The league has seen a couple of clubs drop out before the season kicked off and others choosing not to take up a place from the county set up below, leaving just 5 clubs competing, Norwich City Ladies Reserves, Ipswich Wanderers and AFC Sudbury Ladies the other clubs involved this season. Bury Town Ladies are new entrants to the league having come up from the Suffolk Women's County League and have started their league campaign very well having taken maximum points from their 1st opening 5 matches before losing to AFC Sudbury Ladies last time out, lead the table on 15 points from 6 played.
Bar Hill Women are an established side in the division, the Cambridgeshire side have played fewer games than todays opponents in the league having played 4 have won 2 and lost 2, on 6 points however they lay in 2nd place in the table as they travelled across the border to Suffolk to take on the league leaders.
Bury Town Ladies, normally play their home matches at the Ram Meadow Stadium but with the heavy rain over the past few days that had seen a number of postponments this weekend, the game had been switched to the Hardwick Heath Recreation Ground to help preserve the playing surface at Ram Meadow. I had no trouble finding the ground, however finding the teams was a different matter as I introduced myself to a completely different teams manager as there was another match taking place on the pitch next door, and as much as my aim is to cover as many women's football matches as possible... I can't do 2 at the same time.
Anyway once I'd found Bar Hill Women warming up at the opposite end of the pitch I was ready for the match action.
Bury Town Ladies starting XI - Charlotte Osbourne (C), Lisa Pratt, Gemma Carter, Amelia Deuchars, Hayley Turner, Lyndsie Duemmel, Chelsea Panter, Helen Cryer, Katie Shorter, Norma Locker & Laura Brown.
Bar Hill Women starting XI - Laura Bird, Caitlin Alvey, Gemma Clare (C), Katie Sims, Vicky Neal, Lucy Julian, Sam Reid, Sophie Ugur, Hollie Dare, Ellie Sims & Claire Radford.
subs - Natalie Shenton, Amanda Satchell, Helen Slipper, Anna Jephson & Natalie Harman.
A minutes silence was observed before the match in honour of Rememberance Day. Despite the heavy rain overnight the match kicked off under bright sunshine. It was Bury to get the match underway wearing their all blue kit against Bar Hill lined up in white shirts, black shorts and socks. A little bit of a slope upon the pitch running from one goal to the other. Bury start brightly working the ball down the left, winning a throw they work the ball into a crossing position, Lisa Pratt putting the ball into the box, Bar Hill goal keeper Laura Bird is well placed to take the ball.
In the middle of the park Bury's Laura Brown puts in a good tackle to win the ball back, plays the ball forwards into the right channel for Gemma Carter to chase, she drives into the box, is stopped by Bar Hill captain Gemma Clare who defends well to prevent the attacker getting a shot away.
Bar Hill have been pushed back a little in the opening exchanges break with purpose getting the ball moving quickly down the right of the pitch the ball coming out to Claire Radford who crosses early on the run, gets the ball too close to Bury goalkeeper and captain Charlotte Osbourne.
Working the ball well through the middle Bury's Katie Shorter plays in Laura Brown she runs with the ball plays it into the feet of striker Lyndsie Duemmel who holds the ball up well, lays it off for Brown to hit on the run from distance, the shot has too much power, goes high over the crossbar.
GOAL! Bar Hill get the ball up the pitch to striker Sophie Ugur who has made a run into the left channel, keeping the ball close to her feet she jinks past a couple of challenges before shooting from the corner of the area, the shot is blocked, isn't fully cleared comes back out into the middle, is put back into the area where two Bar Hill players have continued forward runs to support Ugur, one is Katie Sims she latches onto the pass and fires it past Osbourne to give the visitors the lead 0-1.
Bury look to get the ball forwards quickly after conceding with Hayley Turner making a determined run down the left hand side of the pitch, has Duemmel in support looks to slide the ball into her run gets too much on the pass and Bird is able to gather.
Bury are working the ball forwards well enough, Bar Hill are giving them space in midfield, are looking to keep their defence tight and make it hard for the home side to find a way through. Shorter combines well with Carter as they look to create something down the right, the ball into the area from Carter looking to pick out the run of Turner hasn't the carry to beat Bird who comes out to claim the ball.
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| Bury Town Ladies Gemma Carter |
Ugur for Bar Hill looks to be a good dribbler of the ball, at her feet she is looking to run at players, find half a yard to go past them and get into a position to shoot or cross the ball coming in from the left looks to put a ball into the box towards the near post Osbourne gathers.
