On all my travels around the country watching the game I've been asked on several occasions if Kings Lynn has a women's football team.. well now they do. A good thing too, Norfolk's 2nd largest town and a large catchment area to tap into aswell with little women's football being established in the North West of the county. This will be just the teams 3rd competitive match together, they have started the season brightly though opening their campaign with an 11-0 victory over Sprowston Ladies reserves at home followed by an away victory at Morley Ladies last time out.
With teams dropping out of the Norfolk Women's Division One towards the tailend of last season, this season saw the top four teams in Division Two getting promoted. With that and a host of new clubs entering Division Two this season looking to pick a favourite for the title and promotion was tricky. One team stood out and that is today's visitors Brandon Town Ladies, have come over to the Norfolk league set up this season having played in the Suffolk leagues before.
On the border between the two counties the club finished 2nd behind Bury Town Ladies last season and taking a place in Norfolk Women's Division Two looked a strong and good footballing outfit when I saw them play a pre-season friendly against Thorpe United Ladies a month ago. Have played just the one league game before today a 6-0 home win against new side Kirkley & Pakefield FC Ladies.
The venue West Lynn Social Club with a bar and clubhouse beside the playing area on the banks of the Great Ouse. Good facilities pitch looked good little bumpy but no more than you would expect from a recreation ground. The weather was bright enough a cool breeze with dark clouds over head that threatened to give everyone a drenching but never came to pass.
Lynn Ladies kitted out in a purple coloured kit and Brandon Town Ladies kitted out in yellow shirts with blue trim, blue shorts and yellow socks with blue and white banding everyone was set for the match... well almost everyone as the referee appointed by the league had failed to show up.. had imformed the league they just hadn't informed the teams, luckily a replacement was on hand to step into the breach and the match was on.
Lynn Ladies starting XI - Bryony Russell-Smith, Kirsty Scott, Katie Garner, Chloe Burch (C), Bethan Jones, Natalie Bunton, Emma Woods, Winona Lee, Josie Turner, Shelley Woods & Jodie Hopkins-Duckhouse.
subs - Ellen Groves, Lisa Wilson & Lyndsey Churchyard.
Brandon Town Ladies starting XI - Geogie Bryant, Ellie Marshall, Melanie Talbot, Laura Grove, Rachel Lynch, Hazel Shepperd, Georgie O'Malley, Frankie Torrance, Tiffany Forshaw (C), Shanice Burch & Laura Brame.
subs - Natasha Rutter & Brooke Wickens.
Lynn Ladies had a few players out through injury, including their goalkeeper who suffered a nasty knee injury last time out so this was a debut for Bryony Russell-Smith in goal. She is soon called into action Brandon kicking the match off mount an attack down the left the ball is played through to Brandon captain and striker Tiffany Forshaw, her shot is fumbled by Russell-Smith but she recovers quickly to pounce on the ball as Forshaw looks to retrieve it to fire back in.
It's the perfect start for the visitors not long after, keeping the ball in and around the Lynn penalty area Brandon's Laura Brame plays the ball into Forshaw who strikes the ball sending it through the crowd and past Russell-Smith into the back of the net 0-1.
Lynn captain Chloe Burch puts in a good tackle to deny Forshaw another run on goal as she looks to run clear of the defence. Getting the ball up the pitch Lynn's Shelley Woods and Jodie Hopkins-Duckhouse combine well on the left wing with the latter putting in a cross towards the far post that Brandon goalkeeper Georgie Bryant claims before Lynn's Josie Turner closing in can get there.
Brandon having started the brighter, the game has settled into a more even rhythm, playing one up top Lynn are looking to their wide players to get on the ball and put crosses into the box, out wide right Winona Lee has a chance putting in a fierce cross that beats Bryant going past her strikes the far post and coming back into play Brandon clear.
Brame and Forshaw look to link up and play each other in whenever they are fed the ball, Brame puts her striker partner in again this time it is Lynn's Katie Garner with the covering tackle to deny her a goal scoring chance.
Lynn's Shelley Woods has a strike on goal receiving the ball from a free kick on the half way line she turns and shoots from the edge of the box straight at Bryant who makes the save.
Brandon's Brame is a constant threat for the visitors looking to drive with the ball at her feet trying to find a way through the Lynn back line, when she does get through though Russell-Smith is quickly off her line to drop on the ball and make the save.
