Group One of this season's Continental Tyres Cup is the same as last year, the 'London' group, which contains both Arsenal and Chelsea Ladies both involved in the title fight at the top of FAWSL 1 both are strong favourites to progress from the group to the knock out stages of the competition. This season though the competition has gained a quarter final stage with the top 2 teams from each of the three groups progressing as well as the best two runners up.
If they can't muscle there way into the top two spots above Arsenal or Chelsea then there's still a lot to play for, for the four FAWSL 2 sides competing in Group One which also includes Watford Ladies and London Bees.
The competition started last week with its opening round of group matches, in Group One Millwall Lionesses got their campaign off to a winning start coming out the better in an 8 goal thriller at home to London Bees winning the match 5-3 a result that puts them 2nd in the group albeit early days. Have recently signed Fliss Gibbons from Brighton and she opened her Millwall account against London Bees scoring a hat-trick.
Reading FC Women started their 2015 Continental Tyres Cup group campaign with a home match against Chelsea Ladies. Was a competitive match where Reading FC Women were 2-1 up in the 2nd half before Chelsea Ladies came back to score 2 goals the 3rd in the final minute to wrap up a 3-2 win. In the other group match Arsenal Ladies beat Watford Ladies 3-0 putting them top of Group One.
A win for Millwall Lionesses over Reading FC Women would open the gap on their rivals to 6 points and put them is a good position with three group games left to play, two defeats from their opening two group matches is certainly something Reading FC Women would want to avoid. Have lost their star player after selling Fran Kirby for a record British transfer fee to Chelsea Ladies. Have done a very good piece of business though in bringing in Nikki Watts almost immediately from Bristol Academy to replace her as well as adding Welsh international defender Nia Jones to their squad.
Taking up a spot on the side of the pitch just along from the dugouts I had the Reading FC Women fans to my left. A vocal bunch full of song and banter gave their team plenty of encouragement throughout the match.
Millwall Lionesses starting XI - Francesca Gibbs, Jordan Butler, Grace Fisk Naomi Cole (C), Leanne Cowan, Ashlee Hincks, Meghan McKeag, Lilli Maple, Danielle Carlton, Megan Goss & Fliss Gibbons.
subs - Ciara Sherwood, Rinsola Babajide, Dionne Lennon, Francesca Ali, Lottie Iverson, Jasmine Auguste & Lauren Davis
Reading FC Women starting XI - Grace Moloney, Nia Jones, Becky Jane, Kirsty McGee (C), Kylie Davies, Bonnie Horwood, Lois Roche, Charlie Estcourt, Emma Follis, Nicola Watts & Helen Ward.
subs - Harriet Scott, Georgie Giddings, Lauren Bruton, Laura-May Walkley, Melissa Fletcher, Rachel Rowe & Chloe Sansom.
Kick off was delayed, put back 15 minutes due to the Reading team bus arriving late following heavy traffic. The Beckenham Town FC pitch looked in great condition and is out of bounds to everyone until kick off the players warming up on the pitch beside the ground. It was Millwall to kick off the match wearing their kit of Navy shirts, white shorts and socks with Reading lined up in their white and blue hooped shirts, blue shorts and socks opposite.
Millwall start on the front foot possession inside the reading half Lois Roche committing a foul inside their half giving Millwall's Ashlee Hincks an early opportunity to play the ball into the area aiming for the crowded far post area players go up looking to get onto the end of the ball, it's a Reading head that gets the ball away. Good work down the left of the pitch sees the pass slid down the channel for Millwall's Meghan McKeag to attack, screws the ball back to the edge of the area with Hincks arriving sends a diagonal ball in towards the far post again Reading clear.
GOAL! Millwall are awarded a penalty inside the opening 5 minutes. With possession the ball is worked out to Megan Goss out on the right taking the ball to the byline she takes on a gets past Nia Jones playing at left back to enter the area is tripped by Jones before she can deliver the cross the referee points to the spot. Millwall captain, Naomi Cole to step up to take the spot kick, is clinical, sends Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney the wrong way as she blasts the ball into the back of the net 1-0.
