1st of October and a midweek fixture under the floodlights in the FA Women's Premier League South East Division One between Cambridge WFC & Norwich City LFC. A league meeting between the teams in 4th & 5th place. Cambridge WFC's league form is good they are undefeated since the opening day of the season.
Norwich City LFC travel to Ely City FC on the back of a 15-0 victory away to struggling Ebbsfleet United LFC on Sunday. A quick turn around in the midweek fixtures see's the two clubs meet again in less than a month, Cambridge coming away from Plantation Park with the 3-1 win.
Still very mild for the time of year the weather was great for the match under the lights the pitch was going to be interesting mind because even standing close to the side as I was I struggled to make out the pitch markings, good luck to the linesman with that one.
Cambridge WFC starting XI - Verity Crook, Emma Jenkins, Olivia Abbott, Kayleigh-Anne Burt, Becca Fay, Emily Reed, Laura Bright, Becky Russell, Laura Mills, Hannah Goodchild (C) & Sophie Thompson.
subs - Nicola Geoghan, Liz Pamplin, Laura Baker & Ellie Cullum.
Norwich City LFC starting XI - Nina Scammell, Charlotte Edwards, Victoria Pleavin, Emily Lewin (C), Megan Lewis, Emily Hodson, Jordan Arnoup, Jade Telfer, Ellen Fewkes-Woodrow, Chelsea Garrett & Natasha Snelling.
subs - Jade Nicholson.
It's the home side Cambridge in their kit of sky blue shirts and socks with navy shorts to kick off against Norwich lined up in yellow and green. They start the brighter with Norwich goalkeeper Nina Scammell needing to come quickly out of her area to clear the ball before Cambridge's Becky Russell can get onto the end of a through ball threaded past the visitors back line.
GOAL! It's Norwich though who take the lead with their 1st attack a break from a Cambridge free-kick the ball is launched forwards straight through the middle making the run is Norwich's Chelsea Garrett the past is perfect, no time for the Cambridge defence to react Garrett pulls the trigger from 25 yards out lobbing the ball over Verity Crook in goal and into the back of the net 0-1.
Becky Russell has space to run into on the right wing puts in a good cross to the near post Scammell diving doesn't get the ball it runs past her a Cambridge attacker is closing in gets a shot away under challenge, but Scammell has recovered is up and the ball is straight at her.
On the left flank for Cambridge Laura Mills has the ball at her feet sees the run Russell is making to get into a central position, finds her with the cross jumping for the ball on the edge of the box Russell heads the ball goal wards Scammell is well placed to make the save.
Play is quite spread across the pitch with Cambridge looking to get the ball out to their wide players, whilst Norwich are looking to hit their strikers Garrett and Snelling who are getting good support wide from Ellen Fewkes-Woodrow.
Cambridge put a ball through finding striker Sophie Thompson, she tries to lob Scammell as she comes out to close her down puts the ball wide across the face of goal. Cambridge captain Hannah Goodchild playing behind Thompson is staying close and winning the ball. Goodchild then has a great chance to pull the scores level, Scammell saves at pointblank range inside the box the ball spinning away for a corner, which coming in is met by Laura Bright her attempt is wide.
Natasha Snelling sends a shot wide after Garrett closes down an attempted clearance from Olivia Abbott outside her box the ball dropping to Snelling. At the other end Russell has the ball and plenty of room to run into her marker Megan Lewis sticks with her all the way into the box does enough to take the sting out of Russell's shot, with Scammell dropping on it near post.
Norwich hit the post, as Fewkes-Woodrow coming in from the left unlocks the Cambridge defence comes inside lays the ball into Garrett she meets it sweetly from the edge of the box, Crook doesn't move the ball past her but cannons off the post and the home side get it clear.
Is end to end both sides moving the ball quickly looking to find an opening, both keepers are called into action to make a save from a cross as attackers close in. Norwich break with Snelling on the ball is pushed wide by Abbott who sticks to her and makes the tackle.
