Last Tuesday at Ely City FC it was Huntingdon Town Ladies who won the final 2-1 in extra time to win the League Cup, now the pair meet in the Cambridgeshire Women's Premiership. Both clubs come together to complete a midweek fixture in order to get all of their games in before the end of the season.
With 2 games left to play Huntingdon Town Ladies are in 4th place in the league table with 24 points after 16 matches played, need maximum points from their last 2 fixtures if they want to overhaul Netherton United Ladies who lay in 3rd on 29 points having completed all of their fixtures.
Cambridge WFC Reserves have 4 games left to squeeze in between now and the end of the season are a place behind Huntingdon in 5th, but some 8 points behind can chase 4th place down if they can get the points starting with their opponents tonight.
The venue Jubilee Park on the outskirts of Huntingdon houses both the men's and women's teams a modern build sporting facility with nice clubhouse leading to the main pitch beyond where the women would be playing tonight, a 6:30pm kick off to get the match completed before the floodlights need to be switched on. The weather could best be described as changeable had been wet and windy for much of the day, but thankfully as the teams came out to warm up the sun made an appearance although there was some cover should it turn wet again.
Huntingdon Town Ladies starting XI - Emma Clark, Rachael Bowd, Lydia Bedford, Steph Day, Valarie Smith, Danielle Bennett, Natasha Dowdell, Laura Melling, Claire Knox (C), Kelly Daniels & Jo Bull.
subs - Sophie Markeineke, Georgie Goodwin & Megan Stow.
Cambridge WFC Reserves starting XI - Tafadzwa Mhundru, Maria Davies, Becca Fay, Robin Phillips (C), Nicola Geoghan, Jade Powell, Ellie Cullum, Clara Greed, Sarah Mosley, Becky Russell & Gemma Clark.
subs - Kayleigh Whitehead & Emma Roberts.
It's the home side Huntingdon to kick off the match kitted out in red and black hooped shirts and socks with black shorts against Cambridge lined up in sky blue shirts and socks with navy shorts. Huntingdon get the ball up the right early on before Cambridge in it back and break with the pass setting Clara Greed away down the left, taking the ball down beyond the 18 yard box, looks to swing a cross into the area is an in swinger turns towards goal and Emma Clark in the Huntingdon goal can claim the ball.
Cambridge are on the front foot in the opening minutes another pass from Ellie Cullum in the centre of midfield releases Gemma Clark on the right, with the ball she travels into box and looks to send her shot across Clark gets too much on it and the ball rolls wide of the far post.
Becky Russell gets on the ball in front of the Huntingdon area, holding it up looks to work it across the D before attempting the shot the ball is deflected off a defender and out wide of the goal corner given. The corner put in from the right is long goes out to the left as players are looking to clear the box the ball is retrieved and put back in finds Sarah Mosley six yards out at the near post she puts her header straight at Clark who makes the save.
Huntingdon are looking to build an attack when Cambridge win the ball back in their half a play it long out to the right, it's Mosley who gives chase has Huntingdon's Valarie Smith with her which keeps Gemma Clark onside as she bursts into space beyond Mosley sends the ball into her path Clark is one on one with the keeper as she comes out to close her down on the edge of the area, Clark shoots places it wide of her, is also wide of the goal beyond.
Huntingdon's build up is more measured than their opponents are looking to get more players up and around the box gives Cambridge time to get bodies back behind the ball and squeeze the final ball. Out on the right Natasha Dowdell brings the ball forwards has Lydia Bedford making the run to her left looks to play her in, she doesn't control the ball but it travels to the other side of the area where captain Claire Knox gets hold of it and sends a shot in towards goal, on target hasn't the height to trouble Cambridge keeper Tafadzwa Mhundru.
Huntingdon make a double change with Jo Bull and Danielle Bennett coming off, with Georgie Goodwin and Sophie Markeineke coming on. Knox has the ball again on the left sending a curling cross into the box, Mhundru keeps her eye on the ball with Goodwin racing in on her to see it safely into her gloves.
Emma Clark in the Huntingdon goal then has a tricky ball to deal with as Russell attempting to play Greed in on the left swings the ball up into the air is heading for goal, with the sun in her eyes Clarke sees it safely into her gloves on her line. Sloppy from the Huntingdon defence allows Russell to steal the ball on the right skipping beyond into space fires her cross along the six yard line, Clark gets to it before Greed can reach it beyond.
Is another close game between the two sides, the wind has picked up has gotten decidedly chilly now. Markeineke, Bedford and Knox link up well in attack for Huntingdon keeping possession in front of the Cambridge area, Knox has the shot from the left is blocked spins in beyond Mhundru is down to save with Bedford after the ball.
