Notts County Ladies v Manchester City Women - FAWSL 1

     It has been over six weeks since Notts County Ladies played a match at their home ground Meadow Lane, and tonight they would been keen to get back to winning ways, get 3 precious points and move away from danger at the wrong end of the FAWSL 1 table. Had started the new season well were one of the early pace setters. Since the break however league form hasn't been good, have picked up just a single point in their last 4 league matches.

   Have been beset by some terrible luck, several key players missing with long term injuries, including captain Sophie Bradley. Some decisions on and off the pitch have gone against them, lost their appeal against the FA's decision to award Bristol Academy the 3 points too. Something I don't agree with, feel all matches should be contested, robs the fans of a game, the club of revenue and of course could cause problems in the future if a similar occurance happens again in the WSL.

   With 7 points after 9 matches Notts County Ladies are 2nd bottom, a victory tonight though would see them move 8 points clear of bottom club Everton. The options on the pitch were limited for manager Rick Passmoor however, as along with the long term injured he was also with out Katie Hoyle and new signing Fiona O'Sullivan and Sophie Walton was suspended after picking up a red last time out.

    Manchester City Women had the opposite start to the season to Notts County Ladies was a difficult beginning to life in the top flight for the new comers. Having gotten that 1st important victory though confidence has slowly built and they have found their feet worked their way up the table and are reasonably comfortable in mid table on 12 points after 9 played. 5 points ahead of Notts County Ladies this represented an opportunity to pull further away and look towards the top half of the table.

   Notts County Ladies starting XI - Carly Telford, Amy Turner, Rachel Corsie (C), Danielle Brogan, Rachel Unitt, Desiree Scott, Katie Holtham, Ashleigh Plumptre, Aileen Whelan, Jess Clarke & Caitlin Friend

   Manchester City Women starting XI - Karen Bardsley, Emma Lipman, Chelsea Nightingale, Paula Radtke, Abbie McManus, Steph Houghton (C), Keira Walsh, Jill Scott, Krystle Johnston, Natasha Flint & Toni Duggan.

     Despite all their injuries Rachel Unitt was finally making her 1st start for the club since signing for them at the start of the season after recovery from a long term injury, also making her home debut was Ashleigh Plumptre, with Notts County lining up in their new kit the traditional black and white of the men's club.

    For Manchester City lined up in their sky blue kit, the notable change was captain Steph Houghton taking up a midfield role instead of her usual place in the back line as the home side kicked off the match.

    Notts County have an early corner a chance to deliver a set piece into the box, the ball is played out to Ashleigh Plumptre on the edge of the box she heads it back into the centre Manchester City are quick to clear their lines and the offside flag is raised.

   Both Jess Clarke for Notts County and Natasha Flint for Manchester City have half chances as their respective teams look to counter attack. Clarke's chance is a stinging strike from the corner of the box that is blocked by Manchester City's german defender Paula Radtke leaving her on the ground needing treatment.

     Notts County are looking to get Clarke on the ball use her pace to trouble the Manchester City defence, the ball is played out to her wide on the left, she puts a good cross into the box comes to Aileen Whelan who heads over from the six yard line.

    Manchester City win a free kick 30 yards out as Rachel Corsie brings down Flint, the set piece goes through the crowded box and out for a goal kick.

   Jess Clarke is causing all sorts of problems winning a corner for Notts County the ball comes back out to taker Caitlin Friend, the Australian puts a good cross back in but can't pick anyone out. Whelan steals the ball from the Manchester City defence runs towards goal but inside the box is outnumbered and crowded off the ball.

    Plumptre has a shot from outside the box following a spell of good build up play the effort though is straight at Manchester City goalkeeper Karen Bardsley and she makes the save. The visitors break quickly getting both the ball a numbers forwards quickly, the ball comes to Krystle Johnston who has a volley from outside the box it is wide and place resumes with a goal kick.

    Flint passes the ball the Johnston out wide right, her cross into the box can't quite find Toni Duggan arriving in the centre. Duggan has a chance a few moments later as a miscued defensive header lands at her feet inside the box, but she blasts wide.

   Canadian international Desiree Scott is winning alot of tackles in the middle then looking to attack with the ball pick out a team mate, puts a good pass out to the left for Clarke to chase she wins a corner, and from the delivery Plumptre heads wide.

