Just my 2nd trip to Fakenham Town Ladies home ground Clipbush Park, this is the 1st time I'd seen the ladies team play there. Had seen their opponents play there a couple of seasons back in the Norfolk County Cup final. Thorpe United Ladies are the Norfolk Women's Division 1 title winners and as defending champions represented a tough opening fixture for Fakenham Town Ladies.
This though was a much changed starting XI for Thorpe United Ladies, than the team that won the league last season, with players departing for new challenges or unavailable. Still had a good number of experienced players to call upon.
Clipbush Park is a decent ground with good facilities a friendly atomosphere, the pitch looked lush and green the weather perfect for the match bright and sunny by not overly hot, with a slight breeze.
Fakenham Town Ladies starting XI - Chantelle Bauer, Kaleige Robb, Roxanne Bailey, Jemma Riches, Nina Batchelor, Vicki Riddiford, Lauren Matthews, Amie Hutchinson, Sam King (C), Natalie Wright & Sain Sands.
subs - Maddie Smith, Jenny Codman & Natalie Merry
Thorpe United Ladies starting XI - Kirsty Andrews, Chelsea Clarke, Ashleigh Shreeve, Alice Ford, Nicole Read, Bethan Sommerfield, Hayley Kindred, Kim Broom, Sophie Jermy, Rebekah Lake (C) & Rachael Wall
sub - Kirsty Kindred
It was Fakenham kitted out in yellow shirts with a black right sleeve, black shorts and yellow socks with black and white banding to kick off the match against Thorpe lined up in thier pink shirts and socks with black shorts.
Was the visitors with the early chance though, Thorpe captain Rebekah Lake on the shoulder of the last defender finds herself clear played in she is through on goal, Fakenham goalkeeper Chantelle Bauer rushes out to try and stop the shot, Lake gets the ball past her, the attempt though lacks the pace to find the back of the net as Bauer recovers rushes back and kicks the ball off the line to safety.
In attack Fakenham make good progress down the right of the pitch through Natalie Wright, winning a corner, she is waiting at the edge of the box for the set piece to come in, hooks the ball goalwards, straight into Thorpe goalkeeper, Kirsty Andrews hands.
The opening exchanges are fairly even Thorpe looking to get runners on the ball from midfield, with Bauer not afraid to charge out of her area to clear the ball. Steady build up play from Fakenham down the left from Nina Batchelor plays the ball into Wright central her shot outside the area is blocked.
Lake fed the ball plays a good pass out to Hayley Kindred making a run down the right wing, she cuts inside closing into the box has a shot, swerving it doesn't trouble Bauer. Fakenham with a free kick inside the Thorpe half the ball is played into the box by Amie Hutchinson is met by captain Sam King who heads down comes out to Batchelor who strikes the ball, in goal Andrews is well positioned to make the save.
Fakenham's Lauren Matthews is played through out on the left, comes inside but slips as she shapes to shoot. The home side are working hard to win the ball in the middle, preventing Thorpe from building any momentum then looking to attack quickly when they have the ball.
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| Thorpe United Ladies captain Rebekah Lake |
When Thorpe do get the ball on the flanks the full backs stick to their tasks well stop the ball coming into Lake in the centre. Give away a corner on the right the ball comes into the box Rachael Wall rises to head the ball down towards goal, Bauer is no where near it however Fakenham have players back on the line to clear.
Fakenham's Vicki Riddiford blazes over from 30 yards out, then Sam King puts wide from 20 yards as Wright wins the ball and plays her in. Thorpe make a change Kirsty Kindred their only sub coming on for Ashleigh Shreeve. A 3rd long range strike comes in towards the Thorpe goal this time Andrews is beaten by the dipping effort from Nina Batchelor after Fakenham work the ball across the Thorpe back line 1-0.
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| Fakenham Town Ladies captain Sam King has a strike on goal |
Thorpe are struggling to retain possession of the ball for long, get it out to Hayley Kindred out left she puts a ball in over the top for Lake to chase Bauer though is quickly out again. Fakenham break Hutchinson bursts forwards from the back sees the run from King tries to play her in, it's Andrews though quickly out of her box to intercept the ball.
