Has been a little while since I covered an FAWSL match have to look back to the 3rd September when I watched Notts County Ladies and Manchester City Women play out a 1-1 draw. The venue today was again the Meadow Lane stadium, home of Notts County Ladies, the visitors this time league leaders Chelsea Ladies. A huge game for both sides needing 3pts for opposite reasons.
With the season drawing to an end and games running out Notts County Ladies lay in 7th place in the league table 4 points above bottom of the table Everton Ladies. With just 1 victory in the league all season another now against Chelsea would see them move 7 points clear of the drop zone. Notts County Ladies have had terrible luck with injuries and players being unavailable but tonight have Sophie Walton back after serving a one match ban along with Irish international striker Fiona O'Sullivan returning to the squad. Dunia Susi was also back on the subs bench after a 2 month lay off with injury.
Chelsea Ladies sit top of the table on 23 points 2 clear of 2nd placed Birmingham City Ladies and 4 clear of 3rd placed Liverpool Ladies. With 2nd and 3rd playing tomorrow it was vital Chelsea Ladies capitalise and earn the 3pts to extend their lead at the top and put them in a very strong position with just 2 matches left to play.
It's the business end of the season however and the pressure is on both teams for very different reasons who would come out on top?
Notts County Ladies starting XI - Carly Telford, Sophie Walton, Danielle Brogan, Rachel Corsie (C), Rachel Unitt, Amy Turner, Desiree Scott, Katie Hoyle, Jess Clarke, Aileen Whelan & Fiona O'Sullivan
Chelsea Ladies starting XI - Marie Hourihan, Hannah Blundell, Laura Bassett, Gilly Flaherty, Claire Rafferty, Laura Coombs, Katie Chapman (C), Ji So Yun, Jackie Groenen, Yuki Ogimi & Eniola Aluko
The fixture was moved from it's original Sunday slot back to Saturday a 7:15pm kick off to offer fans who attended the men's game earlier in the afternoon the chance to come and watch the women's team play on the same day. There was drizzle in the air which would make for a slick playing surface as the home side in their black and white striped kit got the match underway against Chelsea lined up in blue.
With Rachel Unitt taking up the left back role and Sophie Walton the right, Amy Turner was pushed further forwards to operate in front of Unitt.
It was down the left that Chelsea mounted the 1st attack good work from Jackie Groenen to win the ball and drive forwards, puts the ball into the box, Notts County head it away but only into the path of the advancing Laura Coombs who strikes it from long range, Carly Telford in the Notts County goal tips the ball over for a corner.
In the middle Eniola Aluko and Yuki Ogimi link up well playing a good one/two on the edge of the D, the latter trying to find the run from midfield from Ji So Yun, Notts County are alert to the danger. Aluko then tries to find a way through from the left receiving the ball from Claire Rafferty, Sophie Walton marks her well not letting her past.
Chelsea look to have exposed the Notts County defence as a ball played through the middle is only deflected into the path of Aluko from the stretching foot of Rachel Corsie, bursting into the box however Aluko can't get the ball round the diving Telford as the keeper claims the ball.
It's all Chelsea in the opening minutes, when Notts County do get the ball up to their attackers, they can't keep possession and Chelsea look to attack with Katie Hoyle and Desiree Scott looking outnumbered in the middle.
Irish international striker Fiona O'Sullivan has the ball at her feet 20 yards from goal sees the run on the left from Amy Turner passes the ball, Turner looking to come inside gets a cross in finds Aileen Whelan but the flag is up for offside, play pulled back as Turner was fouled in the move.
From the set piece wide left Notts County put a good ball into the danger area that Chelsea goalkeeper Marie Hourihan comes for and spills, comes to defender Danielle Brogan on the edge of the box she slips as she goes to shoot however and the chance is gone.
Groenen with another great run down the left fires in a cross trying to find Ogimi running into the middle, too strong the ball goes behind out of play. Aluko then has a chance to put a cross into the box from the right the target once again Ogimi closing in on the near post meets it on the half volley from six yards out, Telford is perfectly placed to make the save from point blank range.
Play is stopped after Rachel Unitt goes down stretching trying to make a tackle, it doesn't look good she can't carry on the stretcher is called for, feel for her has had terrible luck with injuries over the last few years and not been on the pitch no where near as much as she should. Hope it's nothing too serious and wish her a full and speedy recovery. Her replacement Dunia Susi, sees Turner drop back to left back, also gives Notts County manager Rick Passmoor a chance to speak to his attacking players look to see how they can get more of the ball.
