No doubt the players from both clubs in todays match between Bristol Academy and Everton Ladies were keen to get some match action. Bristol Academy haven't played since the 27th July having been forced to postpone their match, to be televised by BT Sport at home to Manchester City Women on the 11th August due to a waterlogged pitch.
Everton Ladies have had to wait even longer to play a match haven't had a fixture since the 20th July with several of their squad taking part in the Women's U20 World Cup. In fact had England's U20s progressed to the latter stages of the tournament in Canada then this fixture too may have been in doubt.
As it was the game was on and I was glad to be making my 1st trip of the season down to the Stoke Gifford Stadium to watch Bristol Academy play having only seen them as the away opponent so far. Hadn't seen too much of Everton Ladies either. Both were looking for points as they had the unenviable position of occupying the bottom 2 positions of the FAWSL 1 league table going into the weekend.
Everton Ladies were bottom with just 2pts from 7 matches played. Bristol Academy had a 5pt cushion having 7pts from 7 played, but depending on the FA's ruling against Notts County Ladies allegedly failing to fulfill a fixture this points tally could increase by 3 depending on the outcome of Notts County Ladies appeal. The FA having initally awarded the 3pts to Bristol Academy. Eitherway Bristol Academy were after the 3pts today to build the gap between themselves and Everton Ladies.
Everton Ladies need every point they can get now, this season the club that finishes bottom of the FAWSL 1 will face relegation. Despite not having won a league match so far this season Everton Ladies are not being hammered week in week out haven't lost a match by more than 2 goals.
I like the Stoke Gifford Stadium even though it is one of the furthest journey's I have to make in the FAWSL, always a great atmosphere. The weather looked threatening black clouds hanging over the stadium looked a good bet we'd be getting damp at some point during the match.
Bristol Academy starting XI - Mary Earps, Grace McCatty, Jemma Rose (C), Jasmine Matthews, Loren Dykes, Natasha Harding, Angharad James, Sophie Ingle, Nicki Watts & Natalia Pablos Sanchon.
Everton Ladies starting XI - Rachel Brown-Finnis, Vicky Jones, Fern Whelan, Lindsey Johnson, Danielle Turner, Alex Greenwood, Michelle Hinnigan (C), Brooke Chaplen, Kelly Jones, Nikita Parris & Simone Magill.
It was the visitors in their kit of blue shirts, white shorts and navy socks to get the match under way against Bristol lining up in their red kit with white trim. The last thing you want to do when you're bottom of the table is concede an early goal.. that however is exactly what Everton did.
After just 3 minutes Bristol are awarded a penalty as one of their players is brought down by Fern Whelan inside the box, a trip it is spanish striker Natalia Pablos Sanchon to step up and take the spot kick, sends Everton keeper Rachel Brown-Finnis the wrong way and slots the ball home 1-0.
Bristol are enjoying possession winning the ball and using the wide positions well, Natasha Harding looking lively down the right, whilst Loren Dykes and Corinne Yorston operating ahead of her down the left are linking up well.
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| Natasha Harding looking to drive forwards with the ball |
Everton's chances are limited can't get the ball up front and make it stick allowing player to get up in support. Alex Greenwood tries her luck from long range in a central position 25 yards out lofts her strike over the crossbar.
Sophie Ingle wins the ball in midfield plays a good through ball into the path of Sanchon pulling out to the left she fires a cross in the ball going behind the rapid running Harding. Soon after Harding has the ball on the right running in tries to pick out Sanchon the cross has too much on it and the ball is cleared.
Brown-Finnis with a poor kick out of her box is latched onto by Sanchon, head down she is closing in for a shooting chance, is foiled by Lindsey Johnson who chases her down and slides in with a tackle to give Bristol a corner.
Bristol double their lead, it's Sanchon again as the corner comes in from the left the ball is headed down by an Everton defender inside the box, drops to Sanchon who reacts instinctively leaning back gets a shot away the ball rifles into the top corner of the net 2-0, just 10 minutes on the clock.
Despite going 2 goals down Everton actually begin to enjoy some sustained possession in the Bristol half, Danielle Turner getting forwards and linking up with Nikita Parris, the ball is fired across the box coming to Kelly Jones out wide right she has a shot the ball blazes over.
Yorston beats the offside trap and has a surge towards goal puts a good cross into the centre looking for the head of Harding as she makes a great supporting run she can't quite get contact with the ball to beat Brown-Finnis who claims well under pressure.
Simone Magill with a good interception outside the Bristol penalty box passes to Brooke Chaplen, she sends it wide right to Kelly Jones who plays in a dangerous cross, Bristol have numbers back to clear the threat.
It's Bristol's turn to steal the ball off an Everton defender, this time it's Harding with the ball drives into the box on the edge of the six yard box she shoots but under challenge from Lindsey Johnson drags the effort wide across goal.
Everton pull a goal back, the scorer Kelly Jones, the build up play good work down the left again between Turner and Parris, the cross comes into the box making a run Kelly Jones fires the ball back across Bristol keeper Mary Earps and into the net, 2-1.
It's end to end stuff, both teams looking to attack wanting more goals. Harding has a go from 20 yards out coming in from the left, a theatrical dive from Brown-Finnis but her goal is safe the shot wide.
