I haven't see Acle United Ladies in league action yet this season, on the previous 2 occasions they have been away from home in the Norfolk Women's County Cup the last game I watched them in the Final itself at the FDC Norfolk where they over came Thorpe United Ladies on penalties to lift the cup.
A brief recap of their season to date, newly promoted to the Premier Division this season they struggled for points at the beginning going into Christmas were in real trouble. Since the start of the year though their results have drastically improved coinciding with bringing in a new coach went on a long unbeaten run in 2015 eventually being stopped by League Champion's Lowestoft Ladies, a win 5-1 away win against Gt Shelford Ladies has lifted them off the bottom of the table on goal difference with 17 points over AFC Dunstable Ladies and with the Bedfordshire side having completed all of their fixtures Acle United Ladies know at least a point today will be enough for safety.
Leverstock Green Ladies travel up to Norfolk from Hertfordshire with their Premier Division status secured, are making the trip for the 2nd time after the original league fixture was abandoned due to lightning and torrential rain making the pitch unplayable before the 1st half was completed. Is their final game of the season currently in 8th place in the table with 21 points a point or better can lift them above Barking Ladies into 7th.
A change of venue for Acle United Ladies means I won't see them play at their Bridewell Lane home with the pitch being unavailable this Sunday, instead it was a few miles further up the Acle straight into Gorleston, the Lynn Grove Academy's 3G pitch where it looked like the groundsman had enjoyed a liquid lunch before returning to finish marking the pitch.
Despite the interesting pitch markings the 3G pitch was as large as any I've seen would prove to be a zippy surface on a bright sunny Sunday afternoon although there was a brisk breeze blowing about.
Acle United Ladies starting XI - Chloe Nixon, Georgina Beckwith, Helen Emmerson (C), Kelly Gray, Natasha Greenfield, Kate Pasque, Rose Glendinning, Luka Goodfield, Francesca Lambert, Leonie Daulby & Jenna Thurtle.
subs - Imogen Williams.
Leverstock Green Ladies starting XI - Lucy Tape, Stephanie Palfrey, Mia Hickey, Natasha Sherriff, Kim Mulgrew, Donna McAvoy, Natalie Burrows, Giselle Randall (C) & Nicola Hollick.
The eagle eyed amongst you will notice straight away Leverstock Green were at a numerical disadvantage right from the off having travelled up from Hertfordshire to the east Norfolk coast with just 9 players. Would be a challenge right from the off as the visitors kitted out in green and white hooped shirts, green shorts and socks kicked off the match against the 11 of Acle wearing black and white vertical striped shirts, black shorts and socks.
The home side are on the attack straight away with the ball played from the middle releasing Francesca Lambert into space on the left, Leverstock Green goalkeeper Lucy Tape though is quickly out of her area to challenge for the ball, Acle regain possession send it out to Luka Goodfield on the opposite flank into space on the right, the ball though picks up pace upon the 3G surface and Goodfield can't chase it down.
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| Leonie Daulby |
Leverstock Green are prepared to bring the ball out of their half enjoy some possession on the ball in the Acle half as the home side drop deep it's Natalie Burrows who attempts to put the ball into the box looking for the run of Natalie Sheriff on the right, the ball is collected by Acle goalkeeper Chloe Nixon before she can get there.
With the numerical advantage Acle can afford to keep players out wide looking to break beyond when the ball is played forwards, this time though when Goodfield is fed the ball on the right she looks to drive inside squares the ball to Rose Glendinning in the centre taking two strides she releases a shot can only pick out Tape in the Leverstock Green goal.
Another Glendinning shot is deflected behind for a corner on the right the set piece is sent in low to Kate Pasque on the edge of the area she shoots, hits the ball against her own team mate Daulby before Leverstock Green clear.
The visitors are willing to bring the ball forward in number captain Giselle Randall a lively and pacey player hustling the Acle defence for the ball has both Kim Mulgrew and Donna McAvoy up with her and the game has settled down into a more even rhythm.
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| Leverstock Green Ladies Giselle Randall |
GOAL! Leverstock Green score an equalising goal, breaking from an Acle attack they bring the ball forwards on the left have players bombing forwards as the ball is swept in along the 18 yard line finding it's way through to Sheriff on the right, looking to take on the defender in front of her they come together Sheriff manages to keep her footing as the ball is deflected into space beyond entering the area she pulls the trigger sending her shot across the diving Nixon and into the back of the net 1-1.
Goodfield out on the right again finds Glendinning in the middle she passes the ball forwards into Thurtle inside the D, she is pushed over, free kick awarded it's Thurtle over the ball, gets it beyond the wall, Tape though is well placed to claim the ball beyond.
Acle with the counter attack this time bring the ball up from defence Pasque on the ball puts it out to Goodfield on the right, she turns inside looking to send her pass into Thurtle on the turn, Thurtle has Glendinning charging up on the left sending the ball through to her, Tape comes racing out to close Glendinning down sliding in blocks her shot.
Thurtle and Goodfield link up with Acle attacking in front of the Leverstock Green box the ball ending up with Thurtle on the right of the area sweeps in a low cross swerving across the goal is cleared off the line another shot is blasted back in takes a nick out for a corner on the left. The corner finds it's way all the way through to the far side of goal, Pasque gets a foot to the ball can only turn it wide.
