After Reading FC Women beat Doncaster Rovers Belles 3-0 away from home last night to go top of the league, Millwall Lionesses are now the only unbeaten team in the league but after 6 matches played this is countered by the fact they have only recorded the one league win and have become the draw specialists picking up 5 so far this season, a win tonight against Watford would see them climb into the top half of the table.
Watford Ladies have had a tough start to their 2nd season playing in the FAWSL 2 have struggled for points losing 4 of their opening 5 fixtures have picked up 4 points with a draw and a much needed victory last time out a 1-0 at home to Aston Villa Ladies, will hope the win sees them turn a corner and start picking up points to edge away from the bottom of the table. Watford are the only FAWSL 2 side I haven't seen play yet so good to get a match in before the mid season break.
The venue today the 3rd 'home' ground I've been to, to watch Millwall Lionesses, Harlow Town FC, now I arrived hungry and I wasn't coming in unless I was assured there was food inside, there was! (You probably guessed what I had to eat). A decent non league ground a new build with a good lay out, top notch refreshments and a bar, a large stand housing the changing rooms down one side with a terraced stand on the opposite side. The pitch a good size a 3G surface for a 6 o'clock kick off the sunny still bright in the sky as the two teams came out onto the pitch.
Millwall Lionesses starting XI - Sarah Quantrill, Jordon Butler, Dionne Lennon (C), Naomi Cole, Leanne Cowan, Lily Agg, Danielle Carlton, Grace Fisk, Megan Goss, Ashlee Hincks & Rosella Ayane.
subs - Lauren Davis, Francesca Ali, Lilli Maple, Francesca Gibbs, Frankie Strugnell & Rinsola Babajibe.
Watford Ladies starting XI - Shayla Burgess, Leighanne Robe, Grace Gillard, Mollie Burgess, Emily Heaslip (C), Josie Green, Jenna Dear, Stacey Donnelly, Ellie Mason, Hollie Wride & Kate Natkiel.
subs - Cherie Rowlands, Kim Farrow, Anneka Nuttall & Maddy Scheffer.
Millwall to kick off the 1st half wearing navy blue shirts with white shorts and socks with Watford lined up opposite in yellow shirts and socks with black socks. Millwall take the ball into Watford's half early on looking to test their defence find no way through the ball ending all the way back with their goalkeeper Sarah Quantrill.
On the left for Watford Hollie Wride is clipped as she attempts to play the ball forwards into Ellie Mason no advantage the referee brings play back, it's Jenna Dear on the set piece for Watford the ball is whipped in with good pace and height too close to Quantrill however allowing the keeper to claim.
Watford are attacking early on with Dear pushing on from the midfield gives the ball to Kate Natkiel she goes to shoot from 25 yards out Millwall's Grace Fisk is on hand to put in the block before Mason has a go from 30 yards out left of the goal the ball flying over the cross bar. Watford continue to press the ball are making it difficult for Millwall to bring it out from the back.
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| Millwall Lionesses Lily Agg looking to get a strike in on goal |
Millwall striker Rosella Ayane like Dear for Watford on loan from Chelsea Ladies does well to bring the ball down as it is played long into her as she peels off into space on the left hits it over from 30 yards out.
GOAL! Millwall players scream for handball as the ball is played into the area from the right, initially the referee doesn't give anything but after running across to consult with his linesman returns and points to the spot. It's Naomi Cole to step up and take the penalty kick for Millwall smashes the ball in off the inside of the post to open the scoring 1-0.
15 minutes played Millwall have the lead continue to press forwards twice they get the ball out to the right looking for Megan Goss on both occasions the pass is a little too heavy allowing Watford keeper Shayla Burgess the chance to claim.
GOAL! Millwall double their lead the goal coming from a set piece won out wide on the left with players forwards inside the area it's Ashlee Hincks recently brought in by Millwall from Gillingham Ladies to play the ball in, is a fantastic delivery Ayane rises above everyone unchallenged in the centre to meet the ball with her head bullet it into the back of the net 2-0.
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| Watford captain Emily Heaslip in a chase for the ball with Millwall's Rosella Ayane |
The ball is zipping about the 3G surface there are some robust challenges coming in from both sides Watford feeling aggrieved with some of the refereeing decisions that have gone against them. Lily Agg goes on the drive with the ball at her feet pushing on into the area is forced out to the right of goal does well to turn the cross back in can't pick anyone out as Watford get it away.
Winning a free kick 25 yards out on the right it's Millwall's Danielle Carlton to play the ball into the box, it's Megan Goss who gets her head to the ball plants it onto the cross bar dropping down still in play the loose ball is blocked at close range a corner is won, the set piece is sent in long to the far side from the left is met by Millwall captain Dionne Lennon who heads it back across the goal, Watford clear a header from of the line.
Agg with another powerful run with the ball gives it to Hincks on the right of the box from outside she turns and looks to curl a low ball in towards goal not enough pace on the shot Burgess scoops it up.
