Let's start by saying, "Wow!"
What a thrilling climax to the FAWSL 1 season we have had today.
At the start of the day with 13 rounds of matches played the title was still undecided along with the European places too as 3 teams remained in contention to become champions, Chelsea Ladies, Birmingham City Ladies & Liverpool Ladies.
FAWSL League Standings
Pos Team Pl W D L F A GD Pts
1 Chelsea Ladies 13 8 2 3 22 14 8 26
2 Birmingham City Ladies 13 7 3 3 18 12 6 24
3 Liverpool Ladies 13 6 5 2 16 10 6 23
Going into the final round of matches it was Chelsea Ladies in pole position to win the title away to Manchester City if they secured victory then the title was theirs no matter what the others did. Draw and Birmingham City Ladies could overhaul them with a 3 goal winning margin at home to Notts County Ladies.
Birmingham City Ladies needed a victory coupled with a Chelsea Ladies defeat to take the title or the 3 goal winning margin if Chelsea Ladies drew.
Liverpool Ladies were the outsiders laying in third have been playing catch up all season. Needed a Chelsea Ladies loss along with a Birmingham City Ladies defeat or draw to retain their crown as champions of the FAWSL.
Match Report - Birmingham City Ladies v Notts County Ladies
Plenty of twists and turns through out the season so no doubt there would be drama on the final day of the FAWSL 1 as I travelled over to Solihull to watch 2nd placed Birmingham City Ladies take on an in form Notts County Ladies team who had won their last three matches in a row and were looking to finish on a high.
A bumper crowd packed the Autotech Stadium on what was another pleasantly warm October day.
Birmingham City Ladies starting XI - Becky Spencer, Chelsea Weston, Aoife Mannion, Kerys Harrop, Jess Carter, Jo Potter, Remi Allen, Abbeyleigh Stringer, Mellissa Lawley, Karen Carney (C) & Kirsty Linnett.
Notts County Ladies starting XI - Carly Telford, Laura Jane O'Neill, Dani Brogan, Rachel Corsie (C), Amy Turner, Sophie Walton, Desiree Scott, Katie Hoyle, Aileen Whelan, Jess Clarke & Fiona O'Sullivan.
It was a nervous start from the home side Birmingham City as they kicked off all in blue against Notts County lined up in their black and white striped kit. The visitors looking to get on the ball and use Aileen Whelan and Jess Clarke out in the wide positions to run at Birmingham City's full backs.
GOAL! The last thing Birmingham needed to do was concede an early goal but that is exactly what they did as attacking down the left channel Whelan wins a corner of Aoife Mannion. The ball is played in across the box at pace and there at the far post is Whelan to meet it with her head sending the ball into the back of the net 0-1.
Birmingham City look to break Potter feeds the ball into Carney central her back to goal 20 yards out holds the ball up well sees the run of Kirsty Linnett to her right plays her in coming into the box Linnett fires the ball back across the box comes to Melissa Lawlay on the 18 yard line her shot is blocked by Laura Jane O'Neill.
Amy Turner sticks a leg out making a vital interception at the back as Birmingham City's right back Chelsea Weston looks to bomb forward. There are some strong challenges coming in from both sides the referee needing to have a word with a couple before Remi Allen goes too far and collects the 1st yellow of the match.
GOAL! Notts County double their lead as they break in numbers put the Birmingham City defence under pressure from the left the cross comes flashing across the box is met by O'Neill whose effort is sent across the goal face, where Irish international striker Fiona O'Sullivan has an easy tap in to make it 0-2.
Birmingham City are trying to counter but with one up top can't make the ball stick, Notts County keeping their full backs occupied manager David Parker makes an early change bringing off Abbeyleigh Stringer and bringing of Hannah Keryakoplis the striker pushing up to play along side Linnett.
GOAL! Pays off almost immediately as Birmingham city pull a goal back. Starts with a strong run from Carney on the left plays the ball into Keryakoplis she drives to the byline inside the box as Notts County keeper Carly Telford comes to stop her, Keryakoplis gets the ball past her into Linnett waiting in the centre six yards out her 1st shot is blocked at close range but the ball spins loose and Linnett puts it away at the 2nd attempt 1-2 game on.
Birmingham City have a great chance to pull the scores level before the break as a penalty is awarded against Notts County's Desiree Scott for handball. It's Carney to take her shot is saved by Telford who pushses it out wide, Carney latches onto it has time to set herself but Telford recovers brilliantly to save again and put the ball behind for a corner.
Half-time Birmingham City Ladies 1-2 Notts County Ladies
It's Notts County to kick off the 2nd half as Birmingham City make a change bringing on Jade Moore for Remi Allen.
GOAL! A lively start from the home side as they look to pull a goal back early on, Linnett has a couple of promising runs before Carney is played in runs forwards lays the ball through for Keryakoplis to chase takes a deflection meaning she is in one on one with Telford slots the ball past her inside the box and the scores are level 2-2.
News is filtering through that Chelsea are 2 goals down against Manchester City, whilst Liverpool have taken the lead at Bristol, another goal here and it's Birmingham who will be champions. Notts County though aren't used to conceding goals and are still in the match as Jess Clarke puts in a great cross from the right, Whelan is coming in to meet it Becky Spencer comes and claims well.
Jade Moore rises at the far post to head a corner ball wide. Carney has a shot from 20 yards out is deflected but straight into Telford' s gloves. Notts County make a change with Dunia Susi coming on for Desiree Scott.
Susi puts a cross in towards Clarke on the edge of the box she hits it 1st time drills the effort wide of the post. Notts County are doing most of the pressing pushing Birmingham City back when they are looking to go forwards themselves. Clarke has a shot 20 yards out low that Spencer drops on to save. Chelsea Weston comes off for Emily Westwood who goes up front.
Notts County cry for handball as Clarke has a shot blocked on the edge of the box the rebound comes out to Sophie Walton who fires her shot over the bar.
When Birmingham City do get the ball forwards and into the box looking for as runner it is often too close to Telford who makes the claim. Fiona O'Sullivan is repleced by Caitlyn Friend as we enter the closing stages of the match Chelsea are still losing, Liverpool are three up as things stand Birmingham City are missing out on Europe finishing 3rd, one goal though and everything changes.
Into added time Birmingham City are trying everything Carney with the break gets the ball out wide right to Linnett she shoots Telford is there again to save at her near post. The final whistle blows and the points are shared the Birmingham City players are floored look absolutely heartbroken as they finish in 3rd place on 25 points.
Notts County finish the season strongly something to build on next season.
Chelsea Ladies starting the day as leaders are defeated 2-1 by Manchester City to finish 2nd which means Liverpool Ladies are champions having been in 3rd place at the start of play to win 3-0 against Bristol Academy take top spot on goal difference and retain their FAWSL title.
Congratulations to Liverpool Ladies of becoming FAWSL 2014 Champions.
Hard for Chelsea Ladies to finish 2nd after such a strong season but they have secured European football so congratulations.
Very hard for Birmingham City Ladies to finish 3rd after so much effort have done so well to maintain a challenge all season. Sure if 3rd had been offered before the season began they'd have taken it and were after all many peoples candidates for relegation.
A thrilling end to the season. I loved every game I've been to, and being a neutral I've still got all my fingernails too.
A fan of the sport doing my small part to help promote the women's game
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