Match Report - Thorpe United Ladies v Fakenham Town Ladies

   The 1st match report of 2015, a brand new year with hopefully as much exciting and competitive women's football as 2014 offered up. No (SWF Blog 50/90) Match Challenge for myself this year will just aim to cover as many women's football matches as I can throughout the year although I'll still take a picture at whatever venue I pop up at and put on my twitter feed @GilharrenD so look out for (SWF Blog 2015).

   The New Year hasn't gotten off to the best of starts weather wise and finding a game to cover this weekend was a challenge in itself with the heavy rain throughout the country on Saturday and then freezing conditions this morning causing havoc with the fixture lists. Not that I'm a stranger to this especially this time of year and always have a plan B, C & D (and the rest) should plan A get called off. Either way I'll always find a fixture somewhere and today saw a quick return to the Thorpe Recreation Ground to watch Thorpe United Ladies take on Fakenham Town Ladies in the Norfolk Women's Division One.

    Have seen these two play already this season on the opening day of the league in the reverse fixture at Clipbush Park back in September. Back then Fakenham Town Ladies took a 2 goal lead before Thorpe United Ladies came back in the 2nd half to win 3-2. That report was also the one with the most views on the blog in 2014. Was a thrilling game and great advert for women's football in Norfolk, I expected no less between the 2 today.

   A cold a frosty morning the sun took awhile to get going but by the time I arrived at Thorpe, using my new Sat Nav (although I knew the way) this one didn't get upset because I wouldn't drive through the middle of Norwich when I had a perfectly good bypass to use instead the weather had improved. The pitch looked in good nick was on the lower part of the recreation ground as a pose the the higher pitch Thorpe United Ladies used when they played Bungay Town Ladies here three weeks before.

    Thorpe United Ladies starting XI - Kirstie Andrews, Cara Anderson, Natasha Evans, Alice Ford, Lauren Kett, Bethan Sommerfield (C), Lisa Marie Riches, Laura Hedtke, Charlotte Groves, Kimberly Broom & Judith Bloomfield.
     subs - Kirstie Kindred, Nicole Read & Alice Ladbrooke.

   Fakenham Town Ladies starting XI - Ellie Preece, Jemma Riches, Roxanne Bailey, Vicki Riddiford, Nina Batchelor, Natalie Wright (C), Lauren Matthews, Amie Hutchinson, Betty Coe, Sophie Lubbock & Sian Sands.
      sub Vickie Lubbock

                                                      roll on, roll off substitutes

  Nice as the sun was hanging low in the sky and knowing the problems I had at the Thorpe/Bungay match a sauntered round to the opposite side of the pitch to have it at my back with Thorpe kicking off the match in their kit of pink shirts and socks with black shorts against Fakenham lined up (and I got pulled up for this last time) in amber (not yellow) shirts with a black right sleeve, black shorts with amber socks with black and white bands.

   A misplaced pass at the back from the home side, gives Fakenham striker Sian Sands a chance to run in behind, Thorpe goalkeeper Kirstie Andrews is alert however and quickly runs out to kick the ball away from the edge of the box before Sands can capitalise.

Fakenham Town Ladies Sian Sands

   Thorpe look to move the ball out quickly from the back a pass into Alice Ford in the centre of midfield she plays it out wide left to Judith Bloomfield making the run in front of her looking to get into space in the left channel is Kimberly Broom receiving the ball she drives forwards Fakenham defender Jemma Riches stays with her puts in a good tackle to deny her an opportunity to strike on goal.

    Broom and strike partner Charlotte Groves are both looking to run into the channels looking for the ball and space to receive it. Groves links up well with Ford making a forward run into the centre, Ford lays the ball out to her left for Bloomfield, she tries to slide the ball between two Fakenham defenders looking for Broom running in behind the ball is intercepted and Fakenham launch a counter.

   The move breaks down as the cross is won back by the Thorpe defence the ball out drops to Fakenham midfielder Nina Batchelor who has a strike from distance a long way out it hasn't the lift or power to beat Andrews as she is well placed to claim the ball. An open start to the match with both teams looking to place the ball seeking a pass to penetrate either defence.

  GOAL! For all that it is an over the top ball that sees the first goal scored. Fakenham are on the attack the ball rolls loose for Thorpe central defender Lauren Kett to kick clear, putting her foot through it she launches it forwards, Fakenham have pushed up the ball drops to Broom hanging onto the shoulder of the last defender, chasing it down, she sees Fakenham goalkeeper Ellie Preece rushing out of her area to close her down lobs the ball over her, Preece tries to backtrack recover the ground throwing herself at the ball just can't get enough of her glove on it to stop the ball going over the line 1-0.

Thorpe United Ladies Kimberly Broom

   Fakenham push forwards looking for an immediate response to conceding have a great chance as from a throw up on the left Lauren Matthews gets the ball into the feet of striker Sophie Lubbock inside the box, she looks to hit the ball on the spin, send it across Andrews the Thorpe keeper makes a fantastic save diving to push the ball wide for a corner.

    From the corner Thorpe break, it's Broom again finding herself clear of the Fakenham back line central this time, Preece has to come out on the edge of her area stays big as Broom shoots makes a great save with her legs, the ball falls to Groves whose is racing up in support from 30 yards she tries to slot the ball into the back of the net but by then Fakenham have defenders back to intercept the ball.

Fakenham Town Ladies Lauren Matthews

   The middle of the park is being hotly contested between Thorpe's Alice Ford and Laura Hedtke and Fakenham's Nina Batchelor and captain Natalie Wright with all 4 winning the ball back and looking to push forwards. Hedtke with a good pass out to Bloomfield in space on the left she plays the ball into Groves ahead of her who returns the pass into her path Bloomfield shoots pulls her shot wide. At the other end Batchelor winning the ball in the centre sends it forwards into the run of Lubbock she pulls the trigger from 30 yards out the ball is rising Andrews in goal is behind it all the way.