Jess Clarke is fouled 40 yards out central to goal, the ball is lofted into the area, Corsie gets her head to it trying to send it goalwards, having peeled of to the far post Clarke attempts to divert the ball past Hourihan as she comes to claims sends her shot narrowly wide of goal.
With Susi on the pitch Notts County have an extra player looking to go forwards, with Jess Clarke they are looking to get the ball into O'Sullivan and Whelen. It's Whelan who is fouled to give Notts County a free kick 20 yards out to the right of the box, the ball is sent into the area at a good height towards the far post, it's Jess Clarke who rises to meet the ball heading into the back of the net 1-0.
The home side have the lead, Chelsea almost find an equaliser straight away, Aluko beating the offside trap is in on goal from the left shoots, Telford is beaten but the ball cannons off the post and Notts County clear.
Half-time Notts County Ladies 1-0 Chelsea Ladies
A strong 1st half performance from Chelsea they had the bulk of the attacking play and possession but couldn't find away through a hard working and determined Notts County who came back late in the half to claim the lead, something to hold onto in the 2nd half as Chelsea kick off.
Notts County start the 2nd half strongly pushing the Chelsea defence back, Susi wins a corner off Rafferty. Look to put Hourihan under pressure from the set piece she does well to retain the ball.
Aluko with a driving run down the right fires in a shot to the near post Telford palms the ball away for a corner. Canadian Desiree Scott with good strong defending in her own box gets the corner ball away for Notts County to break, it's Clarke with the driving run that wins the corner.
Hoyle plays the ball in comes to Brogan her shot from inside the box is headed off the line by Rafferty drops down Whelan shoots from close range... side netting.
Different story 2nd half it's Chelsea who can't get on the ball, Scott is operating in front of Hoyle looking to break play up higher up the pitch and is doing a good job.
Chelsea make a change, Rachel Williams coming on to replace Laura Coombs. Not long after Notts County bring off Dunia Susi for Emily Roberts.
Williams with her strength and power wins the ball on the left, plays in an early cross the ball is there and gone before anyone can meet it. At the other end O'Sullivan is through having gotten a yard on her marker, Gilly Flaherty is there on the cover tracking back to put in a good tackle.
Another free kick is given away by Chelsea wide left 25 yards out the delivery headed behind for a corner, Hoyle plays in flighted ball that Corsie meets powering her header wide of the mark.
Notts County have the Chelsea box under seige for a spell a series of long range shots are blocked before O'Sullivan finds the space to curl one through, only to find Hourihan ready and waiting.
Sophie Walton with a careless back pass puts Telford under pressure as she races out from her box to try and reach in before Williams, she can't the Chelsea attacker is in on goal coming in from the left has an open goal to shoot at, takes a fraction too long as the effort is cut out by the diving leg of Amy Turner to keep the ball out and maintain the home sides lead.
So Yun with the space to run into has a shot from 25 yards out that swerves in the air, but poses Telford no trouble. Chelsea make another change bring on Danielle Buet for Jackie Groenen. The visitors are getting frustrated as they chase the game. Put together a great move as Ogimi plays the ball into So Yun, the Korean passes the ball to Williams on the edge of the box and continues her run, Williams out wide right to Buet her smart cross in the ball is met by So Yun but fired over.
Into the last 5 minutes the game is stretched, with both teams looking to score, Notts County aren't sitting back settling for what they've got, don't need to commit the numbers forward like Chelsea do.
Chelsea have a corner into Ogimi she heads the ball across the goal mouth So Yun has a shot at the far post the attempt is blocked by Walton. Pushing up Chelsea are caught as Scott springs the offside trap, hasn't the legs to beat the defenders racing back to stop her.
Chelsea need a goal even Hourihan comes up as they have a late corner, the ball comes through everyone Turner misses her header the ball falling to the feet of Buet she fires her shot wide.
That's it the final whistle blows and it's Notts County who win 1-0 can claim the 3pts, a huge victory against the league leaders the you can see the team is elated at getting that long elusive 2nd league win, was a strong 2nd half performance and lifts them further from the drop zone.
Chelsea polar opposites hugely disappointed not to pick up anything as the battle at the top of the league is thrown wide open with Birmingham City Ladies and Liverpool Ladies meeting tomorrow the title race is going to the wire.
A fan of the sport doing my small part to help promote the women's game
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