It was announced at the end of last season that the current Lynn Ladies side formed 2 seasons ago and playing across the river in West Lynn would come under the banner of King's Lynn Town FC and become King's Lynn Town Ladies FC, wear the Linnets colours. The men's club competing in the Evo-Stik Southern Division keen to build a sense of community around the club, having a ladies side a natural step to take.
A prestige friendly game to herald a new era for the Ladies side a special occasion for the players to savour and enjoy. Very much an opportunity for women's football to grow on the western side of Norfolk having long be dominated from clubs around Norwich and to the east of the county. New players in the squad, notable among them Becky Russell a talented midfielder who has starred for Thorpe United Ladies in recent seasons. Had a season at Cambridge WFC too as did Bethan Jones who rejoins King's Lynn having recently been playing in the USA.
West Ham United Ladies are their opponents today, have sent up their Development squad to face King's Lynn today. Their 1st team competes in the FAWPL Southern Division 4 leagues higher than King's Lynn and this is where their young players aspire to be. A good test for both sides as they begin pre-season several new faces in the West Ham line-up to, one of those I know having too played for Cambridge last season and doing well making several starts for their 1st team, Bella Simmons.
Been a long while since I've been to The Walks stadium myself is a pleasant walk from the town centre itself through historic park land. The ground boasts on huge stand along one side of the pitch housing the bar, cafe and shop beneath, standing areas at either end behind the goals with a covered standing area running the length of the opposite of the pitch. The pitch itself ready for a new season looked immaculate, a good size. A very warm August afternoon for the game bright sun shining down on the pitch as the two sides walk out of the tunnel between the dugouts.
King's Lynn Town Ladies starting XI - Cristina Vivas Artacho, Vikki Budulyte, Katie Garner, Millie Wilson, Chloe Burch (C), Marly Lawson, Bethan Jones, Becky Russell, Steph Lund, Shelley Woods & Josie Turner.
subs - Natalie Bunton, Elle Bocking, Jade Kelly, Lisa Wilson & Emma Corbyn
West Ham United Ladies starting XI - Latoya Smith, Natalie Strange (C), Shanyi Mariner, Dani Sillitoe, Courtney Lumley, Megan Waters, Rhianne Holmes, Rachel Blythe, Hayley Peacock, Bella Simmons & Shyontae Weekes.
subs - Maddie Wright, Lucy Bronze & Pauline Adeyemo.
(roll on, roll off substitutes)
It's the visitors West Ham to get the game underway, wearing the clubs away colours of sky blue, with a claret band across the front of their shirts and sleeves. King's Lynn lined up opposite wearing yellow shirts, with blue shorts and socks. West Ham test the King's Lynn defence early sending the ball long out to the right channel, goalkeeper Cristina Vivas Artacho out of her area clears the ball. Deals well with a difficult ball sent into the box from a throw deep on the left moments later the ball played back to Courtney Lumley, 30 yards out looks to lift it into the box for the strikers to attack, bounces up sharply inside the six yard box Vivas Artacho adjusts well to claim the ball.
King's Lynn are awarded a free kick wide right a chance to play the ball up into the West Ham area, a good delivery, defender Hayley Peacock climbs highest to head the ball out for a corner. Taken from the left by Becky Russell the ball is fired in towards the near post a stooping header from Katie Garner as she attempts to turn the ball goalwards, goalkeeper Latoya Smith gets down to stop the ball, can see it bounce wide of her near post for a goal kick.
An even start to the match both sides moving the ball quickly some promising build up play. Coming through the centre in attack King's Lynn's, Josie Turner nips in to take the ball from the West Ham defence bursts clear in behind her run taking her out to the right of goal, is leaning back as she strikes the ball, screws her shot away from target. The ball is on it's way up the pitch as West Ham attack with purpose have possession on the left driving forwards Lumley plays the ball into Bella Simmons holds her marker off the ball out wide top of the area before shifting the ball and turning inside, pulls the trigger as she enters the ball sees her effort charged down.
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| West Ham United Ladies, Bella Simmons |
West Ham's Shyontae Weekes times her run perfectly as the ball is played over the top for her to chase down bursts clear of the King's Lynn defence right of the goal into the box, Vivas Artacho is quick off her line and throws herself at the strikers feet to lay claim to the ball before she can take on a shot. Almost identical up the other end with King's Lynn's next attack Smith coming out to the edge of her area on the right to slide in and claim the ball before Turner chasing after it can get there. The lively opening continues West Ham attack down their right, Rachel Blythe plays the ball into the area looking to pick out Weekes, she looks turn the ball towards goal with her 1st touch puts it behind at the near post.
