Not only was it a wet and windy start to the weekend, but high tides too around the east coast. For all that Sunday morning started cool and fresh the game was on. Lowestoft Town Ladies are undefeated with a 100% win record in the Eastern Region Women's Foolball Leagues (ERWFL) Premier Division, but are playing catch up with most of the teams around them partly due to the run they have had so far in this years FA Women's Cup.
Reaching the 2nd round proper of the competition is the furthest they have gotten in recent years. Began in the competitions Preliminary round back on the 7th September beating AFC Sudbury Ladies 1-12, then came through 3 Qualifying rounds beating, Billericay Town Ladies, Wealdstone Ladies and FAWPL South East Division One side, Norwich City Ladies to reach the 1st round proper where they were drawn away to London Corinthians, won the match 2-3 to reach the 2nd round.
I say recent history because a Lowestoft women's team has won the FA Women's Cup, back in 1982, beating Cleveland Spartans 2-0 at Loftus Road. Lowestoft Town FC had brought this winning team back together to make today an extra special occasion for the club and inspire the new generation of women footballers in the town.
Todays opponents Luton Town Ladies would be the biggest test Lowestoft Town Ladies have faced in this competition yet. Had entered the competition at the 3rd Qualifying round stage beating Leighton United Vixens 1-6 before taking on fellow FAWPL South East Division One side Cambridge WFC winning the match 1-0. Are doing well in the league but wouldn't be taking their lower league opponents lightly.
A good crowd was building at the Crown Meadow stadium in Lowestoft, my 1st visit to the stadium (although I'd tried but the weather had won out on previous occasions). A nice stadium set in a built up area but with plenty of room inside the ground, good facilties and a good sized pitch both teams took to the pitch looking for a place in the 3rd round.
Lowestoft Town Ladies starting XI - Amy Bell, Jody Wells, Anna Larkins, Megan Cletheroe, Kate Pasque (C), Jodie Drake, Broghan Scully, Natasha Thomas, Chloe Hoffman, Zoe Cossey & Hannah Waters.
subs - Paige Shorten, Marcie Prettyman, Chloe Pearce, Charnelle Riggall, & Lauren Bullard.
Luton Town Ladies starting XI - Hollie Staples, Hilary Ferroni, Rachel Kosky, Rachel Carter, Michelle Byrne, Nicki Livingstone, Shanice Jiminez (C), Jael Muzzi, Rebecca Kane, Zara Carroll & Natalie Richardson.
subs - Erica Byron, Remi Bains, Rebecca Fhalora & Angelica Kopec.
It's a cool day, bright but with a swirling wind as Lowestoft in their kit of blue shirts, shorts and socks with white trim kick off the tie against Luton lined up in orange shirts, navy shorts and socks. It's the visitors that start the sharper are immediately after Lowestoft pressing them back, Luton's midfielders closing down any attempt to get the ball forwards.
Lowestoft eventually find an out ball play it long out into the right channel for Natasha Thomas to chase down, on the ball she drives towards the area looks to square an early cross along the goal face puts it too close to Luton goalkeeper, Hollie Staples who intercepts the ball. Lowestoft work the ball across the area look to thread the ball past Hilary Ferroni at right back, put striker Hannah Waters in on goal, Ferroni slides and stretching wins the ball pushes it back to her keeper.
A Luton attack breaks down and Lowestoft look to counter down the left side of the pitch the ball comes into Thomas coming into a central position she sends the ball into the area picking out the run of Waters she gets her shot away sends the ball across the goal but wide of the far post.
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| Lowestoft Town Ladies Natasha Thomas on the attack |
It's Lowestoft's turn to press the ball plenty of space to exploit on the large Crown Meadow pitch, Thomas wins her team a corner, played in from the right there is a push outside the box to the right of the goal, the set piece is fired in, Staples throws up her gloves to stop the ball pushes it up onto the bar, it comes down inside the six yard box at the far post the blue shirt that meets it can only deflect the ball back into the middle, Staples is there to claim the ball.