Thorpe lose their captain through injury as Lake is looking to make a run get into the box she is taken down by Hutchinson right on the line goes over in a lot of pain, play is delayed for a spell as she receives treatment can't carry on is carried off, later to go to hospital, can only hope the injury isn't too serious and wish her a speedy recovery.
Shreeve back on Thorpe have the free kick, Hutchinson luck not to get booked. Hayley Kindred to deliver puts in a great ball with pace a good height it's Kirsty Kindred coming in can't quite get their as Bauer plucks the ball out of the air.
Fakenham double their lead as half time approaches as the home side wins the ball back from the Thorpe defence the pass is into Wright on the right hand corner of the box she shapes to shoot puts a low effort into the far corner 2-0.
Thorpe have a last chance to pull one goal back before the break Hayley Kindred playing in Wall, Bauer saves at point blank range, then slides in clearing with her feet before anyone can pounce on the loose ball.
Half time Fakenham Town Ladies 2-0 Thorpe United Ladies
A strong 1st half performance from Fakenham had worked hard as a team unit to win the ball and prevent Thorpe getting numbers forwards in attack, would they be able to maintain it 2nd half. Thorpe had alot of work to do and with no subs to call upon it was up to the 11 on the pitch to try and get back into the match as they kicked off the 2nd period.
Start brightly with Wall out on the left winning the ball and looking to drive forwards is eventually crowded off the ball. There are some strong challenges coming in the battle in the middle of the park is hotting up with Thorpe's Alice Ford and Kim Broom looking to win the ball higher up the pitch to spring a Thorpe attack, Broom has a strike from 25 yards out that bouces wide of goal.
Fakenham equally look to counter with Riddiford and Batchelor combining well the latter with a shot a stab goalwards that lacks any pace from the edge of the box. Hayley and Kirsty Kindred link up well as a Thorpe attack builds down the right Hayley playing the ball into Kirsty her looping effort towards goal is over.
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| Thorpe United Ladies Kirsty Kindred |
Ford wins the ball again plays a perfectly weighted pass out to Wall on the left she comes inside is fouled but rides the challenge the advantage played she shoots putting the ball across the goal mouth and wide for a goal kick.
Again possession is won back the ball is played out to Wall runs with it down the left channel launches the ball goalwards and Bauer is beaten to pull one back for the visitors 2-1.
Thorpe are pressing hard for a 2nd goal Wall heads wide frrom a corner. She then turns provider from a break plays a ball into the middle in front of Fakenham's goal outside the box, the home side can't clear the ball as it squirms loose for Hayley Kindred to latch onto, gets the ball out from under her feet and curls a shot goalwards into the top right hand corner to pull the scores level 2-2.
Fakenham have a good chance a great ball played across the pitch from the left comes to Jennifer Codman playing on the shoulder of the last defender, shoots on the run the ball gets too much swerve and goes wide.
Much improved 2nd half from Thorpe, Ford winning the back drives forwards plays the ball into Hayley Kindred inside the box she turns and shoots, Bauer saves.
Fakenham break Batchelor having a go from long range the shot is blocked there are cries for handball, the referee allows play to continue the ball spinning out to Codman wide right her shot fired in is narrowly wide.
Thorpe break Hayley and Kirsty Kindred together win their team a corner, fired towards the crowded near post area Bauer comes but doesn't get the ball as it comes through Kirsty Kindred on the spot to put the ball home with a great finish to give the visitors the lead 2-3.
Down the other end Andrews is called into action saving of Wright as a headed clearance falls to her outside the box. Ford wins another tackle drives forwards and opts to shoot from 25 yards drill the effort wide.
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| Natalie Wright on the attack for Fakenham Town Ladies |
The final whistle blows and Thorpe come back from 2 goals down a half time to win 2-3. A good fightback in the 2nd half to open their campaign with 3 points.
Fakenham will be disappointed to loose the match. It was a strong performance particulary in the 1st half to go 2 goals up against the defending champions and they can use that going forwards into the season.
All in all a fantastic match to watch on the opening day of the Norfolk Women's football season and I am looking forwards to seeing more over the coming months.
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