GOAL! King's Lynn open the scoring on 15 minutes, the ball is sent long up field through the middle, West Ham have pushed up centre back Rhianne Holmes is looking to shield the ball from Turner with her goalkeeper coming out of her area to launch the ball with Turner almost on top of her the ball is deflected out to the left as keeper and striker come together. Turner is quicker to her feet races after the ball, know the goal is undefended, as Smith gets up tries to get back, Turner wraps her left foot around the ball and sends it home from outside the box 1-0.
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| Josie Turner scores the opening goal for King's Lynn Town Ladies |
Captain, Natalie Strange gets forwards from defence for West Ham on the left bringing the ball on looks to play a deep cross in on the angle towards the far post, it's King's Lynn captain, Chloe Burch tracking back who rises up to head the threat clear of her area. Bringing the ball into the West Ham half, Bethan Jones plays the ball out to Turner wide right, good hold up play with Russell coming towards her wanting the ball, gets it turning inside finds room to shot 25 yards out looking to send a low strike into the far bottom corner, Smith has it covered gets down to gather the ball into her body.
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| West Ham United Ladies, Courtney Lumley |
West Ham are prepared to have a go from distance both Holmes and fellow centre back Dani Sillitoe taking on shots, both put straight at Vivas Artacho. A hot afternoon a drinks break pre-arranged by both sides. West Ham ring the changes bringing on Lucy Bronze, Maddie Wright and Pauline Adeyemo. The latter of the 3 gets in on the action straight away, playing through the centre of attack is played in behind the King's Lynn defence, the ball gets stuck under her feet for a moment with Vivas Artacho charging towards her, manages to dig the shot out getting the ball past the advancing keeper but also wide of her goal beyond.
GOAL! A free kick for West Ham 40 yards out on the right, the ball is lifted up into the area towards the far post excessive bounce on the ball as it lands in the centre of the box looping up Sillitoe running in keeps her eye on it and as it comes over her headers the ball on up over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net to score 1-1.
The open nature of the game continues, Turner is a constant threat for King's Lynn ready to race in behind the West Ham defence, Smith comes racing out to slide in and bravely save at her feet as Shelley Woods puts her through on the right once again. Up the other end the ball is played across the face of the King's Lynn area Peacock looks to take on the shot hitting the ball with the outside of her boot lifts the strike up over the crossbar.
GOAL! West Ham take the lead building up some positive momentum since Adeyemo entered the action. Attacking down the right have players piling into the box the cross is lifted in towards the near post Blythe is their tries to help it on knocks it up his headed up into the air by the King's Lynn defence falls to Adeyemo arriving on the top of the area, she strikes the ball hard and low towards goal, Vivas Artacho throws herself towards the ball, can't get there 1-2.
There's a King's Lynn player down on the edge of the box, Burch was hurt in the build up to the West Ham goal and is in alot of discomfort, a player who has been out with a long term injury it isn't good to see the stretcher called for as she can't continue. Lisa Wilson comes on to join the action.
Penalty! Right on the stroke of half-time West Ham are awarded a penalty as Adeyemo on the ball drives into the box from the left, has King's Lynn defender Millie Wilson on her shoulder lunges in to win the ball, looks like she gets there but takes out Adeyemo to, bringing her down the referee points to the spot. A chance for West Ham to take a 3-1 lead into the dressing room, it's Adeyemo to take looks to lift the ball wide of Vivas Artacho to the right of goal places it wide.
Half-time King's Lynn Ladies 1-2 West Ham United Ladies Dev Squad
A very entertaining 1st half, an even contest overall, King's Lynn doing well to match West Ham and capitalised on a mistake to take the lead. West Ham fought back making the changes and seeing them go on to equalise then take the lead. Blow for King's Lynn losing their captain and it's never nice to see an ambulance arrive at a ground can only wish Chloe Burch all the best and hope it's not too serious an injury and for a speedy recovery.
The 2nd half get's underway, King's Lynn taking the kick off. Elle Bocking is on King's Lynn. Simmons is back on the pitch for West Ham. Woods now wearing the captains armband. Get's the ball back from Wilson carrying the ball on down the left 30 yards out Woods looks to try and place the ball in the top corner, Smith in the West Ham goal sees it safely into her gloves. Woods and Wilson combine again in King's Lynn's next attack, picking the ball up on half way Woods places the ball into Wilson's run down the left cuts the ball inside into the box with Turner arriving the ball won't sit for her bouncing up as she tries to lift it over the advancing Smith can't get the power needed puts it straight at her.