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| Millwall Lionesses, Naomi Cole |
Winning the ball back at in defence Cole plays the ball long with McKeag making the run for her down the left, she is almost through the Reading defence to attack the goal, however captain Kirsty McGee is quickly across to close her down sliding in to make the tackle and clear the threat. In the middle for Millwall, Hincks is getting plenty of time on the ball and has a good range of passes on her, with McKeag left and Goss on the right looking to make runs.
Reading are starting to make some progress into Millwall's final third with Emma Follis on the right side driving up to the byline manages to square the ball in towards goal can only pick out Millwall goalkeeper Frankie Gibbs who has come across to cover her near post. A long pass from midfield by Charlie Estcourt has both Follis and Helen Ward interested as they break beyond the Millwall defence, right back Jordan Butler is alert to the danger and across on the cover to sweep the ball away for a throw.
In attack for Millwall, Fliss Gibbon's playing centrally comes looking for the ball is given it in space 30 yards out, Reading don't close her down as she lines up the shot. Moloney isn't troubled though with the ball coming straight at her she easily gathers.
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| Millwall Lionesses, Fliss Gibbons |
Reading almost level as Nikki Watts hits the post with a curling strike aiming for the top corner from outside the area to the right of goal as she is played in by Follis who has made a great run to get the ball on the right.
GOAL! Reading do equalise this time. Good work from right back Becky Jane to win the ball back for her team on the right puts the ball forwards to Follis, taking on the player in front of her she gets into the area with the ball stabs it across the goal face, the initial effort on goal is blocked before the ball pops back to Follis who plays it to the far post area where Ward is waiting to sweep the back back across and into the back of the net 1-1.
20 minutes gone, Millwall look to respond get back in the lead, Danielle Carlton wins the ball out on the left has good support from Gibbons as the two work the ball down the wing before Carlton plays the return ball back into Gibbons inside the box, the striker curls the cross in towards goal with Goss arriving at the far post under challenge can't direct her header towards goal instead it drops to Hincks who is running into area she lashes her shot wide, must have taken a deflection though as a corner is indicated.
Reading have pushed everyone up the pitch are a little vulnerable if Millwall get the ball back and quickly counter, do so as McKeag is send through wide on the left, Jane has plenty of pace as she quickly closes the gap and tackles well to win the ball back.
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| Reading FC Women's, Becky Jane |
Strong running from Follis on the right wing again chases down the ball fizzes a cross into the area is turned back out to the edge of the box, Watts is ready to pounce on it shoots Butler throws herself in front of the ball making the block. Is end to end as Hincks with support from Gibbons takes the ball up the pitch on the left sweeping the cross in towards goal Moloney keeps her eye on the ball not distracted by the attacker coming in catches the ball but loses it as bowled over the referee stops play awarding the free kick in her favour.
Watts with another shot smashing off the woodwork having come to offer support on the left has the ball 35 yards out looks to take on the shot Gibbs is beaten in goal saved by the cross bar as the ball comes back off it before being cleared.
GOAL! Reading take the lead having won a corner to be played in from the right. The delivery is good the ball swung in towards the far post area think it is McGee up from the back who gets her head to the ball knocking in back into the centre before it is puts back in towards the far post again this time Ward is their and free to nod the ball down and into the net 1-2.
Reading have become the dominant side as the half draws to a close, Watts on the ball on the right turns back inside seeing the run from Roche tees her up as she hits the ball on the stride sending it into the area across the goal, Gibbs dives the shot though is wide at her far post.
Half time Millwall Lionesses 1-2 Reading FC Women.
Despite a bright start and taking the early lead Millwall Lionesses find themselves 2-1 down following a brace from Helen Ward, have been competitive 1st half with Hincks getting hold of the ball, Reading though grew into the match as the half wore on just one goal in it though all to play for 2nd half with Reading kicking off.
