My 2nd trip down to the South West in July to watch Yeovil Town Ladies play again, this time a league encounter in FAWSL 2, the visitors Millwall Lionesses. This also happened to be the 50th women's football match I've attended in 2014 as part of my SWF Blog 50 match challenge to have completed 50 matches before the end of July is great and I can happily say I have loved every minute... (well perhaps not the typhoon at Easton College I endured back in January watching Mulbarton Belles & Norwich City Ladies).
Still today down at Sherbourne Town FC the weather was fantastic bright and sunny. The drive from Norfolk not full of the delays and jams I'd had 1st time around. Then I watched Yeovil Town Ladies take on Notts County Ladies in the Continental Cup, the WSL 1 club running out comfortable 4-0 winners. I wanted to see Yeovil Town Ladies in league action and Millwall Lionesses provided the perfect opponents.
Both sitting comfortable in mid table in the league both would be looking to push on now that the league campaign had resumed with Millwall Lionesses sitting in 4th place on 9 points after 6 matches played, Yeovil Town Ladies were 2 places back on 7 points after 6 played.
With the Continental Cup campaign over Yeovil Town Ladies were able to field their new signings. Sarah Wilshire is one of the most talked about talents in WSL 2 hadn't seen her play when she was at Watford was looking forwards to seeing her make her debut for Yeovil Town Ladies today.
Yeovil Town Ladies starting XI - Beth Howard, Jade Kirby, Rachael Edwards (C), Natalie Haigh, Nicola Cousins, Jade Lorton-Radburn, Helen Bleazard, Stacey Pearson, Ellie Curson, Sarah Wiltshire & Katie Cook.
Millwall Lionesses starting XI - Sarah Quantrill, Naomi Cole, Jade Dempster, Kylie Davies, Frankie Strugnell, Leeta Rutherford, Kim Stenning, Sophie Perry, Snezana Maresevic, Lily Agg & Lillie Billson.
There hasn't been a great deal of rain since my last visit to Sherbourne Town FC the grass on the pitch looked a little dry, but the weather was perfect hot and sunny. It was Millwall in their navy blue and white shirts, navy blue shorts and socks to kick off the match against Yeovil lined up in their white and green striped shirts, white socks and green socks.
The opening exchanges fairly even with the ball travelling up and down the pitch both defences clearing any long ball played in. Yeovil have the 1st real attack after winning a free kick on the half way line, a good run from Ellie Curson is spotted on the right and receiving the ball she breaks into the channel to the by line and puts in a good cross, Kylie Davies is there in defence to make the clearance.
Curson is making some good runs down the right is finding space to run into, has a run at her marker this time beating her she flashes her cross into the box, goes behind everyone this time and Millwall regain the ball.
For Millwall Lily Agg is getting some joy down the right channel herself plays the ball into striker Lillie Billson who has a pop from distance, Yeovil keeper Beth Howard is alert and drops down to make the save inside her six yard box.
Kylie Davies takes a free kick for Millwall plays the ball into Leeta Rutherford who turns her marker well to get a shot away but puts it wide of the goal.
Yeovil are looking dangerous on the break getting bodies forwards with striker Katie Cook and support players Ellie Curson (right) and Sarah Wiltshire (left) offering good support. They look the most likely to score early on.
Yeovil win a free kick out on the left wide of goal 30 yards out players come up from the back the ball is played into the perfect place in front of the six yards line two Yeovil players attack the ball, Millwall keeper Sarah Quantrill can't come for the ball in time and it is a tap in for Nicola Cousins 1-0.
Yeovil are on top soon after Katie Cook has a chance to put a good ball into the box Quantrill catching this time. Sarah Wilshire has a go from 25 yards out but can only find Quantrill's gloves.
In the middle of the park Helen Bleazard is running the show winning the ball, making good runs and picking out her team mates further forwards, gets a pass into Wilshire on the edge of the box, she plays the ball into the feet of Katie Cook she is through on goal but stopped by the offside flag.. close.
