The games paced out a bit further apart in the FAWSL 2 Spring Series, Everton Ladies have looked strong all season suffering just the one defeat in their 8 matches played to date that a narrow loss away to surprise packages Millwall Lionesses. 6 wins and a draw undefeated in their last 5 games including 3 straight wins come into the game knowing the Spring Series trophy is almost in their hands a superior goal difference meaning even a loss today wouldn't be a disaster however the club will want to become Champions with a final day win, boost the confidence going into the new season no end. For Everton manager Andy Spence always looking to bring youth players through the ranks, something's being forced to in recent seasons this will be a well deserved achievement for the club.
London Bees can't finish any higher than 6th place in the FAWSL 2 Spring Series table a win needed to guarantee the position, as both Watford Ladies or Brighton & Hove Albion WFC could yet catch them if they were to win their final games. Will be disappointed with that position however after making such a promising start to the Spring Series undefeated with 7 points from their opening 3 games. Only one more win has come since and have lost the last 3 games in a row.
Playing at The Hive for the last time in the Spring Series will be looking to end on a high take that into the new season. Looks like the showers that affected the earlier game are fading away the sun bright behind the West Stand as the two sides walk out onto the pitch.
London Bees starting XI - Sophie Harris, Ocean Rolandsen, Sophie Fogarty, Emma Beckett, Amber Tullett, Rebecca Anderson, Tricia Gould, Ashleigh Goddard (C), Paula Howells, Evie Clarke & Jo Wilson.
subs - Amelia Boyle, Lucy Loomes, Alysha Stojko-Down, Holly Greenwood, Katherine Huggins
Everton Ladies starting XI - Kirsty Levell, Georgia Brougham, Danielle Turner, Megan Finnigan, Gabby George, Michelle Hinnigan (C), Mollie Green, Faye Bryson, Kelly Jones, Aileen Whelan & Simone Magill
subs - Vicky Jones, Fern Whelan, Chantelle-Boye Hlorkah, Amber Stobbs, Olivia Chance, Claudia Walker & Emily Hollinshead.
Everton another side to bring players in from folded Notts County Ladies welcome the return of defender Fern Whelan along with striker Aileen Whelan, the former named amongst the substitutes, with the latter starting. It's London Bees to kick off the 1st half, wearing white shirts with an orange and black striped sash across the front, black shorts and white socks. Everton lined up opposite wearing blue shirts with white shorts and socks.
Everton pressure the ball right from the start Kelly Jones cutting out a pass in the middle sends it forwards with Aileen Whelan looking to get into the area left the ball into her path knocks it to the right for Simone Magill, trying to shift it inside the area is tackled by London Bees, Amber Tullett.
Tricia Gould brings the ball forwards for London Bees left side closing in on the top of the area sends it across looking to pick out Jo Wilson in the middle, can't reach it runs on picked up by Evie Clarke right side tries to force her way into the box, no way through as Gabby George and Danielle Turner close her down.
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| Everton Ladies, Gabby George |
Sophie Fogarty is fouled on the left side a free-kick in a wide position outside the box 25 yards out. Emma Beckett comes forwards from the centre of defence to take it, a let off for Everton as her inswinging strike fired in with plenty of power smashes against the upright before dropping down into the box and being scrambled away.
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| London Bees, Sophie Fogarty with Everton Ladies, Simone Magill |
London Bees captain, Ashleigh Goddard controls well in the middle sees Forgarty on the move down the left picks her out with the pass, sends the cross into the the area, George getting her head on the ball clears for Everton. Everton get the ball up the other end win a throw deep on the right into Mollie Green she turns inside drives into the box fires the ball in across the six yard box is intercepted by Beckett at the near post and cleared up field.
An Everton corner on the left an inswinging ball played in high Tullett gets up high to head away for London Bees. Whelan and Magill link up well up top for Everton bring about another corner from the opposite side, another good delivery, this time goalkeeper Sophie Harris with a confident claim for London Bees. Beckett cuts the ball out near post as it is fired into the area for Magill to attack after Georgia Brougham and Faye Bryson combine well on the right for Everton.