Everton win a corner, Earps can't clear the ball, comes back in a 2nd corner is won, then a 3rd the ball coming to Greenwood at the near post she fires into the side netting from close range.
Everton equalize, and what a strike from Brooke Chaplen to pull the scores level, the ball coming to the midfielder 25 yards out she meets it sweetly sending it arrowing over Earps and in to make it 2-2.
Anything Everton can do however... Bristol restore their lead soon after with a wonder strike of their own. Through Nicki Watts as she wins the ball back in midfield has a look up and pulls the trigger maybe seeing Brown-Finnis off her line the Everton keeper back tracks but can't stop the shot going in over her 3-2.
Brown-Finnis is called into action not long after making a great save at the feet of Harding as the Welsh international runs into the six yard box.
An Everton free kick leads to Hinnigan volleying over the bar, a corner is given the ball coming in is played against the cross bar.
Half-time Bristol Academy 3-2 Everton Ladies
A lively and entertaining 1st half full of chances and 2 cracking strikes from Brooke Chaplen and Nicki Watts. Everton coming back into the match after the early set back of conceding 2 goals, Bristol restoring there lead at the end of the half, it was Bristol to kick off the 2nd half.
It's the home side with the early pressure as Watts plays in a cross that Brown-Finnis comes out and claims. A cagey start to the half Everton aren't allowing midfield runners the space to break through centrally, but are conceding possession higher up the pitch. The visitors make an early substitution taking off Simone Magill and bringing on Paige Williams.
Everton have a free kick 35 yards out as Jasmine Matthews fouls Chaplen, it's Everton captain Michelle Hinnigan to take, the ball is flighted into the box, Bristol get it away.
Turns into a break as Bristol move the ball up the pitch quickly Harding is in on goal, Brown-Finnis comes rushing out of her box blocking the shot on the edge of the box, a good save.
Bristol extend there lead not long after, with some good build up play down the right the ball comes to Yorston on the edge of the penalty box coming in from the left under challenge from Whelan she gets a shot away chipping the ball up and over Brown-Finnis and into the back of the net 4-2.
The visitors give away a sloppy corner whilst trying to over play it at the back, Brown-Finnis comes for the ball punches the corner out wide, come to Loren Dykes she plays the ball into Sophie Ingle who has a shot on goal the strike going over the bar from 20 yards out.
Vicky Jones fouls Sanchon out on the left flank, Yorston to deliver the set piece into the box Bristol captain Jemma Rose gets on the end of it her shot is straight at Brown-Finnis who makes the save.
Everton make a 2nd change with Fern Whelan coming off to be replaced by Lucy Whipp which see's Alex Greenwood move into defence as Whipp takes up a forward role as the visitors look to get back into the game.
It's Brown-Finnis that is the keeper called upon though as she comes running out of her box as Grace McCatty finds herself free for a run on goal on the right gets a shot away but it is off target.
Bristol make a change bringing of Angharad James who had played for Wales against England just 2 days earlier, her replacement Frankie Brown.
Brown-Finnis is struggling after that latest move and Everton are forced into using their final substitution to replace their goalkeeper as she cannot continue. England U20 international Megan Walsh comes on.
Hinnigan tries her luck from a long way out having won the ball to the left of the penalty box hasn't the height to trouble Earps and she claims the ball comfortably.
Walsh has barely had time to settle in the Everton goal before she's picking the ball out of the back of the net as Bristol begin a fliud attacking move down the right as Harding wins the ball and plays it out to McCatty, she plays a cross into the box across the six yard line and their is Watts arriving to bundle the ball home to make it 5-2.
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| Bristols Nicki Watts on the attack |
Harding steals the ball of an Everton defenders toes out wide left looks to come inside opts to shoot early, Walsh though is well placed to take the ball.
Harding is substituted having like James played for Wales on Thursday, Gabby Bird coming onto the pitch.
Everton have a free kick the set piece played into the box is headed away by Ingle but only into the feet of Kelly Jones, 20 yards out she has a strike which sails over. Her twin sister Vicky is down after a heavy challenge, looks to be struggling but with all of their subs used, she has to battle on.
Everton have another free kick in a dangerous position central 25 yard out it's Paige Williams to take with her left foot up and over the wall it won't dip in time to trouble Earps as she watches it over.
Williams out wide left plays in a deep cross that comes to Kelly Jones on the opposite flank she plays the ball into the box Lucy Whipp's effort is blocked spinning away for a corner. From the set piece Earps claims well.
Lindsey Johnson almost scores an own goal as she heads a cross from Sanchon onto the post, before Everton scramble it away.
Nikita Parris finds a way through breaking into the box Earps saves as she shots the ball is loose inside the box there is a bit of a scramble as Bristol back in numbers manage to keep the ball out.
Bristol make a final change the last of their Welsh internationals that played on Thursday comes off, Sophie Ingle, Alex Windell coming on for the final minutes.
The last attack is Bristols a fierce cross driven across the six yard box that no one can get on the end of, Everton concede a corner that is cleared, the final whistle blows and Bristol Academy win the match 5-2 to move away from danger and into the comfort zone of mid-table.
A spirited fightback from Everton in the 1st half to pull it back to 2-2 they will be disappointed to have conceded 5 at the other end, stay bottom.
A highly entertaining match with loads of action, 7 goals and several of them good team goals with some great flashes of individual skill.. and the rain managed to stay away too.
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