Luton break get the ball out to captain Shanice Jiminez on the right she pushes forwards is hard to shake off the ball, sends the ball into the box it is put behind for a corner, coming in the ball is cleared but only as far as centre circle the ball is put back into the area, Luton's Zara Carroll sprints clear of the Lowestoft back line can't reach the ball before goalkeeper Amy Bell rushes off her line to win it.
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| Luton captain Shanice Jiminez battles with Lowestoft's Zoe Cossey for the ball |
Lowestoft win a free kick close to the halfway line, the ball is put into Waters inside the box she turns her marker and looks to move into a position to strike on goal, Staples comes out to try and save at her feet, she gets the ball past her, is pushed wide of goal her shot is flashed across the face of the goal Luton clear.
GOAL! Lowestoft are starting to get on top in this half, it is Luton however who take the lead capitalising on a defensive error from Lowestoft as the ball is played back to their defence the back pass looking for the keeper has no weight on it at all, Luton's Rebecca Kane is alert and onto it in a flash, she only has the keeper to beat takes it around in on the edge of the box and takes the ball in close to goal sends it into the back of the net 0-1.
Luton have a spring in their step now, start pressing Lowestoft for the ball again, Kane winning the ball has a shot from 30 yards out puts it wide. Jiminez with another strong run down the right plays a good cross into the area, Kane is there to head it on looking for Jael Muzzi coming in behind her, Bell is in between and stretchs to claim the ball.
There are some strong challenges coming in from both sides, the referee is letting most thing's go. Luton are attacking down the left it's Muzzi on the ball pushes into the area slips the ball into Kane to her right, the no 11 pushes the ball forwards looks to get onto it send the ball towards goal, Lowestoft's Jody Wells sticks a foot to win the ball but instead trips Bains the referee points to the penalty spot. It's Luton's Carroll with the spot kick sends it towards goal a good height Bell dives and gets a glove on it makes the save, and Lowestoft bring the ball out.
Lowestoft have a late corner the ball is played across the pitch into midfielder Broghan Scully she hits it from 35 yards out gets it on target but dips too much allowing Staples to bring the ball down into her chest.
Half-time Lowestoft Town Ladies 0-1 Luton Town Ladies
A fast paced 1st half with both sides commited and working hard to close the ball down Lowestoft were getting on top of the match before Luton took advantage of a defensive error to take the lead. Had a penalty to make it 2-0 the save from Bell, keeps the score at just 1-0 with everything to play for in the 2nd half as Luton get it underway.
Lowestoft have made a change at the break bringing on Marcie Prettyman at right back for Jody Wells. It's Prettyman on the ball plays it into the run of Chloe Hoffman in front of her, Thomas is making a run into the area for her, Hoffman looks to thread the pass through the Luton defence doesn't get it past Rachel Carter.
Luton's Jiminez looks to have put in a perfectly good tackle deflecting the ball up into Lowestoft's Zoe Cossey and out for what she thinks is a goal kick, the referee gives it the other way much to Luton's annoyance, corner given. Hoffman plays it into Thomas on the corner of the area she shoots the ball is blocked.
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| Lowestoft Town Ladies Chloe Hoffman |
GOAL! Lowestoft win a free kick centrally 30 yards from goal another decision that infuriates Luton. It's Anna Larkins over the ball. Strikes it perfectly sending it towards goal Staples throws up her hands as the ball smashes against the cross bar and bounces down and out, but it's a goal was over the line and the linesman indicates so, Lowestoft have the equaliser 1-1.
Luton's Natalie Richardson has the ball at her feet pushes into the left channel, looks to come back inside try to find a way through the Lowestoft back line on the edge of the area, captain Kate Pasque puts in the challenge to win the ball. Pasque then gives away a free kick in a position wide right of the area against Kane. The ball is played in high, rising it's Muzzi who meets it, can get enough on her header her attempt goes wide.