The floodlights taking full effect the temperature has dropped making it feel chilly. Millwall get the ball back enjoyed a spell of sustained possession around the reading area neither Gibbon's nor Goss with their backs to goal are allowed to turn and get a shot away. Nia Jones getting hold of the ball brings it out from the back has Bonnie Horwood making a good run looking to get free on the left in front of her plays the midfielder in she takes the ball to the touchline before sending the cross into the box can only pick out Gibbs who claims the ball.
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| Millwall Lionesses, Lilli Maple on the ball |
Is Leanne Cowan's turn to make a run from full back travelling up the right side of the pitch offering good support to Gibbons the two exchange passes before Cowan delivers the ball into the box is met by the head of Kylie Davies the Welsh international heading the ball clear.
A deflected Reading shot sees the visitors win a corner kick swept in from the right is threatening to swing in under the bar Gibbs does well to initially parry the ball away however it drops down to Watts out to the left of the six yard box she smashes the ball back in towards goal, this time Gibbs does fantastically well making a great save pushing the ball well away from danger.
Reading are starting to apply the pressure are winning the ball back in midfield with Horwood and Estcourt working hard, the pass is played out to Follis on the right as they launch a rapid attack Follis sends the ball into the area close on the near post Gibbs is across to save almost pushes the ball onto Watts who is attempting to get onto the end of the cross.
Millwall make a change with McKeag the player coming off. Millwall have had very little of the ball 2nd half aren't able to get Hincks on the ball as much as they did 1st half with Goss and Gibbons having to pick up the ball deeper to mount an offensive move.
Reading make a double change, Horwood has taken a knock a few minutes earlier and can't continue as she is helped off the pitch Rachel Rowe comes in on her place, Lauren Bruton comes on too for Emma Follis. A great forwards pass from Reading picks out Ward travels with the ball from a central position out to the right side of goal before getting her shot away, aiming for the near post Gibbs is well placed to make the save.
Watts then fires a shot over the bar as reading push players forwards, peeling off into space left of the area Watts takes on the early shot sending the ball over the bar. Millwall make a 2nd change with Lilli Maple coming off, Ciara Sherwood the player coming on.
Roche powers a shot wide from a long way out on the right off a free kick played into her from the left inside the Millwall half as Bruton is fouled. Ward down the right channel for the visitors fires the ball in towards goal Gibbs making the save at her near post pushes the ball out into the area, Estcourt has burst forwards from the midfield and is after the ball her shot is smashed against as Millwall defender as they block the shot.
Few opportunities for Millwall 2nd half to play the ball into the box winning a free kick wide on the right Hincks has the chance to put the ball in sending it over to the far post the ball is met by Cole who heads it back into the danger area can't pick out a team mate with Reading winning it back and countering win a throw deep on the right.
Final changes for both sides as 1st Millwall bring on Rinsola Babajide for Megan Goss, then reading bring on Laura-May Walkley for Estcourt. Walkley is involved straight away linking up with Bruton as the two press forwards Walkley playing Bruton in wide left she fires a cross in towards goal is intercepted by Cole put out for a corner.
GOAL! Bruton buts the game beyond doubt for Reading as she adds the 3rd goal getting the ball from the corner on the left she drives in towards the top left hand corner of the box, rides a strong challenge keeps on her feet before hitting a rocket of a shot through the crowd and into the back of the net 1-3.
Late into the match Millwall's Ciara Sherwood plays the ball long down the left with Gibbons still willing to give chase, Moloney is having no of it though comes racing out of her area to smash the ball away. Full time and Reading FC Women get their Continental Tyres Cup campaign up and running with 3-1 win to go level on points with Millwall.
Arsenal Ladies top Group One with 2 wins out of 2 but not before going a goal down at London Bees tonight a young side eventually coming back to win 3-1.
A competitive 1st half from both sides with Millwall taking the early lead, struggled to cope though as Reading grew stronger as the game progressed were the dominant side 2nd half and never looked in danger of letting their 1st half lead slip.
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