SWF Blog 50 Match Challenge - The Final Update

   Here it is then the final update to the SWF Blog 50 Match Challenge of 2014, and it's disappointment on one hand as I didn't quite make the 90 matches in the revised Match Challenge after completing the original 50 Match Challenge way back in July. The final tally 88! I say on one hand there's disappointment but truthfully I'm thrilled to have gotten to 88 and it certainly wasn't for lack of trying in the final push that I didn't get to 90.

   Had a potential of 15 matches over the last period between reaching Game #80 and striving for 90 but 7 of those matches were postponed, some due to the weather, one through the opposition failing to get together a team, but the most frustrating thing for not only myself but fans of football and I can include both genders in this is fixtures simply disappearing from the scheduling. Nothing I can do about it have been the victim more than once turn up at a venue and it simply isn't happening. Now I know growing a fanbase is low on most clubs priorities (growing a team is hard enough) especially the lower down the pyramid you go, but lack of information is a pain.

   Not easy I know, I'm trying to keep my own website updated, write a blog, have a full time job, two gerbils to look after etc.. etc. Clubs rely on volenteers and they do a marvellous job I take my hat off to every single one, what we need is more I suppose. No doubt the girls that want to play the game are there in good numbers, is the infrastructure growing with them? Not an easy task at grassroots level resources are pinched. The FAWSL has helped bring the game on no end these past 4 years.

   Have learnt a hell of a lot about the women's game over these 88 matches, especially in the East of the country, have loved covering and watching every single game, have met plenty of wonderful and helpful people too, have never gotten fed up with it either. All 88 of my matches are accompanied with a (usually out of focus) picture from my mobile phone on my twitter feed @GilharrenD with the caption (SWF Blog 50) or 90 Game #

     So where have I been these last 8 matches of 2014:-

            Game #81 - Bury Town Ladies 0-1 Bar Hill Women
                               (ERWFL Division One North) Sun 9th Nov

            Game #82 - Bristol Academy 1-1 Barcelona FC (agg 2-1)
                               (UEFA Women's Champions League Last 16 2nd Leg) Weds 12th Nov

            Game #83 - Cambridge WFC Reserves 2-3 Cambridge University Women
                               (Cambridgeshire S-Tech Women's League Cup) Sun 16th Nov

             Game #84 - England 0-3 Germany
                                (International Friendly) Sun 23rd Nov

             Game #85 - Ipswich Town Ladies 0-9 Cardiff City Ladies
                               (FAWPL League Cup) Sun 30th Nov

             Game #86 - Huntingdon Town Ladies 3-5 Netherton United Ladies
                               (Cambridgeshire Women's Premiership) Sun 7th Dec

             Game #87 - Thorpe United Ladies 1-1 Bungay Town Ladies
                               (Norfolk Women's Division One) Sun 14th Dec

             Game #88 - Cambridge WFC 2-1 Ipswich Town Ladies
                               (FAWPL South East Division One) Sun 21st Dec

   88 women's football matches, thought I'd have a go at picking my top three of 2014.

                  1st - Sunday 19th January - UEA Women 4-3 Fakenham Town Ladies

         This a was classic cup encounter in the Norfolk Ladies Cup. UEA Women in good form and riding high in Norfolk Women's Division One were clear favourites against fellow Division One competitors Fakenham Town Ladies. It was a backs against the wall defensive display in the 1st half UEA Women coming after the Fakenham goal created plenty of chances but at the break had only found the net once. Fakenham came out 2nd half took the game to UEA Women pulled the scores level early on, UEA Women responded regained the lead, Fakenham came back 2-2 it was end to end. UEA Women scored again 3-2, Fakenham on the counter nearly pulled it level for a 3rd time before UEA Women broke and scored a 4th. Fakenham never gave up got it back to 4-3, UEA Women held on to win the match, it was a stand out game of 2014.

             2nd - Sunday 11th May - Chelsea Ladies 3-5 Arsenal Ladies (aet)

    Played on neutral ground at Woking FC this was another fantastic cup match in the semi-finals of the FA Women's Cup against Chelsea Ladies & Arsenal Ladies these were two teams that badly wanted to reach the final, 0-0 though at half time it was Chelsea who would register on the scoresheet 1st looked to be putting Arsenal under some pressure. Arsenal hit back straight away Kelly Smith with the goal. Chelsea's Yuki Ogimi makes it 2-1 before Smith scores a beauty of a goal from long range to make it 2-2 and send the game into extra-time.
    Arsenal start the better with Danielle Carter and Shinubo Ohno scoring to give them a 4-2 lead. Chelsea aren't done though a great solo run from Eniola Aluko see's her pull it back to 3-4. Casey Stoney has the final say for Arsenal heading the ball into the back of the net to seal Arsenal's place in the 2014 FA Women's Cup final which they would go onto win.

            3rd - Saturday 14th June - Scotland Women 1-3 Sweden Women

    Picking a 3rd game wasn't so easy but I've chosen the Women's World Cup qualifying match between Scotland & Sweden played up at Fir Park back in June this year. I do like the Sweden team and have wanted to see them play for a long time, it was also a good opportunity to see the Scottish Women's national team as having watched several of their star players perform consistantly well in the FAWSL they were and still continue to be a rapidly emerging team. Were looking good in qualifying had yet though to face group fasvourites Sweden and the Swede's weren't unestermating Scotland either.
   As it was the visitors scored an early goal through Caroline (please come to the FAWSL) Seger. Scotland's Kim Little pulled the scores level converting a penalty. Sweden though lead at the break with Kosavare Asllani scoring. She goes on to add her 2nd and Sweden's 3rd in the 2nd half proving to be too strong for a spirited Scotland on the day. Was an added highlight to meet Sweden coach Pia Sundhage after the match.

     Some great highlights and I look forwards to many more in 2015 will no doubt be covering women's football matches all over the place and will see you all and some point I'm sure. Thank you to every one that has read my reports and the blog over these past 12 months it has been so encouraging to see it grow. Wishing everyone all the best for 2015. See you at a match soon.