   Manchester City claim a hand ball as Steph Houghton heads a ball down into the Notts County box, but the referee waves play on.

   Bardsley is called into action from another Notts County corner this one coming to Rachel Corsie who headers the ball goalwards, as Manchester City look to clear Clarke steals the ball back and shoots early putting her attempt wide.

   The last chance of the half falls to Flint as she pulls the trigger from 25 yards to the left of Carly Telford's goal, she makes a great save however at full stretch to put it wide for a corner.

                    Half-time Notts County Ladies 0-0 Manchester City Women

    Notts County with the better of the attacking moves in the 1st half have created more, as Manchester City have struggled to deal with the pace and movement of Jess Clarke in particular. To that end the visitors make a change at the break bringing on New Zealand midfielder Betsy Hassett for Chelsea Nightingale, that see's Steph Houghton returning to the centre of the defence.

    It's Manchester who kick off the half and it's not long before they have a corner the ball coming into the box is half cleared comes out to Keira Walsh, who shoots putting the ball over. Manchester City are being allowed more time on the ball a good move that see's the ball move across the pitch in Notts County's final third, coming to Duggan her shot is blocked by Corsie.

   A loose pass from the back see's Clarke bearing down on Bardsley's goal, good tackling from Radtke as she wins the ball back before Clarke can shoot. Referee Lisa Rashid's decisions are not pleasing the home crowd.

     With Hassett in midfield Manchester City seem to be enjoying the better of the possession 2nd half, Flint blasts the ball over the bar from 25 yards out.

   Just when it looked like the visitors were getting on top of the match Notts County have a goal out of nothing. A direct ball played over the top Clarke is giving chase. So to is Bardsley as she rushes off her line, goes to strike the ball, looking for the moon, instead she smashes it straight against the on rushing Clarke, the ball looping up and rolling towards goal. Bardsley desperately tries to stop the ball going over the line can't bring down Clarke as she sees it over the line 1-0.

   The lead doesn't last long however as Clarke at the other end gives away a corner, the delivery comes in despite the protests from the home fans that the ball wasn't inside the corner spot, there is a bit of pinball on the six yard line Notts County can't clear the bar it comes out to the waiting Duggan and she strikes to make the scores 1-1.

   Whelan and Clarke break on the attack coming into the box from the left Whelan over runs the ball deflected off a defender the ball is there to be struck Bardsley tries to but fails to collect, as Clarke shoots, but two Manchester City defenders are their to clear the ball off the line.

   Substitutions are made as 1st Manchester City bring on Isobel Christiansen for Keira Walsh, then Notts County make a double change with Laura-Jayne O'Neill and Emily Roberts coming on for Ashleigh Plumptre and Caitlin Friend. See's a change in position on the left with O'Neill going into the left back berth and Rachel Unitt pushed further forwards.

   On the attack a good one two sees Duggan enter the box, cuts back to beat her marker and make room for a shot looking to put the ball across Telford the goalkeeper dives to push it wide of her goal.
Winning the ball back Hassett starts another attacking move for Manchester City the ball played out to Johnston wide right she puts the ball in Duggan looks to flick it on Notts County clear it but only as far as Abbie Mcmanus who has rushed forwards her shot is blocked.

    Whelan is brought down as she tries to break through the Manchester City defence on the edge of the box, no free kick is given though. At the other end the England trio of Duggan, Scott and Houghton combine well as Houghton having surged forwards with the ball looks to open her body up and curl her shot goalwards from outside the box gets too much on it and the ball goes over the bar.

    McManus picks up a yellow card for a cynical foul on Clarke as Notts County look to break out of their box to get a counter going. Notts County do get the ball forwards eventually with Desiree Scott out on the left putting in a cross that lands on the roof of the net.

   Jill Scott is then allowed to travel half the length of the pitch unchallenged down the left channel making it into the box Corsie is there to block the ball. Into injury time Hassett plays the ball into Duggan inside the box, Danielle Brogan is there to make a great tackle to deny her a shot. It's late pressure from the visitors, the final whistle is blown though and the match ends 1-1.

   A point a piece sees neither side move up the FAWSL table, Notts County edged it in the 1st half, Manchester City had the better of the 2nd. Next up for both is a Continental Cup semi-final on Sunday 7th Sept 2pm ko with Notts County travelling to Arsenal Ladies and Manchester City hosting Chelsea Ladies at Hyde FC. Best of luck to all teams.