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| King's Lynn Town Ladies, Becky Russell holds West Ham's Megan Waters and the referee off the ball |
Again Wilson is free on the left as Russell plays the ball into her plays the cross into the box again for Turner to attack deeper this time she slips as she goes to strike it the chance gone. Good start to the 2nd half by King's Lynn, Bocking getting up the pick on the left plays the pass inside to Wilson who is brought down in a dangerous position outside the box 20 yards from goal. Woods is over the ball, gets it over the West Ham wall, Smith diving to cover her near post gets a touch on the ball taking it out for a corner kick.
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| King's Lynn Town Ladies, Bethan Jones |
Natalie Bunton comes on to the pitch for King's Lynn whilst West Ham make a double switch Mariner and Holmes back on for Lumley and Strange. The visitors haven't had as much joy in attack 2nd half as the 1st, Adeyemo powerful on the ball is being well marshalled by the home defence. Simmons wins her side a corner on the left side comes in at a good height, Vivas Artacho jumps through the crowd at the near post to punch the ball out for a 2nd corner, taken short comes all the way back to Sillitoe takes on the strike from all of 35 yards out Vivas Artacho can easily palm it down to safety.
GOAL! It's 2-2 and it's a complete horror for West Ham, Smith will come out of her area a thousand times and this will never happen again. The ball is played long by King's Lynn through the middle Holmes is shielding the ball from the attacker as Smith goes to put her foot through the ball, hits her own player and the rebound sends the ball straight back towards goal, the race to stop it is in vain as the ball rolls over the line for an unfortunate own goal.
Turner is playing off the last defender always looking like she can burst in behind and that is exactly what King's Lynn are trying to do, Woods with the pass, Turner latches onto the shot on the top of the area, a low effort, Smith throws herself to her left and lays claim to the shot. Lumley replaces Sillitoe for West Ham. Plays the ball out to Weekes wide right plays the cross on the diagonal into the box putting Adeyemo clear of her marker into the box, looking to line up a shot, Millie Wilson get's back coming across to take the ball off her toes.
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| Josie Turner looking to get ahead of West Ham's Rhianne Holmes |
Russell brings the ball on in midfield for King's Lynn her pass dissects the West Ham defence as turner beats the offside trap, the ball won't sit for the shot as she breaks into the area, drags it wide of the left post. Another chance for Turner as Steph Lund makes progress with the ball down the left cuts the ball back to Turner inside the D, a clever turn sees her evade her marker, get a shot away places it straight into Smith well placed for the strike.
More good build up play from the home side with Jones at the back now putting the ball into Woods central a neat turn sees her release the ball into the box with Lund cutting in from the left, on the ball looks to strike it across the face of goal, too close to Smith the keeper saves it.
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| Shelley Woods with the ball for King's Lynn Town Ladies |
Carrying the ball on Megan Waters coming through the middle of the park for West Ham plays the pass to Adeyemo on the left side, hard to knock off the ball she pushes forwards getting into the box unleashing a shot along the ground, Vivas Artacho gets down to her left and holds onto the ball at her near post.
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| Megan Waters bringing the ball on for West Ham United Ladies |
Late pressure from King's Lynn, Russell getting ahead of play breaking into the West Ham box on the right sees Smith slide in to take the ball at her feet before she can take on the shot. Further out it's Russell on the ball again who strikes from distance sees her effort drift wide of goal. Closing moments of the match Turner still has the energy to beat the offside trap as Russell wins the ball back on the left side plays it into Turner entering the box doesn't make a clean connection with the ball her shot lacks the pace to trouble Smith.
The referee blows up to end the game, an entertaining 2-2 draw between King's Lynn and West Ham played in front of a decent sized crowd at The Walks who will have hopefully enjoyed what they saw and come back for more. A good start to the match for King's Lynn taking an early lead, West Ham did very well dominating for a spell to come back to lead 2-1 at half-time. A mistake brought King's Lynn level 2nd half and from then on they looked the more confident fashioning more chances to find a winning goal.
The Norfolk Women's County League kick-off in September dates and fixture yet to be announced, will list them upon the Supporting Women's Football Blog's sister site www.womensfootballeast.com when they are. A good pre-season game for both sides, my thanks to both sides for their help with the squads today and best of luck to both for the season ahead.
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