The 18 teams from FAWSL 1 & 2 split into 3 regional groups of 6 only the 3 group winners and the best runner-up would qualify. Most teams had played 3 group games and the different permeatations for quafilying were taking shape. The game I had picked out to go and see after my own break was also the 1st game back from the mid-season break for Notts County Ladies in Group Three. Today they were visiting the group leaders Birmingham City Ladies, also the current leaders of the WSL.
Having played 3 games so far in the Continental Cup, Birmingham City Ladies had a 100% record in the competition having beaten Yeovil Town Ladies, Aston Villa Ladies, and lastly Oxford United Women on Wednesday 2-0. Notts County Ladies were sitting in 3rd place having played 3 as well having beaten Aston Villa Ladies and Oxford United Women, and earning a draw with Bristol Academy. Spliting them were Bristol Academy who played their 4th group match last night beating Aston Villa Ladies 2-1.
| Continental Cup Group Three at the start of the day | |||||||||
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
1
|
Birmingham City Ladies |
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
1
|
5
|
9
|
2
|
Bristol Academy
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
12
|
4
|
8
|
8
|
3
|
Notts County Ladies
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
10
|
1
|
9
|
7
|
4
|
Yeovil Town Ladies
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
5
|
Aston Villa Ladies
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
1
|
11
|
-10
|
0
|
6
|
Oxford United Women
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
15
|
-13
|
0
|
A win for Birmingham City Ladies then would see them qualify for the semi-finals and would effectively kill off Notts County Ladies challenge. A win for the visitors however would see them take top spot and have pole position going into the final round of group matches.
It was a warm, sunny day with a few dark clouds at the Autotech Stadium in Solihull home of Birmingham City Ladies.
Birmingham City Ladies starting XI - Becky Spencer, Chelsea Weston, Kerys Harrop, Aoife Mannion, Jess Carter, Jo Potter, Jade Moore, Remi Allen, Emily Westwood, Karen Carney (C) & Hannah Keryakoplis.
Notts County Ladies starting XI - Carly Telford, Amy Turner, Sophie Bradley (C), Rachel Corsie, Danielle Brogan, Desiree Scott, Katie Hoyle, Sophie Walton, Dunia Susi, Jess Clarke, Aileen Whelan.
Both sides play with a similar formation with four across the back, three in the middle and three in attack. On paper probably two of the most combative midfields in the women's game I was looking forwards to this battle. For Notts County Ladies new signing Australian Danielle Brogan was making her debut at left back. For Birmingham City Ladies Emily Westwood was starting in an advanced role supporting Hannah Keryakoplis.
It was Notts County playing in their purple and yellow kit who kicked off the match, against Birmingham city lined up in blue. It was the visitors who started the brighter penning Birmingham City back in their own half won a succession of corners that came to nothing.
Eventually Birmingham City get a foot hold in the game press Notts County back win a free kick inside their half. Jo Potter has a go from long range puts her effort wide of the mark.
Sophie Walton is looking to push further forwards for Notts County win the ball and is doing well, plays a good ball through the Birmingham City defence for Dunia Susi to run onto, however Becky Spencer is alert to the danger and comes out quickly to gather the ball.
Birmingham City are getting most joy through Karen Carney playing on the right side of the attack making a run she delivers a high cross in from the right that striker Hannah Keryakoplis meets with her head the contact isn't clean and the ball goes high over the bar.
Birmingham City are enjoying spells of prolonged possession but nothing to penatrate Notts County's defensive line in the end Jo Potter takes a shot from long range that goes over.
Few chances in the half both teams are cancelling each other out Notts County working hard to disrupt any build up Birmingham City are trying to make. When Notts County do attack it is usually down the right with, Sophie Walton, Jess Clarke and Aileen Whelan linking up well.
Finding herself on the left Clarke runs with the ball trying to beat Birmingham's, Aoife Mannion who won't let her come inside, Clarke somehow manages to screw the ball back across goal from the byline but no one has gambled on getting into the box.
