Heading up the north east Norfolk coast the venue Cromer Town FC's Crabbe Park ground where Stalham Town Ladies had arranged for the night game to be played. The end of the season is rapidly closing in and as is often the case midweek fixtures have to be squeezed in and arranged a relatively short notice to allow teams to get their games in.
Stalham Town Ladies were newly promoted to Norfolk Women's Division One this season making the step up from the 2nd tier. Have struggled to pick up points in the league are 2nd bottom in the league with 9 points with 2 wins, 3 draws and 7 losses to date with 13 matches played. Have though enjoyed good cup runs in both the League Cup and Women's County Cup reaching the quarter finals and semi finals respectively.
Bungay Town Ladies are comfortable in mid table and looking to push up a place with 2 fixtures left to play currently in 5th place with 6 victories, 3 draws and 5 losses on 21 points
Crabbe Park in Cromer is a nice venue on the Norfolk coast, the pitch looked in fantastic condition lush and green a good size the weather was quite warm clear and dry.
Stalham Town Ladies starting XI - Paris Hay, Ruth Gainsford, Sarah Howard, Marie Meale, Kiera Brown, Kerry Wright (C), Zara Ellis, Charlotte Fiske, Sarah Williamson, Tash Robson & Rhiannon Dack.
subs - Amii Bird
Bungay Town Ladies starting XI - Hannah Wheeler, Emily Fusco, Sian Carter, Leah Shepherd, Kerry Collins (C), Rebecca Calver, Kate Pasque, Inna Marx, Emily leach, Gemma Moore & Lauren Purling.
subs - Charlotte Power & Jordan Harris.
(roll on roll off substitutes)
Used up a notepad already this week covering 3 games so a detour to the shops to get restocked before arriving at the ground I was all set as Bungay kitted out in light blue shirts, black shorts and socks kicked off the 1st half with Stalham lined up opposite in their red shirts with white shoulder trim, red shorts and red a white hooped socks.
Bungay are on the attack straight away with the ball being fired out to Lauren Purling on the right, running in behind the full back and looking to drive forwards into the box with the ball Stalham's Marie Meale comes across to make the tackle to deny her an early shot on goal.
Gemma Moore then looks to take the shot on for Bungay as the ball is played up from the back bouncing before her on the right outside the area, cuts her shot wide of the goal. Moore then turns provider as she slips the ball through the Stalham defence for Purling making the run in front of her into the box she can't chase it down before Stalham goalkeeper Paris Hay is off her line to come and take the ball.
Stalham win a free kick wide on the right inside the Bungay half the ball is floated into the box, allowing it to bounce Bungay struggle to clear the ball as both Stalham's Charlotte Fiske and Tash Robson try to get hold of the rushed clearances to try and turn the ball towards goal. When Bungay do clear it's Kate Pasque that brings the ball out travelling down the right she fires a cross in towards goal, Hay is down to make the save on the six yard line with runners closing in.
GOAL! Bungay have a corner on the left, the 1st delivery coming in is put behind by Stalham for a 2nd corner, this is the one that causes the damage played into the congested red post it is a Stalham boot that makes contact with the ball looking to block, is an unfortunate own goal instead as the ball is turned into the back of the net 0-1. 15 minutes played.
In midfield for Stalham, Kiera Brown plays a great pass through to Fiske as she breaks free of the Bungay defence has Moore tracking back on her shoulder holds her off as she gets her shot away on the edge of the box, doesn't get the power needed to send the ball past Hannah Wheeler in the Bungay goal she gathers the ball.
Fiske is put through once again moments later to the left of the goal, takes one touch too many that pulls her wider making the angle tighter to get the shot in manages to fire the ball in towards goal can only pick out Wheeler.
GOAL! Bungay double their lead, the scorer Moore as she is played through beyond the Stalham defence by Purling. Taking the ball in her stride hits it on the run from outside box giving Hay little chance to set herself as the ball flies past her and into the net 0-2.
Stalham are prepared to play a high line in defence and are getting some joy up front between Fiske and Robson, Bungay though look dangerous in the break have pace and movement from Moore, Purling and Rebecca Calver ready to make the run beyond to chase the ball down.
 |
| Gemma Moore |
GOAL! Moore is in again completing a 1st half hat trick, Stalham's defence pushed up near the half way line any ball over the top is going to leave them exposed. The ball send over the top Moore is after it travelling quickly heading for the right corner of the box again, shoots no swerve this time the ball arrows straight into goal 0-4.
GOAL! Isn't too many more minutes played before Bungay rampant in attack add a 5th goal to the score sheet, winning another corner on the right the ball is fired into the congested six yard area in front of goal at a good height, it's Pasque who turns the ball into the back of the net, off her face and in 0-5.
Stalham have been battered by Bungay but are still trying to bring the ball forwards create a chance once again the ball is put over to free up Fiske for a run on goal, Wheeler comes racing out to the edge of the area stays big as she confronts Fiske, the striker tries to play the ball around her, Wheeler gets her glove on the ball to knock it away from Fiske as Bungay clear. Don't get it far before it is won back by Meale plays it forwards Robson is the player breaking clear of the Bungay defence this time fires her shot in from the right Wheeler is behind it to make the save.
