchell though makes a strong run into the left channel fizz's the ball into the box and the feet of Danielle Carter, surrounded by Birmingham defenders she manages to roll the ball out to the waiting Kelly Smith, who has a go from the edge of the box her effort going over the bar.

   Freda Ayisi has the ball at her feet powers her way forwards coming in from the right does well to get a shot away under challenge, it is however wide of the target. End to end stuff, the pace is frantic both teams, perhaps trying too hard to make that final ball happen, when it does come off for Arsenal they are thwarted by the linesmans flag.

   Jade Moore plays in a good ball from the right to team mate Remi Allen at the far post the Birmingham midfielder tries to hook to goal wards, Emma Byrne with a fantastic save to push the ball away.

     At the other end Becky Spencer needs some treatement after getting taken out inside her penalty box as she climbs to claim the ball from a corner kick.

   When play resumes it isn't long before Spencer is needed again as Kelly Smith steals possession from Birmingham, charges towards the penalty box out left unleashes a strike early it has power and height is going in under the bar, but for Spencer who does well to get a glove to it and push it over the cross bar.

                      Half-time Arsenal Ladies 0-0 Birmingham City Ladies

    A high tempo 1st half the ball travelling readily from one penalty box to the other it would be interesting to see if the pace could be maintained in the 2nd half or if it would bring about a mistake.
It was Birmingham to kick off the 2nd half.

   The visitors started the half the brighter keeping possession inside Arsenal's half. After Kirsty Linnett tries to steal the ball out on the left of the pitch the ball is played into Arsenal's penalty box Linnett is giving chase, defender Leah Williamson tries to lay the ball back to her goalkeeper hasn't seen Linnett coming into the box, the pass is short, Linnett is onto it Byrne dives on the edge of her six yard box and gets a glove to the ball, cannot hold onto it, Linnett stays composed and slots the ball into the back of the net 0-1.

    Remi Allen has a goal ruled off for offside after she runs through onto a ball played forwards by Linnett. At the other end another strong run from Freda Ayisi is halted as she closes in on goal full back Chelsea weston with a superb tackle to deny her.

   Allen has a crack at goal from 25 yards or so out the strike rising over the bar. Birmingham have their tales up are working hard causing Arsenal to give the ball away put themselves under pressure.
It's Karen Carney who wins the ball in the centre of the park, she plays it into Allen, who quickly slides it through into the path of Linnett running into the box the striker stabs the ball home to double Birmingham's lead 0-2.

    Arsenal are rattled, need to settle down. The experienced Rachel Yankey comes off the bench to replace Jade Bailey. It does little to slow Birmingham down, they have a free kick on the half way line floated into the box Jade Moore gets her head to it but her effort is sent wide. Allen plays the ball into the box for Moore to chase this time toe to toe with Leah Williamson they collide the referee giving the free kick Arsenal's way.

   Yukari Kinga comes off for Arsenal to be replaced by Christie Murray. Carney delivers a dangerous cross into the box from the left across the six yard line Byrne can't come it's going to the far post and the arriving Jade Moore, Williamson tracking back gets the danger clear.

    The final roll of the dice for Arsenal as Caroline Weir comes on for Freda Ayisi. Rachel Yankey out wide left for Arsenal gets in a good cross, but there is no one there to attack it as Spencer claims at the near post. Arsenal want time on the ball, Birmingham won't let them have it.

    Another good run from Melissa Lawley sees Carney played in she has a great run on goal comes inside the box but Williamson is back to make a good tackle and win a goal kick.

   Closing minutes and Birmingham make a double change taking off Kirsty Linnett & Karen Carney, bringing on Emily Simpkins & Hannah Keryakoplis. Kelly Smith has the final effort on goal a 25 yard drive that Spencer easily claims. Full time and Birmingham City Ladies win by 2 goals to nil.

    The victory sees Birmingham climb to the top of the WSL table on 7pts and leaves Arsenal bottom with a single point from 3 matches played. A strong perfomance from Birmingham to hussle Arsenal all over the pitch have plenty of attacking options.

    In the other match it was Manchester City Women who ran out 2-0 winners over Everton Ladies and sat top of the WSL themselves for 15 minutes now 2nd a point back from Birmingham the table is congested will a team find the form needed to break clear of the pack.. we shall see.