GOAL! Having been on the back foot for a spell Watford pull a goal back good work from Dear in the middle as she gets in the way of a pass manages to control the ball and bring it on, plays the pass into Mason 30 yards out she is awarded time and space from Millwall to line up a shot a duly obliges hitting the ball towards goal with plenty of power behind it to fly past Quantrill and in to make it 2-1.
The goal gives Watford a little more belief and they pick up the pace with which they started the match, Cole concedes a sloppy corner trying to smuggle the ball back to Quantrill the ball is played in from the left comes into the congested far post area is headed away only as far as Stacey Donnelly on the edge of the area opts to loft it back in Quantrill is the 1st to it and claims the ball.
Half time Millwall Lionesses 2-1 Watford Ladies
Watford find themselves behind and a little aggrieved with the decisions that went against them 1st half, Millwall have had more of the ball with Hincks, Goss and Ayane's movement up front causing problems, but a late goal back in the half has restored some of Watford's confidence.
Watford get the 2nd half underway, Millwall get hold of the ball and bringing it forwards win an early corner played in from the right Goss has made a run from the D to meet the ball getting her head to the ball turns it goal wards flies across the goal and out of play at the far post.
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| Watford's Jenna Dear with Millwall's Ashlee Hincks |
From a throw on the left Agg has a chance to loft the ball over the Watford defence has Hincks making a run from the opposite side into the area, the attempted pass is just a little too heavy allowing Burgess to get to it 1st.
GOAL! A poor goal kick from Burgess hits Agg 25 yards out to the right of the area she is then fouled trying to release the ball. Watford set 3 players in the wall as Hincks and Agg consult over the ball, Agg is sent away as Hincks looks to take it, hits a low shot with venom that sweeps around the wall and is past Burgess before she can get down to save at the far post to give Millwall a 3-1 lead early in the 2nd half.
Kate Natkiel has a chance for Watford as the visitors break forwards the pass is threaded through into her as she races into the D, overruns the ball, retrieving it tries to scoop it up and in towards goal but sends her effort over. Natkiel is put through again by Donnelly this time though she is thwarted by the offside flag.
Ayane makes up the ground to claim the ball on the left pushing on looks to whip the cross in along the six yard box looking for Goss at the far post can't quite get there to turn it home. Watford soon have the ball up the pitch again with Natkiel attacking down the right her cross is too strong evades everyone in front of goal is retrieved on the left and played back in to Donnelly inside the D she flicks it up and shoots puts the ball straight into Quantrill.
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| Jenna Dear looking to bring the ball forwards for Watford Ladies |
Watford captain Emily Heaslip brings the ball out from the back plays the cross field pass out to Mason in space on the left 20 yards from goal she puts her boot through the ball Quantrill dives gets the merest of touches to take the ball beyond the far post and out for a corner. Watford make a change with Donnelly coming off and Anneka Nuttall coming on to play up front.
GOAL! Has an almost immediate effect as the substitute pulls a goal back for the visitors the pass is played from the middle cutting open the Millwall defence and sending Nuttall in behind them Quantrill comes and commits herself going to ground, Nuttall stays composed and slips the ball past her and into the back of the net 3-2.
Nuttall's joy is short lived as moments later she is shown a red card for an off the ball incident as she and Cole clash on the edge of the box, Cole is down Nuttall is given her marching orders the referee informing the Watford bench it was for violent conduct. Nuttall walking off is clearly incensed has to be made to go to the dressing room by the referee as play resumes.
A few strong challenges are flying in now both sides are wound up the refereeing not helping to calm thing's down. Agg getting onto the ball looks to pull the trigger from 25 yards out is clipped as she shoots the ball running through to the keeper.
Carlton then fouls Mason giving Watford a free kick on the left of the box 20 yards out. Dear is over the set piece sends the ball straight into Quantrill in the centre of goal. Millwall aren't really capitalising on having an extra player on the pitch Watford are fired up and committing into every challenge. Fisk comes off for Millwall with Lilli Maple coming on and going into the middle.
Josie Green bombs forwards for Watford after Millwall loses possession in their half plays it out to Mason on the lift she drives another shot in towards goal heading for the near post this time Quantrill has the angle covered and is down quickly to make the save. Green is replaced by Kim Farrow for Watford.
Millwall with a free kick on the right the ball is swept into the box comes to Goss she has to try and scoop the ball up from six yards to get it past Burgess but the keeper stays big and takes the ball into her gloves.
Hincks puts a great ball in from the right for Ayane to attack, however Burgess is out rapidly to dive at her feet and make the save. Closing minutes both sides have a pop from distance both times the attempt is wide of the goal.
The final whistle blows and Millwall Lionesses win the match 3-2 and move onto 11 points and into 4th place in the FAWSL 2 league table.
A fast paced game with some great goals scored in between some controversial refereeing decisions odd that a red card was shown yet hardly a yellow were some strong challenges flying in although on most occasions the players just got on with it. Watford were always behind in the match but may have fancied their chances of pulling something back before the red card incident the 10 left on the pitch looking to take the game to Millwall which led to an exciting finish.
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