Thomas has the ball at her feet wide right as Lowestoft break in numbers she looks to put the ball into Waters inside the box, Luton's Rachel Kosky puts it behind for a corner. The set piece is played out to the edge of the area where Jodie Drake looks to get a shot in flashes her effort across the goal and out for a goal kick.
Luton's Richardson hard to shake off the ball goes on another run looking to come inside and force a way through the lowestoft defence the ball is taken off her feet, comes back out to team mate Nicki Livingstone, she looks to put her foot through the ball too strong the shot is over.
Another challenge goes against Luton's Jiminez her protests do her little good as she goes into the book. The free kick is played into the area a tackle is put in a Lowestoft player is down they are screaming for a penalty nothing is given a break in play as the injured player receives treatment. Luton manager Nikki Baker takes advantage of the pause in play to call her players over and try and get them to calm down.
Lowestoft make another change with Paige Shorten coming onto the pitch for Jodie Drake. Shorten immediately looks to push forwards on the ball drives into the area. It's Carter with the tackle to deny her a shot on goal. Shorten is fouled inside the halfway line, Larkins plays the ball wide to Thomas she holds the ball up and turns looking to put the ball in for Waters making a run towards the penalty spot too long Staples as able to gather.
Lowestoft get caught out commiting too many forwards in attack winning the ball Luton launch a rapid counter attack with Livingstone putting the ball through into the path of Kane she cuts back inside from the right, drills her cross/shot along the goal and wide.
Lowestoft win a corner it is played out to Broghan Scully in a central position she lays it forwards into the box Shorten rises to head it on, Waters looks offside but no flag, as she is closed down by the keeper puts it wide.
Good possession from Lowestoft around the Luton box with Waters laying the ball to into the left channel for Cossey, coming back inside she almost feeds it through for Hoffman to run onto the deflected ball comes out to Thomas who takes it out to the wide right position takes on her marker comes inside puts the ball into the area Luton's Kosky rises to head the ball away.
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| Lowestoft's Zoe Cossey on the ball |
Luton make a change with Kane coming off to be replaced by Erica Byron. She links up well with Livingstone in the middle playing a one two as they close in on the area closed down the shot at goal is high and wild.
GOAL! The match is into the last 10 minutes Lowestoft are pushing Luton hard looking to find another goal numbers forwards Thomas in a central position wins the ball, prods it forwards into Cossey inside the box on the six yard line she can't dig the ball out from under her feet to get the shot away sends it square to Waters on her right, she is pushed wide of the goal, puts the ball back out of the box looking for someone to run onto the ball. It's Scully who is in the right place to strike the ball drills it home from 20 yards a low shot through a crowd Staples sees it too late her dive in vain 2-1. The goal sends the home crowd wild.
Jiminez getting onto the ball is working hard to make something happen for Luton she is forced out to the right manages to get the ball back across the 18 yard line, Richardson hurts herself taking a swing at the ball Lowestoft bodies are back to block. In the closing minutes Kosky is pushed up from the back to try and win the ball. Luton can't find a way through the final whistle blows and it's the ERWFL Premier Division side that progress into Mondays 3rd round draw for the FA Women's Cup where the FAWSL 2 sides enter the competition. Well done Lowestoft Town Ladies
A deserved win for the home side who despite going a goal down in the 1st half came back strongly in the 2nd to score twice as the crowd of over 230 got behind their team and roared them on. Luton will be disappointed, was a frustrating afternoon the refereeing decisions didn't go their way but ultimately they didn't create enough going forwards in the 2nd half.
Thanks to both clubs for their help today. I do love a good cup tie.
UPDATE - Mon 12/01/15
Earlier today the draw for the 3rd round of the FA Women's Cup was made and Lowestoft Town Ladies have received a plum away tie to FAWSL 2 side, Millwall Lionesses. The tie due to be played on the 1st Febuary.
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