Two sides that experienced a difficult 2nd season competing in FAWSL 2 both have seen much change over the close season and will hope to have a better campaign this time around.
A total change behind the scenes at Watford Ladies after a torrid campaign last season finishing bottom of the league picking up just a single league win, 5 points in total, player departures with John Salomon 1st team manager and the clubs General Manager stepping down from both positions at the end of the season. Were late to appoint successors to both roles, Ellie Kemp coming in to take on the General Mangers position whilst Kate Rowson is the new head coach. Have seen several player departures over the close season, the club has always had a strong youth set-up and have recruited new players, Natalie Richardson in from QPR Ladies, Sahara Osborne-Ricketts and Katie Stanley both from Oxford United Women and have recently signed Anne-Laure Davy and Italian Giulia Ferrandi.
A difficult season last time out for London Bees too, although improved on the season before where they finished bottom, saw a slight improvement finishing 8th above Millwall Lionesses and Watford Ladies, like both were searching for a new manager over the close season their 3rd in as many seasons like Watford Ladies left it late making the announcement but have brought in a coach with FAWSL experience with Bristol Academy Women aswell as the W-League in Australia, Dave Edmondson. Have again see a high player turn over in the close season have brought several new faces in late too, QPR Ladies again losing players wanting to step up to the FAWSL, strikers Jo Wilson and Emma Whitter aswell as Sophie Forgarty. Ex Bristol players, Nikki Watts and Evdokia Popadinova who both played under Edmondson join and have a new signing themselves Deanna Cooper joining from FAWPL Southern Division Champions Brighton & Hove Albion WFC.
Watford Ladies starting XI - Sophie Cheadle, Phoebe Read, Amber Tullett, Jordan Littleboy, Anneka Nuttall (C), Sahara Osborne-Ricketts, Stacey Donnelly, Giulia Ferrandi, Anne-Laure Davy, Kim Farrow & Ellie Mason.
subs - Lucy Gillett, Victoria Wotton, Charlotte Kerr, Natalie Richardson, Chontele Lawrence, Katie Stanley & Chloe Gunn.
London Bees starting XI - Imogen Riches, Aoife Hurley, Sydney Hinchcliffe, Deanna Cooper, Sophie Forgarty, Nikki Watts, Ashleigh Goddard (C), Emma Beckett, Paula Howells Evdokia Popadinova & Jo Wilson.
subs - Sophie Harris, Rebecca Anderson, Danielle Scanlon, Emma Slater & Merrick Will.
It's Watford to kick off the 1st half, wearing yellow shirts white black striping across the front and shoulders, back shorts and socks with a yellow vertical stripe down the sides, with London Bees lined up opposite wearing orange shirts, white shorts and socks. The visitors press the ball early on Watford force them to launch the ball long up to the London Bees area, centre back Sydney Hinchcliffe gets a firm header on the ball to send it clear of danger.
Watford get hold of the ball enjoy a spell of possession in and around the London Bees area comes to Kim Farrow on the right, fires a cross into the area running across the penalty area and out the far side. A free kick is awarded inside the London Bees half in front of the centre circle played long into the box by captain Anneka Nuttall is claimed by London Bees keeper Imogen Riches with Watford having runners looking to get onto the end of the dropping ball.
A quick fire counter attack by London Bees the ball from midfield by Emma Beckett swept out to Paula Howells wide on the left, running on with the ball her cross swept into the Watford area dissects attackers Jo Wilson and Evdokia Popadinova. Watford bring it out playing it into new signing Giulia Ferrandi, battles her way forwards regaining the ball from an attempted challenge eventually ends up screwing her cross behind on the left side.
Both sides are intent on moving the ball quickly using the width of the pitch with the centre backs prepared to carry the ball out from the back, Howells is ready to go on the left flank again, is tackled by Nuttall as she looks to turn in behind. Wilson gets onto the ball 25 yards out takes on the shot her effort rising over the crossbar. Wilson is lively pressuring the Watford defence inside their ow box forces an error getting a corner kick. Swept in from the right side, Watford goalkeeper, Sophie Cheadle gets up in the middle of her six yard box to punch the ball away out to the left London Bees retrieve and send the ball back into the area Sahara Osborne-Ricketts gets her head on the ball the clearance falls to Wilson looks to head the ball back in towards goal, drops down onto he crossbar and over.
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| Jo Wilson on the ball for London Bees looks to line up a shot |
Deanna Cooper carries the ball forwards from the back for London Bees into midfield produces a great crossfield ball to pick out Howells on the left attacking once again in behind fires the shot in towards goal from an acute angle sends the ball narrowly over the crossbar 10 minutes played.