GOAL! Moore gets her 4th goal of the match capitalising on hesitancy at the back in the Stalham defence, steals the ball on the right 25 yards from goal, brings it into the box, this time looks to take on Hay as she comes to close her down takes the ball around her and slides it home into the empty net 0-6.
GOAL! Bungay add a 7th goal before half time this goal scored from another corner played in from the right is another great delivery travelling at speed through to the far post where it is met by the unmarked Purling, who drills her header home 0-7.
Stalham have conceded 7 goals look in danger of conceding every time Bungay attack but to their credit are still looking to go forwards are getting in beyond the Bungay defence, Robson to the right of goal has a pop from long range that Wheeler saves.
GOAL! Stalham score! Is probably the best of the goals scored so far this evening too, the attack beginning down the right pulls players across with Fiske and Brown hustling the ball the cross field pass is put out to the left hand side to Rhiannon Dack she dinks the ball over a Bungay defender as she slides in to challenge the ball, runs into the box and sends her shot up and over the keeper to score 1-7.
Half time Stalham Town Ladies 1-7 Bungay Town Ladies
Speaking to the Stalham management team they tell me they were struggling for players have a number of players absent particularly in defence. Take nothing away from Bungay though who were clinical in the 1st half having the players with the pace to run in beyond the Stalham back line and convert their chances the set pieces were good to racing into a commanding 1st half lead.
Bungay have a new goalkeeper for the 2nd half with Pasque donning the shirt and gloves as Stalham kick off the 2nd half. Early attack for Stalham the ball played over the top for Fiske she looks to send her shot in from the edge of the box up and over Pasque, doesn't quite get enough pace on the shot, Pasque is able to pluck the ball out of the air.
Bungay attack, Hay is able to see a Moore shot from the right again roll wide of her post. Bungay's Emily Leach then prods a shot over the crossbar from 20 yards out.
Fiske is put though in a central position the ball is bouncing keeps her eye on it inside the D has three Bungay defenders for company does well to get her foot on the ball and send a shot in places it over the bar. Stalham have started better in the 2nd half although this is partly down to Pasque bring in goal now and not in midfield breaking up play.
A free kick for Stalham as Brown is fouled on the halfway line the ball is sent into the area, Pasque comes amongst the crowd to punch the ball away setting up a counter attack for Bungay coming down the right and into Moore she is closing down on the area again, Hay is down quickly making the save as she slides in front of Moore's strike.
Hay is called into action again to make another save this time of Calver in a central position as Leach slides the ball through to her. Leach then has a shot herself from 25 yards out left of the goal, shifts the ball between her feet well to open up the space to curl one in, good save from Hay to push the ball wide the is quick to retrieve it.
A free kick is awarded to Bungay left of the area, it's Moore on the ball, hits the strike past the 3 players in the Stalham wall, hay is across to make the diving save. Is a more even 2nd half. Bungay have a corner on the right comes in low and somehow finds its way through to Leach at the far post she tries to stab the ball home Hay is down quickly to get herself behind the ball.
It's a 3rd goalkeeping change for Bungay with Pasque handing the shirt and gloves to Leah Shepherd halfway through the half. Holding the ball up for Stalham high up the pitch she rolls it out to Dack, she has Sarah Howard behind her looking to give support on the left given the ball she fires a shot in low towards goal Shepherd has the post covered and can gather the ball.
Bungay's Moore is finding it more difficult to beat Hay in the Stalham goal 2nd half the keeper coming to meet her as she is put through on the right once more stays big as Moore looks to play her shot around her Hay gets a hand to the ball and claims the ball.
Brown shows good footwork on the ball taking on players down the right gets into a crossing position sends a fantastic cross into the box in the gap between keeper and defence, is unfortunate no one is able to run in on the ball.
GOAL! Late into the half Stalham had done well not to concede any further goals as Bungay press forwards the build up is down the right the shot fired in is blocked by Hay as she comes across to cover the angle, the ball drops loose behind her however and it is Moore in space behind to smash the ball into the net 1-8.
Moore almost scores her 2nd hat trick of the match as she is put through on goal again has Hay coming out to meet her again this time takes on the shot early placing the ball wide of the keeper, but also wide of the goal.
GOAL! Closing moments of the match and their is a coming together in the Stalham box as Calver looks to take the ball past captain Kerry Wright, they collide the referee points to the spot. It's Calver to take smashes the ball from 12 yards to the right of Hay and into the back of the net 1-9.
The final whistle blows and it's a comfortable win for Bungay scoring 9 on the night against Stalham to move up one place into 4th in the table with one game left to play at home against Long Stratton Ladies this Sunday at home. Was a comfortable performance tonight had the pace and movement to get beyond the Stalham defence and cause problems leading 7-1 at half time they could afford to let their foot off the gas 2nd half.
Stalham were left with a mountain to climb after the 1st half but were much better 2nd half were unfortunate to concede 2 late goals in the 2nd half, stay 9th. They are back at Crabbe Park next Thursday their opponents Thorpe United Ladies.
My thanks to Graham Purling the Bungay Town Ladies manager for letting me know about this fixture and both clubs for helping me out with the team details tonight.
No comments:
Post a Comment