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| Brandon's Laura Brame on the ball |
The ball is moving around the pitch as a furious pace, both sides though are looking for the shorter pass, keep it on the ground when they can. Roll on roll of subs Lynn make a change Ellen Groves coming on for Josie Turner. Shelley Woods is fouled 30 yards from goal the free kick comes in, goes over the bar.
Winona Lee is given a rest for Lynn as Lyndsey Churchyard comes on. Good strength from Ellen Groves to win the ball in the centre pushes out to the right looks she shoot the effort high and off target. Lynn are having more of the ball in the latter stages of the half, Brandon bring on Natasha Rutter for Melanie Talbot.
A late challenge on a Lynn player gives the home side a free kick in the middle the ball played in comes out to Natalie Bunton, looking to drive forwards her shot lacks power and rolls through to Bryant.
Half-time Lynn Ladies 0-1 Brandon Town Ladies
All in all an even 1st half Lynn getting caught cold at the start took a little time to deal with the threat from Brandon's Brame and Forshaw, had for the most part defended well with captain Burch, Garner and Bethan Jones at left back making vital tackles. Brandon too have defended well allowed Lynn space down the flanks confident they had the numbers back to deal with any cross put in.
Lynn kick off the 2nd half with Lee returning to the pitch, once again however it is the visitors who start the stronger a strong run from Forshaw down the right channel puts in a high shot that Russell-Smith plucks down out of the air at her near post.
Soon after Brandon double their lead and it's Forshaw the scorer again as Lynn struggle to get a cross out of their box it is poked out towards Brandon's no 9 waiting on the edge of the box, central to goal being put under challenge she gets her shot away and it finds the back of the net 0-2.
Lynn with a free kick 40 yards from goal to the left the ball comes into the area is flicked on and comes back off the post bouncing across the goal to Lee waiting far post her shot from six yards is blocked and Brandon clear.
Josie Turner comes back on up front for Lynn, good work from Lee as she combines with Jones to put a good cross into the centre Bryant is first to it. In attack for the visitors Natasha Rutter blasts a 30 yard drive wide of goal, then in the middle Frankie Torrance puts in a good tackle to win the ball looks to slot a pass into the run of Brame, she is tackled by Bethan Jones coming round on the cover and the move breaks down.
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| Lynn Ladies Bethan Jones |
Back in her own box to defend a long throw put in by Brandon, Winona Lee blocks two attempts on goal. Lynn then expose the Brandon back line on a counter attack, with a great pass into Hopkins-Duckhouse, she shoots with her left foot on the edge of the box screws her attempt narrowly wide of the top corner.
Another Lynn pass looks to find the run of Hopkins-Duckhouse again is deflected into her path by Brandon's Ellie Marshall. The no 11 has more time but opts to shoot from 20 yards, Bryant setting herself palms the ball away for a corner which Brandon defend.
On the run with the ball to the right of goal Lynn's Josie Turner shoots drags her effort across the goal face and out of play. Lynn are enjoying a good period of pressure finding some joy in and around the Brandon defence. Shelley Woods looking to be strong on the ball keep possession and drive forwards rides a challenge steals into the box and puts in a low cross that Turner can't quite get to.
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| Shelley Woods on the attack for Lynn Ladies |
Lynn bring Groves and Churchyard back on both up front as Lynn look to play 4-4-2 match Brandon late in the game. Shelley Woods strong again in the middle lets fly from 25 yards, Bryant is well placed doesn't trouble her.
For all their pressing looking for a goal Lynn can't find the break through, and as they push forwards Brandon with their 2 goal lead can wait to spring a counter attack, the ball played forwards is won back by Brame she holds it up well see's the run from Forshaw plays her in, on the charge down the right Forshaw shoots a high driving ball that goes over Russell-Smith and into the back of the net sealing her hat-trick as Brandon lead 0-3.
Lynn try to find a consolation goal late on have a shout for hand ball from a corner but nothing is awarded, Brandon break with the ball as the referee blows the final whistle
Full-time Lynn Ladies 0-3 Brandon Town Ladies
A solid performance from Brandon to win the 3pts strong down the centre gave the home side very little space to exploit. Forshaw took her hat-trick well.
Lynn were caught cold at the start of both halves losing a goal, had some good spells of play and had Brandon under pressure as the 2nd half wore on just couldn't pull a goal back.
Two sides I expect will be there or there abouts in the race for the Division Two title over the season I enjoyed my trip to see my local side today and thank both teams for helping me out with the squad details, will no doubt see both play again in the near future.
Kings Lynn the largest town in Norfolk??
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