Millwall are struggling to make the ball stick up top Lillie Billson is doing her best is a strong powerful players can run with the ball and hold it up but lacks support Yeovil winning it back, the visitors are restricted to deep crosses.
Yeovil break the ball coming to Wiltshire who finds herself on the right hand corner of the Millwall penalty box she tries a curling effort towards goal that produces a quality save from Sarah Quantrill who puts it behind for a corner.
The ball comes through to Wiltshire on the run this time under pressure from her marker breaking into the box she scuffs her shot making it easy for Quantrill to deal with.
A deep cross finds it way over to Billson at the far post the striker does well to take it down and lobs it back towards goal Beth Howard is there to take the catch.
Billson turns provider for Agg this time as she lays the ball back into her path to have a shot from 30 yards out, Howard is behind it all the way.
Bleazard has a shot from the left of the 18 yard box that stings Quantrills hands spins loose in the six yard box, defender Frankie Strugnell is on hand to clear before a Yeovil attacker can take advantage.
Half-time Yeovil Town Ladies 1-0 Millwall Lionesses
A good solid performance from Yeovil in the 1st half created a lot of chances would feel maybe they should have more going into the break. A frustrating half for Millwall finding it difficult to keep the ball their manager would be reminding them there was just 1 goal in it, but to pull the game level they would need to improve.
Yeovil kick off the 2nd half. They have the 1st chance of the half as Bleazard plays in Curson she slides in on Quantrill to try and win the ball as the keeper comes out, Qunatrill isn't fazed and makes the save, neither realising the linesman flag was raised.
Wiltshire has the ball at her feet, twists and turns before shooting her effort blocked. Moments later Wiltshire flashes a cross along the goal face coming in Katie Cook can't get a strong enough touch as a corner is given. Coming in deep Jade Lorton-Radburn heads the ball over.
Millwall make a chance bringing on Chantelle Mackie for Jade Dempster, Mackie goes to right back as Naomi Cole moves into the centre of defence. Millwall are looking sharper in the 2nd half working hard to win the ball earlier from Yeovil with Agg putting in a good shift. The midfielder having another go from long range this time it is wide of goal.
Another run by Wiltshire she drills her shot wide of the post from the edge of the box. Bleazard has a go at goal with similar results.
A 2nd change for Millwall, Stevie Lamb coming on for Snezana Maresevic. Beth Howard is called into action making a fantastic save tipping the ball over for a corner from Lily Agg after the Millwall player wins the ball back off the Yeovil defence.
Yeovil win a free kick right on the edge of the box after Katie Cook is fouled, it is Cook and Bleazard standing over the ball. Bleazard runs up and sends it over the wall and into the back of the net to double Yeovil's lead 2-0.
Millwall make their final change Kim Stenning coming off, Cherelle Albert coming on up front. Frankie Strugnell finding herself in an advanced position has her shot on goal blocked after another piece of possession winning from Agg.
Yeovil make a change 2 changes bringing off Stacey Pearson for Katie Sherwood, and Paige Stewart comes on for Ellie Curson.
Wiltshire with good feet again ends another attacking move by putting the ball over the bar. Soon after Yeovil make their final change bringing on Laura Bray for Katie Cook.
Sophie Perry has a go from long range for Millwall that Howard has to deal with. Paige Stewart plays a great ball into Wiltshire she shoots near post Quantrill makes the save. Natalie Haigh wins the ball in defence and decides to go on a marauding run up the pitch into the left channel she gets a good cross in Wiltshire just can't quite get there to divert the ball goal wards.
The full time whistle blows and Yeovil Town Ladies win 2-0 and take the 3 points moving above Millwall with 10 on the board. Climb a place to 5th as 4th is taken by Watford Ladies who beat Oxford United Women 2-1 away from home.
A good team performance from Yeovil Town Ladies today. A frustrating one for Millwall Lionesses.
My 50th match of 2014 and an enjoyable one too.
A fan of the sport doing my small part to help promote the women's game
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