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| Huntingdon Town Ladies Lydia Bedford |
GOAL! With just a few minutes of the 1st half left it looked unlikely that a goal would be scored, Huntingdon take the lead as they enjoy sustained possession on the right of the right. The ball is delivered into the near post area, Mhundru has bodies to get through as she comes looking to punch the ball, her touch isn't clean the ball goes beyond her drops down in the centre of the six yard box, Bedford is the player who gets to it 1st stretching out a leg to stab the ball up into the back of the net 1-0.
Half-time Huntingdon Town Ladies 1-0 Cambridge WFC Reserves.
The dead lock broken by Huntingdon is virtually the last action of the half, has been a tight game. Huntingdon have the lead have had the ball for longer but found it hard to break down the Cambridge defence, looking to counter attack Cambridge have had space to exploit beyond with Clarke, Russell and Greed all finding themselves beyond the Huntingdon back line just haven't been able to pick out the clinical final ball.
Cambridge kick off the 2nd half have made to changes with regular captain Emma Roberts on along with Kayleigh Whitehead, Cullum and Jade Powell having a break from the centre of midfield see's some repositioning with Nicola Geoghan and Becca Fay both moving forwards from defence, Roberts and Whitehead step into the defence.
Huntingdon have made changes to Natasha Dowdell taking up the role of keeper for the 2nd half and Megan Stow on at left back. Cambridge are looking to pressure the ball higher up the pitch at the start of the 2nd half. Huntingdon have the 1st attack however the ball put through from midfield into Markeineke outside the area to the left of goal looks to send the ball around Mhundru in goal, the keeper gets something on the ball as Goodwin comes chasing the ball is spilt loose to Mhundru's right as she goes to ground, Goodwin can't untangle her foot from Mhundru to latch onto the ball before the keeper can throw herself at the ball and bring it into her body.
Huntingdon are asserting themselves more in the 2nd half getting plenty forwards, are defending a high line at times giving Cambridge space to run into beyond, getting the ball over the home defence it's Clark on the left bringing the ball on has Russell up with her to the right of the goal she finds her, Russell hits the shot 1st time, Valarie Smith has covered the ground to get back however blocks the ball deflecting it behind for a corner.
Both sides try a long pass from halfway looking to send a runner in on goal both balls though are claimed by the keeper before anyone can reach it, Ellie Cullum comes back on for Cambridge with Greed coming off. Soon after Jade Powell is back on too going into the back line in place of Robin Phillips. Huntingdon bring Danielle Bennett on for Kelly Daniels.
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| Cambridge WFC Reserves Nicola Geoghan |
The game has livened up with both sides wanting to attack for Cambridge, Russell sends a curling shot in from a central position, is headed away. Rachael Bowd for Huntingdon puts the ball forwards into Goodwin on the right she has Markeineke with her the 2 link before sending a ball into the box, it's Kayleigh Whitehead with the defensive header in the centre of goal who wins the ball. Bowd has space to travel forwards into as everyone is attracted to the other side of the pitch the ball comes to her looking to hit it from 30 yards out slices it wide.
Bedford running with the ball at her feet shoulder to shoulder with her marker does well to play a pass forwards for Bennett, as she looks to take the ball into the box has Emma Roberts coming across makes the tackle. Huntingdon have a corner on the right is sent in low and hard is met by Goodwin in the centre gets her foot under the ball prods the ball up and over the bar.
Phillips and Greed are back on for Cambridge going into the last 15 minutes for Clark and Maria Davies. Mosley in the middle goes on a mazy run with the ball taking it past 2 Huntingdon players before laying it off to Russell on her right, outside the box she takes on the shot aiming for the near post Dowdell is well placed to make the save.
Cullum has the ball out wide right for Cambridge, has Mosley bursting forwards to get into the box, Cullum gets the ball into her Mosley though can't bring it down for a shot has Smith back with her preventing the opportunity, Smith clears and Huntingdon counter the ball arriving at Bowd's feet right she sends a diagonal ball into the area this time it's Powell who heads clear for Cambridge.
Defenders are on top however as the referee blows the final whistle and the points are shared 1-1. Another close game between the 2 sides few chances created a point helping neither side climb the table Huntingdon stay 4th, Cambridge 5th need to win their last 3 games if they want to over haul Huntingdon the 2 are scheduled to play each other again in their final match of the season.
My thanks to both clubs for helping me out with the team details tonight (hopefully I've spelt everybody's name right this time).
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