GOAL! London Bees have been building up a head of steam, Popadinova picking up the ball in the middle dribbles it forwards, Howells is on the move again on the left, the ball played long out to her is perfectly weighted allowing her to run on make a move to get into the box from the wide position drills the cross in towards the near post, Wilson has come that side and opening up her body turns her shot across Cheadle and into the back of the net 1-1.
London Bees have Watford stretched with Howells left and Popadinova looking to peel right, Wilson in the centre it's the surging runs in the middle that are proving difficult for Watford to deal with, Beckett and Nikki Watts along with captain Ashleigh Goddard all taking it in turn to travel with the ball. Anne-Laure Davy hasn't seen much of the ball in the opening quarter of an hour for Watford, gets the ball from a throw on the left turns inside and closing in on the edge of the London Bees box gets a shot away a low strike that rolls wide of goal. A free kick for Watford a little closer to goal this time 30 yards out Nuttall goes to lift it into the area again, Riches does well to claim not getting distracted by the runners closing her down.
GOAL! London Bees double their lead on 20 minutes Wilson capitalising on some Watford hesitancy at the back robbing the ball off the defence 20 plus yards to the left of the area charges forwards with it into the area, Cheadle has to come racing out towards her, Wilson releases her shot early the ball flying over the keeper and into the goal beyond to make it 2-0.
GOAL! Two minutes later and London Bees have a 3rd goal, Aoife Hurley carries the ball up the pitch from right back has Popadinova in support the two linking up move the ball into the final 3rd the pass is rolled into Wilson edge of the area right side, holds it up, Goddard is on the move from a central position, Wilson plays the ball back to her meeting it on the run gets plenty of pace behind the shot smashing it in towards goal flies pass Cheadle throwing herself to her left and scores 3-0.
GOAL! Is a purple patch for London Bees they are rampant getting hold of the ball and going on the attack again make it 4, Wilson running away from goal as she complete a 1st half hat-trick her 1st for London Bees. The attack starts with Popadinova central bringing the ball on in the midfield, Howells available for the pass wide left goes after it in behind sends the cross into the six yard box over the players drawn towards the ball near post Wilson has hung back meeting the ball on the volley turns it home then wheels away in celebration her team-mates catching her up as they score 3 in 5 minutes to take full control of the game.
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| A 1st half hat-trick for Jo Wilson |
Osborne-Ricketts brings the ball forwards for Watford the defender playing it forwards into Ferrandi ahead of her takes on the strike from a close to 30 yards out sends the ball wide. Another run with the ball from a player at the back Phoebe Read covers alot of grass taking players on through the middle has an option to the left Ellie Mason is free with space ahead of her, Read hesitates just a fraction to long before releasing the ball, Beckett and Goddard closing her down winning the ball back.
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| Sahara Osborne-Ricketts bringing the ball forwards for Watford Ladies |
Cheadle makes a fantastic save to deny London Bees going further ahead as Watts takes the ball forwards moving right with Popadinova ahead of her into the box closing down on the six yard box stands the cross up towards the far post with Howells arriving unmarked looks to connect with her head send the ball down towards goal, Cheadle diving to her right gets her gloves on the ball pushes it wide then scrambling up lays claim to the ball.
Howells receives the ball wide left takes on the defence the ball blocked runs in behind, Howells goes after it does well to screw a cross back in towards the middle of the Watford area, Popadinova first to it stabs a shot over the bar, took a knick on the way through corner awarded. Put in from the right side Osborne-Ricketts gets it clear, Beckett regains possession goes for goal 25 yards out places the ball straight at Cheadle.
Davy gets her foot on the ball wide left for Watford has Amber Tullett looking to get up with her on that side, between them they get the ball inside to Ferrandi left on the edge of the area looks to curl a shot in towards the top corner drifts wide of goal. Watford's Nuttall has a strike from distance a good way out central the ball is hit wide of target.
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| Watford's, Jordan Littleboy |
Good build up play late in the 1st half from Watford, Nuttall an attack minded player by nature bringing the ball forwards from the back, puts it forwards for Jordan Littleboy who spreads the play out to Farrow on the right side close to the edge of the London Bees box has Read charging up that side on the overlap between them the ball is played back in central to Littleboy who takes on the shot from 25 yards out drifts wide of goal. One last chance for Wilson and London Bees late in the half as Popadinova puts the cross in from the right, Wilson meets it six yards out the ball whipping past the diving Cheadle strikes the post and the rebound drops favourably for the goalkeeper to pounce on.
Half-time Watford Ladies 0-4 London Bees
A powerful 1st half display from London Bees, scoring 4 goals, Jo Wilson hitting a hat-trick have looked ruthless on the ball going forwards leaving Watford shell-shocked their long range passing getting joy with players providing an outlet for the ball that has stretched Watford across the Vicarage Road pitch.