Bar Hill are a threat on the counter attack look to break with numbers and pace, Radford and Ugur link up well on the right, win their team a corner, the ball is with good pace and height into the centre is met by Vicky Neal, her header from 8 yards out goes over the bar.
Bar Hill's Ugur puts another good ball into the box after good work down the left, Bury clear the ball but only as far as Radford in the middle, she sprays the ball back out to the left the shot from distance comes in early a high ball dropping down has Osbourne concerned but jumping to make sure the ball strikes the top of the crossbar and goes out for a goal kick.
Bury's Katie Shorter does well to win the ball back from the Bar Hill midfield, looks to push forwards with the ball into the left channel looks to put a ball back in across the goal, gets it past Bird but no one can get to the ball before it rolls wide of the far post.
Half time - Bury Town Ladies 0-1 Bar Hill Women
A solid 1st half performance from Bar Hill, have defended very well keeping a good shape and worked the ball forwards quickly taking advantage of space on both wings. Took the lead and have restricted Bury's chances. Bury despite being given time on the ball in their own half have found it hard to find an opening in their opponents back line, shots have been restricted to distance with Bird in the Bar Hill goal rarely getting exposed.
Bar Hill kick off the 2nd half, look to go on the offensive straight away with a long strike played forwards into Ellie Sims making the run plenty of support with her she plays an early cross into the box, Ugur ducks out of the way as the ball goes over her into Radford behind she hits it 1st time the shot is blazed over.
Bar Hill have started the 2nd half strongly, at the back Neal wins the ball, passes it out wide left for Radford, running with the ball she looks to cut inside puts a ball into the box, Ellie Sims looks to meet it on the volley slices it wide, the ball is cleared out of the area only out to Katie Sims from 25 yards out her shot back in is into Osbournes gloves.
Playing off the last defender Bar Hill's Hollie Dare forces an error, is past her has Ugur to her left in support passes to her then continues her run, Ugur retruns the pass, Dare has the shot, Osbourne is well positioned the effort doesn't trouble her.
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| Sophie Ugur on the attack for Bar Hill Women |
Bury look to get the ball moving forwards play it out wide to Duemmel, she turns her marker gets the ball into the box, Neal though makes the interception brings the ball away plays it into the middle. The ball is won back by Bury's Norma Locker, head down she makes a strong run towards the penalty box inside the area is closed down by three Bar Hill defenders can't find room for a shot the visitors counter.
A spell of pressure from Bury as they keep the ball in and around the Bar Hill penalty box, win themselves a corner the ball played in at a good height goes through to the far post area is met by Chelsea Panter she heads the ball wide of the post. Not long after Locker wins the ball from a Bar Hill goal kick, puts her shot from distance wide of the goal.
Bury break from the back as Bar Hill's Katie Sims looks to drive forwards with the ball, she is tackled, Bury clear the ball it comes to Shorter, strong on the ball she pushes towards Bar Hill's box beats two challenges before a 3rd deflected the ball wide right, Bury's Carter does all she can to get to it to have a shot on goal, Bird though beats her to it.
Bar Hill's Ugur is taken down making another run on the left, it's Lucy Julian to play the free kick into the danger area, Osbourne misses it as it goes through everyone to strike the far post and Bury clear for a throw.
Bury's Shorter and Locker link up well in the centre with the latter making another strong purposeful run forwards, lays the ball into Shorter who attempts to curl a shot in towards goal from distance, in goal Bird can see it wide. From a throw wide right Brown has a shot at goal the attempt is deflected winning Bury a corner coming in at pace Helen Cryer is there to get onto the ball but sends her attempt wide.
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| Bury Town Ladies Helen Cryer |
Bar Hill make some more changes late on in the game with Ugur and Dare coming off. Reid has time to tee up a long range shot, of target the ball goes wide. The visitors press late on win a corner the ball is headed clear the final whislte blows and Bar Hill win the match 1-0 move onto 9 points retaining 2nd place in the league.
A comfortable win for Bar Hill a good defensive performance, were able to recover quickly when they lost the ball let Bury come onto them a little confident they could deal with the final ball. Attacked with numbers and pace finding space to exploit on the wings.
Bury are still top of the league by 6 points will be disappointed with todays result, never really exposed Bar Hill's defence, their chances restricted to distance never really got a chance to put their keeper under pressure.
Good football from both sides who look to keep the ball on the ground work it forwards progressively and attack will be interesting to see whose in the promotion mix come the end of the season. Thanks to both clubs for their help with the squad details today.
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