Leverstock Green are working hard to defend the swirling breeze and zippy 3G surface causing unforced errors from both sides the visitors have a free kick on the half way line the ball is played into Randall central to goal good control she attempts to turn and shoot her effort is blocked.
GOAL! Into the final minutes of the 1st half and Acle restore their lead, with Leverstock Green working hard to press the ball in the midfield it pops up beyond them and to Daulby who has been hovering in space to the right bringing it down the right flank she squares her cross along the six yard box evading Tape coming to defend her near post finds it's way through to Lambert who has covered the ground from the left to get into the box to tap home 2-1.
Half-time Acle United Ladies 2-1 Leverstock Green Ladies
Acle have the lead going into the break a slender one scored late into the half has been a surprisingly open game considering Leverstock Green only have the 9 players, they have been determined and with Randall up top looking to win the ball has brought others into the game have found themselves 3 v 3 on a few occasions as Acle commit players forwards. Is a case of being patient from the home side the space is there the chances have built up.
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| Giselle Randall with Acle United Ladies Jenna Thurtle |
Acle kick off the 2nd half start on the front forwards with Pasque travelling forwards with the ball looks to release Lambert on the left for a run down the left, she elects instead to come inside runs into traffic in the centre as Leverstock Green crowd her off the ball.
Daulby and Lambert almost combine again to score another goal as they did in the 1st half as again Daulby puts the ball in from the right, sends it over Tape this time is dropping behind in the centre of the goal six yard out Lambert is racing in the ball bouncing she goes for the karate kick to try and turn it home, misses.
GOAL! Acle pressure has been building at the start of the 2nd half have more possession a little more patient hold onto it on the right, bringing it inside it's Goodfield who scores outside the area she drives inside the box and sweeps the ball past Tape to make it 3-1.
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| Acle United Ladies Luka Goodfield on the ball |
Acle are keeping hold of the ball more now especially inside the Leverstock Green half which is preventing the visitors from keeping players up with Randall when they try and bring it out. Acle make a substitution with Daulby coming off and Imogen Williams coming on to join Thurtle in attack.
Randall is a lively player the mostly likely to make something happen for Leverstock Green peeling off into space she is given the ball on the right, sends her cross into Mulgrew in the centre inside the D she smashes a low shot through the crowd before her, good save from Nixon in the Acle goal to push it away behind for a corner as she dives to her left.
GOAL! Another corner is won from a Glendinning shot which is deflected behind the Leverstock Green goal. The ball played in from the left comes through to Pasque to the left of the penalty spot looks to have been pushed as she tries to header the ball down, the referee doesn't blow as the ball drops down with Lambert and Williams converging on it, it's the substitute who stabs the ball into the back of the et to give Acle a 4-1 lead.
GOAL! Leverstock Green pull a goal back barely a couple of minutes later out of nothing as the ball is played long looking for Randall out on the left the ball is allowed to bounce as Nixon comes racing over to her Randall gets something on the ball 1st at it is past Nixon and rolls into the back of the net 4-2.
Glendinning good on the ball is always looking to bring it up from the middle travelling with it has Williams making a great supporting run in front of her slips the ball into her coming to the edge of the area has Mia Hickey on her shoulder as she entered the area shoots, Hickey gets her foot in to block it enough to take the pace off the shot allow it to run easily into Tape's gloves in goal.
Thurtle has been a threat all game getting hold of the ball inside the Leverstock Green half catches them high turning has acres of space to chase the ball into coming to the edge of the area is right of the goal as she pulls the trigger sends her shot past the diving Tape only for the ball to smash off the bottom off the post and cleared. Moments later Thurtle is clear of the Leverstock Green defence again comes to the edge of the area with the ball, Tape has come to close her down she gets her shot past the keeper is frustrated as it rolls the wrong side of the post.
Tape is well placed in her goal to claim a couple of long distance strikes by Acle from Kelly Gray and Williams. Gray then sends the pass through to Thurtle on the turn inside the D she whips a shot in aiming for the bottom corner Tape dives is beaten but again Thurtle can only look to the skies as the shot evades the goal. Gray seeing a lot of the ball at the ball fancies a pop at goal herself 30 yards out her effort is off target.
Out wide right it's Thurtle on the ball keeps plugging away fires a shot in to the near post low Tape is their to save however the ball pops up from under her squirms free behind her in front of goal Lambert is their has a defender closing her in gets her foot under the ball sweeps it over the bar.
Despite the late pressure though Acle cannot add anymore goals to the their total as the referee blows for full time they win 4-2 the win ensuring their Premier Division status for another season a great 2nd half to the season, encouraging going forwards into a new campaign. Had to be patient never as easy as it looks when you have more players on the pitch than your opponents.
A great effort from Leverstock Green in their last game of the season the 9 players they brought up to Norfolk putting in a good determined effort to not only defend but take the game to Acle.
One more game left for Acle against the league champion's Lowestoft Town Ladies
My thanks to both clubs for helping me out with the team sheets and Acle for the sandwiches.
Many thanks for your kind invitation. I’ll join you.
ReplyDeleteWould you like to play cards?
Come to the party with me, please.
See you soon...
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