Match Report - Birmingham City Ladies v Yeovil Town Ladies

 A midweek trip to Solihull Moor FC's Autotech Stadium to watch the FAWSL 1 Spring Series fixture between Birmingham City Ladies & league new comers Yeovil Town Ladies.

 The penultimate game of the Spring series for Birmingham City Ladies down in 6th place from their 6 games played to date in the one off competition before the league reverts to a winter format later in the year. Marc Skinner taking over as manager reaching the FA Women's Cup Final. Haven't picked up as many points in their Spring Series campaign as they would have liked with just the one win along with 3 draws putting them on 6 points. Successive home games against Yeovil tonight then Chelsea Ladies on Sunday will be looking for Maximum points.

The Spring Series a good opportunity to access a squad and try new thing's Birmingham City Ladies have a large squad, which is useful with a few unavailable, new signings, Ellen White and Emma Follis amongst them along with captain Kerys Harrop and PFA Young Player of the Year, Jess Carter.

  I said in my season previews that the Spring Series would most likely benefit the newly promoted sides the most. Yeovil Town Ladies winning promotion to the top tier of women's football as FAWSL 2 Champions last season for the 1st time. A chance to see what the higher level is all about without the pressure of league position a snap shot half season. Yeovil Town know now after 7 games they have a bit of work to do if they are to pick up points regularly next season. 7 straight losses bottom of the table without a point.

  A mixture of results, some heavy defeats against the sides expecting to be challenging at the top, narrow losses to those that they would be more likely to take points from. Not training as regularly as some squads in FAWSL 1 another factor. With an uneven number in FAWSL 1 due to the folding of Notts County tonight is Yeovil Town's last match of the Spring Series and it would be a huge boost to the club to take at least a point home with them.

  Has been a while since I was last at the Autotech Stadium a few improvements and additions another smaller seated area in one corner along with covered terracing behind one goal. Always get a good cheeseburger there too. Have been craving an soft scoop ice cream for a few days now to, long way to go to get one but I'm glad to see the ice cream van is still a regular feature at the ground. Another warm sunny day a few clouds around but unlikely to rain the pitch i great condition considering the time of season.

Birmingham City Ladies starting XI - Ann-Katrin Berger, Meghan Sargeant, Emily Westwood (C), Aoife Mannion, Paige Williams, Abbey-Leigh Stringer, Marisa Ewers, Adrine Hegerberg, Carol-Jade Haines, Freda Ayisi & Ellie Brazil.
subs - Sophie Baggaley, Sian Johnson, Sarah Mayling, Chloe Peplow, Charlie Wellings, Connie Scofield & Rachel Williams.

Yeovil Town Ladies starting XI - Megan Walsh, Helen Bleazard, Natalie Haigh, Hannah Short, Nicola Cousins, Ellie Curson (C), Angharad James, Annie Heatherson, Nia Jones, Nadia Lawrence & Lucy Quinn.
subs - Bethany Howard, Leah Burridge, Steph Williams, Jessie Jones, Sarah Wiltshire, Kelly Snook & Ella Pursey.

  It's Birmingham to get the 1st half underway wearing their all blue kit with white piping across the shoulders, shorts and socks. Yeovil wearing a yellow coloured kit with green horizontal piping on the shirts and shorts with yellow and green hooped socks. Not much happening in the early stages the ball played out wide to Abbey-Leigh Stringer on the right quickly closed down by Yeovil captain, Ellie Curson as she attempts to get forwards.

  Paige Williams receives the ball in space on the left wing looking up plays the diagonal ball early into the box looking to pick out Ellie Brazil around the penalty spot the striker bringing he ball down on her chest is closely marked by Yeovil's Hannah Short the centre back reacting quickly to clear the ball. Birmingham goalkeeper, Ann-Katrin Berger gathers the ball as Yeovil launch a rapid counter attack the ball, isn't long getting down the other end Brazil after it down the left channel holding it up rolls the ball up towards Williams sends a looping cross into the area, Yeovil goalkeeper, Megan Walsh claims it high in the arm no losing her grip in the ball as Freda Ayisi clatters into her.