A change for Watford at the start of the 2nd half with London Bees kicking it off, Katie Stanley taking up a position wide right with Kim Farrow off. Obvious from the start that Watford's instructions are to close the ball down quicker especially in midfield. Pushing forwards Stacie Donnelly plays the ball into Ferrandi drifting to the right in front of the area looks to turn inside take on the strike Cooper gets in the way making the block deflects behind for a corner kick. The ball is sent in towards Nuttall standing back on the 18 yard line turns the shot goalwards, left back Sophie Fogarty heads clear covering the post for London Bees, back out wide Watford lift the ball back into the mix inside the box Osborne-Ricketts meeting the ball volleys over from inside the six yard box.
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| Giulia Ferrandi looks to get on the ball with London Bees captain Ashleigh Goddard in pursuit. |
With a 4-0 lead London Bees don't need so much urgency in their play, Fogarty brings the ball ball up the left looks to send Wilson drifting out into the left channel on into the box, Nuttall reads the pass intercepts the ball. Good close ball control shown by both sides the Vicarage Road pitch a great playing surface.
Howells is enjoying herself out on the left side for London Bees getting in behind stands the ball up in towards the Watford goal dropping, Cheadle stretching knocks the ball up and away from her goal rolling on Watford get it clear. Referee Lou Saunders looks to play an advantage as Cooper drives forwards with the ball into the Watford half tripped by Nuttall when no advantage is forthcoming the play is brought back for the free kick to be take close to 30 yards out central Watts over the ball goes for goal puts it straight at Cheadle who claims the ball.
A 2nd change for Watford as Charlotte Kerr comes on for Ferrandi on the 60 minute mark. Popadinova attacking right has Wilson ahead of her looking to get into the area is played in right side, opts for the cross instead of shot ten yards out standing the ball up for Howells coming in at the far post, marked closely by Read the fullback defends well knocking the ball out of the area, Beckett reacts quickest latching onto the ball outside the box fires the low strike back in, Nuttall in the way central blocks it.
London Bees hit Watford on the counter attack the ball brought out from the back on the left by Popadinova has Wilson moving out to the left side again ready to receive the ball is played in behind into the box closing in on the Watford goal looks to lift the ball over Cheadle, the keeper does well to snatch the all down out of the air and hold it. Change for London Bees, Rebecca Anderson coming on for Hinchcliffe the change sees Beckett drop into the defence.
Tullett brings the ball on up the left side for Watford, plays it inside to Mason then goes on the overlap, Mason rolling the ball on for her lifts the cross into the London Bees box, Kerr leaps trying to connect with the ball just evades her six yards out. Read has been kept busy in defence up against Howells all game but has stuck to her task shields the ball well inside her box as Watts looks to play Howells into the area, getting in front of her, allows Cheadle to come and slide in to claim the ball.
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| Watford Ladies, Amber Tullett with London Bees Evdokia Popadinova |
Read is called into action soon after as Cheadle comes racing out of her area to kick the ball away, missing it, Popadinova is after it left side, Read gets back on her forcing her to the byline then winning the goal kick. Natalie Richardson comes on for Watford as the game reaches the 80th minute mark Davy coming off. Kerr gets hold of the ball in the centre pushing forwards goes for the strike plenty of power behind the ball but not accuracy as it flies wide.
London Bees make a 2nd change with Goddard coming off to be replaced by Merrick Will a young player I saw in action in Norfolk right when I began the Supporting Women's Football Blog playing for Gorleston it's good to see a her progression from county level to FAWSL an attacker that day comes on and goes into the right back position as London Bees are forced into another change Aoife Hurley hurt in a challenge on the far side of the pitch can't continue after lengthy treatment, Danielle Scanlon comes on to take a central midfield role.
The game moves into injury time, several minutes left yet due to the Hurley's injury. A great run from Richardson for Watford taking the ball diagonally from left to right across the front of the London Bees area, cuts the ball back into the area, Beckett throws a leg out deflecting it away. Late chances fall Watford's way Mason volleying wide from outside the area. Has another shot moments later 25 yards out gets over the shot sending it in low Riches dives to her left and claims the ball. London Bees counter attack Howells winning a corner on the left the initial ball in is headed clear dropping outside the area Cooper senses a chance running onto the ball smashes a shot over the crossbar.
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| London Bees, Deanna Cooper |
GOAL! Deep into injury time and London Bees get themselves a 5th goal. Will travels with the ball up the right side covering plenty of ground before squaring it inside for Scanlon central 25 yards out, under challenge holds onto the ball sending it out for Howells breaking free into space wide left takes the ball on into the area lashing a fierce shot over Cheadle and into the back of the net 5-0.
The final action of the match as London Bees seal a comfortable 5-0 victory over their London rivals with a dominant display of attacking football their 2nd win of the season lifts them up to 6th in the table. Watford Ladies remain at the foot of the table still looking for their 1st league win. A good crowd of 618 at Vicarage Road tonight.
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