Late corner for Cambridge the woodwork is struck again as the set-piece is put in Laura Bright rising for the header inside the box puts the ball onto the cross bar and over.
Half-time Cambridge WFC 0-1 Norwich City LFC
One goal in it at the break both sides were creating chances as the visitors kick off the 2nd half. Cambridge have a free kick 40 yards out that right back Emma Jenkins plays into the penalty area Bright wins the ball looks to turn get her shot away, Norwich have the bodies around her to clear the ball get going on the break. The ball travels through to Snelling, Garrett is making the run to her left her back to goal she looks to thread it through into her path, Crook is alert and off her line quickly to make the save.
GOAL! Winning a throw on the left Cambridge get the ball into Laura Mills on the left wing one on one with her marker she holds the ball up looks to roll her come inside looks for her options 20 yards out the shot is on, hits the ball sweetly sending a looping shot up and over Scammell and into the back of the net to pull the scores level 1-1.
The goal see's an increase in intensity from both sides the ball isn't staying with either for long as they look to get their attackers on it quickly both looking for another goal. Garrett receiving the ball in a wide left position plays a 40 yard pass towards the far post for Snelling to chase, stretching she can only put it behind.
Laura Mills has gone down with an injury, can't carry on is replaced by Ellie Cullum. She has an immediate chance to impress playing a central pass through for Thompson to chase, Scammell comes out and wins the race for the ball kicking clear.
Out wide left Cullum puts a ball across the 18 yard line, Thompson is looking to meet it with a Norwich defender in close tabs she goes down, Cambridge want the foul the referee waves play on.
Good possession play between Garrett, Snelling and Fewkes-Woodrow in front of the Cambridge box they work the ball across looking for an opening, the ball is played out to Megan Lewis making a move forwards has a strike from 30 yards out, the attempt wide.
Cambridge with a double change with left back Becca Fay and captain Hannah Goodchild coming off for Nicola Geoghan and Laura Baker. Baker goes up top with Thompson, with Geoghan slotting into centre back with Kayleigh-Anne Burt going out to left back.
Norwich's Jordan Arnoup has mostly been sitting in front of her back four looking to win the ball back and break up play, winning the ball higher up the pitch she plays a good pass into the run of Fewkes-Woodrow she looks to drive into the box, Burt stays with her does enough to take the sting out of the shot allowing Crook to gather.
Norwich almost give Cambridge a goal after Scammell calls for a low cross towards her near post then misses it the ball ballooning up inside the area falls to Baker, her shot is instinctive stabbing a leg out blazes the chance over from 10 yards.
Scammell gives away an indirect free kick just inside her box as she drops on a ball her defender under pressure is trying to shield back to her, having touched the ball it is a back pass the referee has no option but to blow up. It's Bright with the touch for Baker to shot, strikes it against the on rushing wall and Norwich clear.
Up the other end Garrett has come over to the right hand side of the pitch is played in 20 yards out she leans into the shot it comes in towards goal at pace, Crook makes a fantastic save low at her near post concedes the corner.
Last action of the match is in the Norwich penalty area Russell with the ball on the right gets it into Thompson closing into the area has a shot from a tight angle six yards out, there is a deflection corner given. The set piece is played out to the edge of the area seeking out Bright who has peeled off to receive the ball, tees up the shot blasting the ball back in through the crowded area, can only find Scammell well placed to take the ball.
Full-time and the game ends Cambridge WFC 1-1 Norwich City LFC. Sees Cambridge climb a place into 3rd, Norwich stay 5th a good contest an energized display from both sides a draw probably the fair result, although both sides had good chances to score more goals.
Thanks to both clubs for helping me out with the team details. Norwich have a fortnights rest now before their next league game at home to Denham United Ladies on the 19th October. Cambridge are back in action this Sunday the 5th at home to 2nd placed Crystal Palace Ladies.
A fan of the sport doing my small part to help promote the women's game
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