Birmingham City Ladies, Paige Williams

  Off the bar! Coral-Jade Haines comes very close to opening to scoring for Birmingham in the 6th minute as she wins the ball from a goal kick takes aim from 30 yards out the ball fired in smashes against the crossbar and over for a goalkick. Yeovil have little of the attack early on Birmingham intercepting any attempt at sliding the ball through for Lucy Quinn to chase.

  Haines strikes the bar again less than 5 minutes after her earlier strike, closer in this time as Birmingham press down the right side Meghan Sargeant getting forwards with the ball cutting it across the face of the area Ayisi inside the D holds it up before laying it back for Haines to hit 25 yards out smashes against the bar dropping down safely for Yeovil to clear.

  A break in play as Stringer clashes heads with Nicola Cousins, the Yeovil player coming off worse needing treatment, getting up gingerly is allowed to return to the pitch, very nearly puts Yeovil into the lead as the woodwork is struck for the 3rd time in the opening 17 minutes. The ball is played into Nadia Lawrence halfway on the right holding the ball up has support from full back Natalie Haigh the ball is fired up into the middle Quinn the target outside the box can't take it in her stride, Cousins coming beyond her left of goal latches onto the ball hitting it across the keeper strikes the base of the far post.

  Birmingham attack on the left Brazil with support from Marisa Ewers coming on from the midfield the latter attempting to get into the box take a run at goal her cross cut out comes back to Ayisi inside the D attempts to curl the ball into the top corner places it wide of the far post. Another injury concern for Yeovil as Annie Heatherson is down injured. Okay to continue Yeovil win a corner on the right the ball cleared near post Birmingham look to break with purpose Ayisi bringing the ball on sends it forwards, Birmingham captain Emily Westwood is the furthest forwards, Walsh comes racing out of her area winning the race for the ball kicking it long.

Birmingham City Ladies captain, Emily Westwood

  Good work by Stringer getting hold of the ball on the right wing coming forwards lifts it up into the area for Brazil peeling right, the ball won't drop favourably for the attacker closed down by Helen Bleazard, comes back to Stringer, puts a high ball in towards the far post Walsh takes it high in the air with Ayisi closing in. Ewers is fouled by Curson a free-kick wide left Williams to put the ball into the box, Short wins the header. Birmingham retain possession inside the Yeovil half working it around the area the move ending with a shot from Stringer driven in low but wide from 25 yards. 

Abbey-Leigh Stringer bringing the ball on for Birmingham

 A great opportunity for Stringer as she gets into the box coming in from the right supported by Brazil coming central out to the right giving the midfielder the return ball she is clear on goal, opts instead to try and square it into Haines central she is tackled by Jones the chance gone. A free-kick inside the Birmingham half wide right a chance for players to go forwards Bleazard over the ball 40 yards out a great delivery into the area runners coming on attack the ball, Short gets her head on the ball knocking it down towards goal, Berger is well placed right behind it makes a comfortable save. 

  Heatherson defends well tracking back into the area against Brazil right side as Stringer looks to slide her in on goal. The clearance gathered by Stringer tries to pick out Ayisi inside the box, no room to turn back to Stringer goes longer with the cross, Walsh under it calls and claims. Ayisi is brought down by Lawrence 30 yards from goal, Haines to take it a central position goes for goal puts her shot straight at Walsh.

 Into injury time in the 1st half Yeovil have defended well but have had little opportunity to attack the Birmingham goal Quinn tussles with Westwood for the ball in the centre circle coming away with it as Westwood goes down holding her face, the attacker drives forwards heading for the area jinking left the right to make room for the shot sends her strike up over the crossbar.
 