Dunia Susi has Notts County's best effort in the 1st half a shot from 20 yards that Becky Spencer has to brush over the bar for a corner. Rachel Corsie rises well to head the ball down from the resulting corner, the effort off target Clarke tries to hook it goalwards before Birmingham City scramble it clear.
Carney beats her marker at the other end and gets the ball into the box, it comes out to the advancing Jess Carter, the left back has a shot from the edge of the box the ball screws wide of goal.
Half-time Birmingham City Ladies 0-0 Notts County Ladies
Birmingham City make a change at the start of the 2nd half bringing on Meaghan Sargeant for Jess Carter at left back as they kick off. The opening exchanges are scrappy now real flow to the game a few niggly fouls.
It isn't long before the home side make a second substitution taking off Hannah Keryakoplis and bringing on Melissa Lawley in attack. She has an almost immediate impact as Carney plays the ball through to her on the left of Notts County's box, who then lays it back to Jade Moore to past to Jo Potter who has an effort from the edge of the box which lacks the power to trouble Carly Telford in goal.
Birmingham City are pushing Notts County back defending a higher line Carney and Lawley holding the ball up better to allow Remi Allen, Moore and Potter to make more advanced runs.
Notts County make their 1st subsitution bringing on Caitlin Friend for Aileen Whelan.
Rachel Corsie is booked after commiting a foul out on the left. Carney to deliver the free kick she plays a good ball into the the far post, Lawley does well to get something on it to deflect it goalwards Carly Telford is there though to smother the ball.
2nd sub for Notts County sees a switch of personal as Danielle Brogan comes of for Emily Roberts with Sophie Walton moving into the back line.
It's Birmingham City who continue to press Jade Moore heading over from a Carney cross. Walton fouls Westwood, Potter delivers a dangerous free kick into the box from 30 yards out, the visitors battling hard to win the ball get it away.
Then out of nothing Notts County have a break it's 2 v 1, Jess Clarke is free through on goal, Becky Spencer comes out to stop her, but it's a goal as Clarke lofts it over her and into the back of the net 0-1.
The fouls are coming more frequently now, not bad spirited, more disruptive. Moore is fouled 20 yards out, Carney takes puts the effort wide of the mark.
Not much time left Birmingham City have to gamble extra players forwards to try and peg the scores back. Emily Roberts is booked for a foul the ball delivered in his hooked over by Kerys Harrop.
Notts County are working hard to win the ball as the game goes into injury time. Winning the ball centrally Canadian Desiree Scott makes a powerful drive towards the Birmingham City box is brought down just outside. It's Rachel Corsie to take, a well worked free kick the ball is drilled low and hard and into the back of the net 0-2 and no way back for Birmingham City as the final whistle blows and Notts County claim the 3pts and top spot in Group Three. A hard working effort from Notts County Ladies to earn the win, Birmingham City Ladies will be disappointed to have conceded so late on and lose their 100% record in the Conitnental Cup.
| Continental Cup Group Three at the end of the day | |||||||||
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
1
|
Notts County Ladies |
4
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
12
|
1
|
11
|
10
|
2
|
Birmingham City
Ladies
|
4
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
6
|
3
|
3
|
9
|
3
|
Bristol Academy
|
4
|
2
|
2
|
0
|
12
|
4
|
8
|
8
|
4
|
Yeovil Town Ladies
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
7
|
5
|
Aston Villa Ladies
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
1
|
11
|
-10
|
0
|
6
|
Oxford United Women
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
2
|
17
|
-15
|
0
|
One more round of matches left next weekend as Notts County Ladies travel to Yeovil Town Ladies, (that's were I shall be too.) Aston Villa host Oxford United Women, and Brimingham City Ladies host Bristol Academy. Notts County Ladies win and they make the semi-finals, a draw or defeat the permeatations are numerous, let's just say there's still plenty to play for and watch the drama unfold.
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