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| Amber Tullett gets up high to head the ball clear from the corner for London Bees |
Moving past the opening 15 minutes of the game Everton starting to build some momentum, captain Michelle Hinnigan winning the ball in the middle driving on with it plays a great through ball in behind the London Bees defence sending Whelan through on goal, looks to stab the ball past Harris coming racing out to close her down sliding in the keeper makes a fantastic save grabbing the ball before it can escape her.
Less than a minute later Harris is called into action again producing another great save, Magill played through on goal to the right shoots from inside the box Harris pushing the ball wide of her near post conceding the corner. The goalkeepers heroics continue as Harris produces a quality double save from the resulting corner the ball long to the fire posted knocked down back towards goal Harris going to ground blocks then as the ball is fired back at her saves with her feet the ball deflected out to the right send back in across the face of goal goes wide of the far post.
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| A busy 1st half for London Bees goalkeeper, Sophie Harris |
Jones plays the ball on into Whelan outside the box a good turn before sending the ball wide right for Magill, going on cuts it back to Green arriving at the top of the box central her shot is blocked. Jones carries the ball forwards moving right crosses into the area, Beckett wins the header with Whelan closing in, out to the left Turner sends the ball in near post Harris claiming well. Green plays the ball into Magill drifting in space on the right takes on the shot from the top of the area the ball over the bar midway through the 1st half.
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| Everton Ladies, Mollie Green opens the scoring |
Everton keep coming winning the ball from the restart go forwards Hinnigan on for Green taking the ball on onside the box moving right looks to fire a shot back across the keeper, Harris making a good save grabbing the ball low to her left. Paula Howells gets control of the ball in the middle for London Bees moving left drives forwards whipping in a ball from 20 yards out, it's George who gets her head on the ball to clear for Everton.
A corner kick for Everton on the left just past the half hour the ball into a central position, Whelan gets up highest sends her headed ball wide across goal. Fogarty does well inside the box to defend a cross fired in long from the left has Whelan and Green either side of her brings the ball down well keeping it close to her body before playing it clear.
GOAL! Everton double their lead good build up play on the left side it's Turner who plays in a fantastic ball from the wing top of the area over the runners near post falls on a plate for Hinnigan central a top draw header to send the ball angling back across the keeper and into the top corner 2-0.
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| Everton Ladies captain, Michelle Hinnigan |
Opportunities for London Bees up top have been limited as the game moves into the last 10 minutes in the 1st half. Goddard brings the ball forwards has Howells to her left finding her with the pass the cross is played into the box, George their to deal with it again far post. Magill receiving the ball from a throw in turns her marker taking the ball down the line putting the ball into the six yard box Whelan getting her head on the ball places her effort over the top.
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| London Bees, Paula Howells |
Goddard with another forceful run forwards plays the ball into Wilson the striker shifts the ball left to right between her feet before shooting the strike blocked by Everton's Megan Finnigan. Magill robs the London Bees defence of the ball as they get caught in possession at the back on the left the ball rolled into the middle with Hinnigan bombing on meeting the ball strikes 1st time putting her attempt over the bar.
Into the last 2 minutes of the 1st half and Harris continues to make the saves to keep her side in the match Hinnigan driving on with the ball through the middle puts it on for Magill into the box left of goal blasts the ball in towards goal the London Bees keeper saving excellently with her legs to keep the ball out.
Half-time London Bees 0-2 Everton Ladies
Everton Ladies good value for their 2-0 lead at the break have created plenty of chances in front of goal only some superb goalkeeping from Sophie Harris for London Bees has kept the score down. Few opportunities up the other end goalkeeper Kirsty Levell rarely called into action, Beckett's strike against the bar the closest the home side have come. Need a better 2nd half if they are to get back into the game.
A change for London Bees at the start of the 2nd half Tullett off to be replaced by Lucy Loomes. Everton to get the 2nd half underway on the attack right from the off, a throw in right the ball put into Jones' feet as it is played across the top of the area, goes for goal a low drive blocked by Beckett.
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| London Bees, Rebecca Anderson |
Whelan taking the ball out to the left wins Everton a corner kick, taken short before being delivered into the box the ball headed clear falling to Jones outside the box hits it hard back in towards goal taking a deflection flies up over the bar. London Bees break from the corner Anderson bringing the ball out of the area looks to release Wilson up top, Turner the last defender does well to close her down. Bryson puts the ball wide from inside the six yard box for Everton as she gets onto the end of a cross fired in from the left.