   Thorpe make full use of their substitutes bringing all three, Kirstie Kindred, Nicole Read and Alice Ladbrooke on in quick succession.

   GOAL! Thorpe double their lead and it's Broom who scores again, a perfectly weighted ball is played along the ground looking for Broom once again shoulder to shoulder with the last defender forces an error and getting on the ball makes the charge for goal. Is one on one with Preece again this time on the edge of the area she takes the ball around her, is pushed wide of goal as a Fakenham defender races back, still she gets her shot away from a tight angle and puts the ball into the net 2-0.

    GOAL! It isn't long before Thorpe have a 3rd goal late in the half they break after Fakenham lose possession after a sustained spell of keep ball around their area, moving the ball rapidly down the right of the pitch, both teams are racing back towards the Fakenham goal in numbers the cross is put in towards the near post it's an own goal unfortunately as the Fakenham try to hook the ball clear end up putting it into the back of their own net 3-0.

   GOAL! Late in the half but the goals aren't done. Fakenham attack, Sian Sands on the ball strikes a shot low from the edge of the box Andrews throws a leg out blocks the ball puts it out for a corner. The set piece coming in from the right is headed clear but only as far as Matthews outside the area she puts it out to the right for Betty Coe who has been crying out for the ball all half, she takes on her marker gets past her into the box from the right corner flashes a chest high cross along the six yard line where Nina Batchelor is running in at the far post to send it home 3-1.

                             Half-time Thorpe United Ladies 3-1 Fakenham Town Ladies

   An entertaining 1st half with good play from both sides, Thorpe though have capitalised on individual Fakenham errors to take a 3 goal lead. Pulling 1 goal back on the stroke of half time was a much needed boost for Fakenham and set the game up nicely for the 2nd half as the visitors got us under way.

   It is a fairly even start to the 2nd period the sun has dropped lower in the sky the temperature dropping. Fakenham captain Natalie Wright makes a good ball winning tackle outside the Thorpe box, sees Matthews looking to make the run to her left get behind the Thorpe defence, the pass almost squeezes through, but Lauren Kett sticks a toe out to prod it away from her.

    Thorpe's Kirstie Kindred with a good take down on the edge of Fakenham's box she lays it off to her right into the run of Broom coming inside she looks to shoot early aiming for the near post, Preece though has come across has the angle covered. Down the left for Thorpe, Alice Ladbrooke is getting more time and space on the ball 2nd half puts 2 crosses in both too close to Preece the keeper claiming both.

   Thorpe are seeing more of the ball now win a corner off Wright is she tracks back to stop a run from midfield, the 1st effort is headed behind for another corner, this one is longer clears the crowded penalty area dropping to Broom lingering behind surprised she can't dig the ball out of her feet for a shot, it eventually comes to Ladbrooke behind her who blasts the ball over.

   Getting on the ball Wright drives forwards holding off her marker covering alot of grass with the ball at her feet before laying it off to Matthews making a run across her pushing into the box Matthews tries to get a shot away it is blocked at close range, Thorpe clear.

     At some point substitute Vickie Lubbock has come on for Fakenham but I didn't notice when as I was having my ear bent from a spectator who for some bizarre reason thought I was the Taverham manager which lead to alot of confusion on his behalf as the only thing I've done in Taverham is visit the garden centre.. but I digress..

   GOAL! I mention Vickie Lubbock because she is vital to this next passage of play. The ball is played forwards by Fakenham is held up well outside the area by Sian Sands with players rushing forwards to support her she lays it off into the path of Vickie Lubbock she strikes it sweetly from 30 plus yards out sends it arrowing towards the goal, Andrews throws herself to her left can't stop the goal 3-2.

   Fakenham have their tails up the game has is seeing a few more challenges flying in the game is getting a little stretched with tiring legs and both teams looking to find another goal. Ladbrooke out wide on the left has the legs to out pace her marker gets a cross in early looking to find Kirstie Kindred making a run at the far post too long she can't get to it.

   Fakenham goalkeeper Preece makes a vital save as Thorpe break down the right with Kindred on the ball surging down the line she plays the ball into Broom she skips past a player bursting into the box hits the ball hard at an acute angle. Preece throws herself down gets a glove to the ball to send it wide across her goal out for a corner.

  Wright again with another strong run playing the ball out from the back covers alot of ground is again lookingfor Matthews who comes inside this time sees the run from Vickie Lubbock gets the ball to her, she tries another pop from long range a high shot the ball is blocked as spaces open up at both ends.

Fakenham Town Ladies Natalie Wright

  Thorpe on the counter it's Groves on the ball she takes the ball wide holds off a challenge cuts back inside drives into the box prods the ball across the goal looking for the runners far post finds neither as Preece makes the save.

  GOAL! Late in the game Thorpe win a free kick in a position out on the left close to the penalty box. It's Alice Ladbrooke over the ball as Thorpe players fill the area. She sends the ball in at a good height with plenty of pace towards the far post. Players are closing it down Preece can't come for it as it sails past her and nestles into the side netting inside the goal don't think anyone got a touch on it to make it 4-2.

Thorpe United Ladies Alice Ladbrooke

    Thorpe finish the game on the attack with Kindred putting the ball out wide left for Groves to run onto, she puts the cross it it's Wright who has come all the way back to intercept stopping Broom from latching onto it behind her.

    The final whistle blows and Thorpe win the match 4-2 and claim the 3 points that sees them firmly back in the hunt to defend their Division One title. Another spirited perfromance from both sides in front of a good number of spectators. Both sides meet again in a fortnights time in the Ladies Cup.

   Thanks to both teams management for helping me out with the squad details.