Mulbarton Belles are newly promoted this season from Division Two where they emerged as champions after being chased all the way to the title by fellow promoted side Long Stratton Ladies. Have carried that winning habit into this campaign have strengthened their squad by adding a couple of players from reigning Division One champions, Thorpe United Ladies. Have started the season with 3 wins and a draw have 10pts after 4 played.
Alysham F.C. Ladies had a strong 2nd half to last seasons campaign finishing in 3rd with an outside chance of nicking the title themselves on the final day. Had started this season with a defeat but since then have won 3 in a row to move onto 9pts after 4 played and just a point behind Mulbarton Belles as they travelled to Mulberry Park.
Another good sporting facility Mulbarton's Mulberry Park has a good clubhouse and bar, the pitch was in good condition too with a football devouring wood on the far side. The weather was still pleasantly warm and mild, which was a huge contrast to the last time I saw Mulbarton Belles play in the middle of a typhoon at Eastern College on their 3G pitches last season in a County Cup tie with Norwich City Ladies. I did question my determination to find a match that was on that day it has to be said.
Still it was good to get a look at Mulbarton Belles play in the dry against Aylsham F.C. Ladies in what on paper looked a tasty encounter.
Mulbarton Belles starting XI - Laura Watson, Gemma Sanders, Vicky Swann, Fran Self, Mel Sinclair, Amy Coaker, Charlotte Swann, Harriet Rudd (C), Laura Wiseman, Chelsea Pettifer & Sophie Grosse.
subs - Elodie Davies, Lauren King & Stephanie Leek.
Aylsham F.C. Ladies starting XI - Sarah Bird, Victoria Bird (C), Diana England, Alicia Lacey, Aneliese Smith, Felicity Hunton, Debbie Kelly, Abbie Charlton, Lisa Ferdani, Michaela England & Gina Atherton.
subs - Kiera Squires, Leanne Woodward & Emma Gillespie.
It's Mulbarton in their kit of yellow shirts with blue shoulders, blue shorts and yellow socks to kick off the match against Aylsham lined up in orange shirts and socks with blue shorts. The home side are on the attack from the off the ball played out from the middle to Amy Coaker on the right, she has support from her full back Gemma Sanders who receiving the ball looks to put a cross into the box, Aylsham's Aneliese Smith makes the interception clears the ball.
Mulbarton doing the early pressing win a series of corners the set pieces coming in though can't beat Aylsham captain Vicki Bird defending at the near post. When they do get the ball out to the edge of the box Laura Wiseman waiting on the 18 yard line tries to blast the ball through the crowded area takes a deflection spins away for a throw.
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| Mulbarton Belles corner |
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| Mulbarton's Gemma Sanders & Aylsham's Lisa Ferdani race for the ball |
Aylsham make an early change Diana England coming off for Emma Gillespie. Aylsham have a throw on the left half way inside Mulbarton's half taken it comes to Lisa Ferdani, who has a drive at goal from 25 yards out forces Watson to palm it out for a corner.
Coaker with the ball at her feet powers her way forwards coming into the box from the right taking on her marker, gets a shot away it doesn't trouble Aylsham goalkeeper Sarah Bird.
GOAL! Alysham's back line is caught out as they claim for offside as Mulbarton win the ball in the centre and launch it forwards, three yellow shirts are free, it looked a close call still it's Wiseman who is the player to get to the ball, keeps her composure as Sarah Bird comes out off her line to try and put her off passes the ball past her and into the back of the net 1-0.
Rudd lively in the middle of the park is onto a loose Aylsham ball plays a good pass forwards with the outside of her boot, Coaker is onto the pass fires in a cross/shot the ball is blocked and cleared, only out as far a Rudd who has a pop from long range straight into the keeper.
GOAL! Aylsham's Charlton wins her team a corner, the ball is played into the area the referee spots an infringement I think for a hand touching the ball and the penalty kick is awarded. It's Gina Atherton with the spot kick and she makes no mistake sending it to the diving Watson's right to bring the scores level 1-1.
GOAL! No sooner have they equalised, then the visitors take the lead, springing a quick attacking move after Mulbarton's Coaker fires in a ball into the centre Sarah Bird claiming it before Wiseman can get there the keeper launches the ball forwards up to Atherton, the no11 controls the ball well works it to her right and fires in a shot across Watson's goal and into the far corner 1-2.
Rudd rakes a free kick from 40 yards out comes to Coaker on the right she side steps a challenge races into the box close to the by line tries to put the ball across the goal face not enough power Sarah Bird is there to gather. Bird then saves well from Wiseman as she drives into the area with the ball does well to get a shot away as Smith challenges for the ball, Bird closing down is there to make the save.
Half-time Mulbarton Belles 1-2 Aylsham F.C. Ladies
A lively 1st half of good free flowing football from 2 committed sides, Mulbarton had started the brighter of the 2 teams with Harriet Rudd and fellow midifelder Charlotte Swann winning more tackles than not looking then to get Wiseman and Coaker in particular on the ball. Aylsham though had fought their way back into the match won a penalty and then broke well to have the lead, all set up for the 2nd half.
Aylsham get the 2nd period underway have made a change with Debbie Kelly coming off for Leanne Woodward who takes a place in the forward line with Charlton dropping deeper.
It's Mulbarton with the early attacking play Rudd having come out to the left plays the pass over the Aylsham back line for Wiseman, she opts to shoot early, falling though sends the effort wide of goal.
Strong from Aylsham's no10 Michaela England down the right flank runs 30 yards with the ball puts an early cross in towards the centre looking for Woodward and Atherton bisects both as Watson smothers the ball.
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| Aylsham F.C. Ladies Michaela England |
Aylsham are getting more of the ball winning it in the middle and looking to get England in particular on the ball wide right. She puts in a long cross looking for the run from Woodward, despite the striker closing in Watson makes a vital save. Not long after Watson is called into action to claim the ball as once again England is inside the box looking for Woodward again.
Lauren King has come on for Mulbarton out on the left she recieves the pass from Chelsea Pettifer in the centre, looks to run then checks back and shoot from 20 yards puts the ball straight into the keepers gloves.
Aylsham work the ball up from the back with pace centre back Aneliese Smith not afraid to come out with the ball plays in Ferdani, who picks out England inside the box she drags her shot wide of the mark.
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| Aylsham F.C. Ladies Leanne Woodward attempts a shot on goal |
Aylsham have a corner on the right won by Woodward she takes it fires a low cross through a crowded six yard line Mulbarton scramble it out of their box but it comes back to Woodward, she fires it a fierce drive which England manages to get onto but leaning back she fires the ball over from six yards.
Watson is off her line to kick the ball clear as this time it's Alysham and Woodward who beat the offside trap. More good build up from Aylsham with Woodward laying the ball into the run of Ferdani who see's England to her right, puts the ball into her outside the box England brings the ball under control tries a half volley the shot spins wide of goal.
The final whistle blows and Aylsham win the match by 2 goals to 1, to go top of the league. Was a strong 2nd half performance from the visitors won more of the ball in the middle and get attacks going limiting the chances that Mulbarton found all to easy to create in the 1st half. Both teams will provide a good challenge for whoever they play.
Overall it was a great game to watch a good advert for women's football in Norfolk.
I thank both clubs management for helping me out with the team details today.
Thanks for coming and watching. good write up
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