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| Everton Ladies, Faye Bryson |
A change for Everton 10 minutes into the 2nd half bring off Bryson sending on Vicky Jones twin sister to Kelly. It's Vicky who puts the ball on for Turner getting in behind the London Bees defence on the left puts a great cross into the box Green arriving headers the ball down, straight at Harris saves will going to ground. Everton keep coming forwards, Magill playing the ball into Whelan central no way through plays the ball out to Turner left clips a cross back into the six yard box, Harris gets her arms up to claim the ball.
Another change for Everton Claudia Walker entering the game replacing Green in the 61st minute. A throw for Everton level with the top of the box on the right side into Magill, sends the ball inside to Whelan letting the ball run across her strikes it her shot swinging away from goal. Wide again from Whelan soon after as Vicky Jones comes on with the ball looks to put the ball inside for Walker the ball evading her central come onto Whelan strikes the ball from outside the box.
GOAL! Penalty! The ball on the left played into Walker the Everton attacker is brought down as she enters the area, dusts herself down to take it. Hits the ball hard and low into the bottom corner of the net guessing right Harris almost reaches it with her dive Everton extend their lead in control of the game with 20 minutes left play 0-3.
London Bees make a change Wilson coming off to be replaced by Alysha Stojko-Down up front. Everton continue to dominate possession of the ball keeping it in and around the London Bees area. Walker with the ball on the left cuts inside before letting looses a shot from 20 yards the ball swerving through the air sails over the bar. Vicky Jones with a strike at goal from 20 yards right of goal as she comes onto a Magill lay off from inside the box the shot held by Harris.
Everton make their final chance with 80 minutes on the clock, Olivia Chance coming on for Magill. Goddard is injured for London Bees can't continue, Katherine Huggins comes on. Loomes pushes forwards for London Bees left side allowed the shot the ball is blocked inside the area. A free-kick for London Bees inside the Everton half as Gould is fouled. Beckett to play the ball down the right the cross put in Finnigan heads the ball out of the area comes to Howells hits it hard taking a deflection goes away for the corner kick. The ball in from the left is met by Fogarty near post sees her header blocked.
GOAL! Not long left on the clock now Everton keep on pressing forwards the ball played into Walker has time to shoot 25 yards out and hits a cracking ball ball in curling away from Harris flies into the back of the net her 2nd of the game to make it 0-4 virtually the last action of the game as the final whistle blows and Everton Ladies celebrate winning the FAWSL 2 Spring Series.
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| Claudia Walker converts the penalty to put Everton Ladies 3-0 up |
London Bees make a change Wilson coming off to be replaced by Alysha Stojko-Down up front. Everton continue to dominate possession of the ball keeping it in and around the London Bees area. Walker with the ball on the left cuts inside before letting looses a shot from 20 yards the ball swerving through the air sails over the bar. Vicky Jones with a strike at goal from 20 yards right of goal as she comes onto a Magill lay off from inside the box the shot held by Harris.
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| Alysha Stojko-Down winning the header for London Bees |
GOAL! Not long left on the clock now Everton keep on pressing forwards the ball played into Walker has time to shoot 25 yards out and hits a cracking ball ball in curling away from Harris flies into the back of the net her 2nd of the game to make it 0-4 virtually the last action of the game as the final whistle blows and Everton Ladies celebrate winning the FAWSL 2 Spring Series.
Full time London Bees 0-4 Everton Ladies
A 4-0 win for Everton Ladies looked the better side from start to finish getting forwards seeing plenty of the ball, 2 goal each half would have been more if not for the magnificent saves from Harris. A on off competition and Everton Ladies win the trophy.
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| The Prize |
SWF Blog - Player of the Match
The SWF Blog - Player of the Match goes to Everton Ladies captain Michelle Hinnigan leading from the front a driving force in the middle well backed up by Kelly Jones getting hold of the ball bringing it on setting up chances and scoring too.
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| Everton Ladies, FAWSL 2 Spring Series Champions |
Congratulations to Everton Ladies on winning the FAWSL 2 Spring Series a great achievement for all the players, staff and fans.
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| CHAMPIONS |
I have never watched the ladies football matched, but I think this one will be a great match to watch. Thanks for the update.
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