Yeovil Town Ladies, Lucy Quinn

Half-time Birmingham City Ladies 0-0 Yeovil Town Ladies

 A change an the break for Yeovil with Cousins coming off, Jessie Jones coming on to join the midfield. Yeovil kick off the 2nd half, lose possession early on Hegerberg on for Ayisi a driving run towards the box her shot charged down by Jones. Brave goalkeeping from Walsh saving at point blank range from Haines inside the six yard box as the ball is played long from the left knocked in towards goal the foul given against the goalkeeper. 

Freda Ayisi looking to bring the ball down for Birmingham

  A good claim from Berger inside her area off a Bleazard free-kick on halfway. Haines works herself free with the ball in the middle rolling it on for Hegerberg strikes from outside the box her low drive gathered cleanly by Walsh inside her six yard box. A lot of effort being put in from both sides to close the ball down, possession changing hands without any progress being made. Stringer wriggling free on the right sends it up towards Brazil, is tackled by Short. Williams with the ball on the left outside the area 25 yards out looks to go for goal her strike wide beyond the far post.

  Lawrence looks to thread the ball through the middle for Quinn ahead of her, she is brought down 30 yards from goal. Bleazard closer in this time goes for the shot placing her attempt wide of the top corner. James battling for the ball comes away with it central on halfway moving right fires it down the line for Quinn, Mannion goes with the attacker getting across her marshals the ball back to her keeper to clear.  

Yeovil Town Ladies, Nadia Lawrence

  On the hour mark Birmingham make their 1st change, Rachel Williams coming on replacing Ayisi up front. Yeovil make another change too, Sarah Wiltshire on to join their attack with Curson coming off. Paige Williams looks to combine with Rachel Williams on the left the ball rolled forwards for the striker into the area her cross cut out. Momentum building Birmingham play the ball left to right for Stringer going on has Sargeant coming on in support playing the ball back to her the defender opens up her body to slide the pass into the area with Rachel Williams moving to the right, she is tackled by Jones the ball put out for a corner. An inswinging delivery the ball is headed clear of the six yard box falling straight at Hegerberg on the edge of the area left of the D strikes the ball back in on the volley putting it wide of the post.

  Birmingham have the power and pace of Rachel Williams now running directly at the Yeovil defence wins a corner the ball put into the area, twice Yeovil block attempted shots, the ball eventually coming to Paige Williams left outside the area her cross/shot back in towards the far stick goes over. Birmingham make another change Westwood coming off in the 67th minute replaced by Sarah Mayling who takes up a wide right position Stringer moving inside Ewers joining the defence.

  Mayling with room on the right plays a good ball long into the area for Brazil back to goal bringing it down well volleys over. Jones heads another Mayling back into the area away gathered by James the midfield carries it on attempts to put Quinn away through the middle a timely interception by Mannion for Birmingham. Mayling is having an instance impact on the game getting forwards wide right sends another great ball in towards the far post Rachel Williams dropping off her marker in the six yard box gets up to knock the ball down towards goal, Walsh throwing herself the the right makes the save look easy.

  

Yeovil Town Ladies goalkeeper, Megan Walsh

  Birmingham have Yeovil on the back foot pressing forwards the visitors holding firm putting in the blocks, get forwards the ball into the left channel Quinn goes after it is fouled by Berger as the goalkeeper comes out of her area, is shown a yellow card. Bleazard's free-kick is put long a little to high for Wiltshire to bring down the striker keeps hold of the ball has Rachel Williams in close attendance, a good tussle between the two Wiltshire looks to knock the ball in behind cut the cross in from the byline Williams prevents the cross leaning on Wiltshire who appeals for the penalty but the referee waves play on. 

  Yeovil make their 3rd and final change with 15 minutes left on the clock, Leah Burridge coming on to replace Haigh at the back. A few niggly fouls being given away Birmingham a little frustrated that they cannot get the ball into the back of the Yeovil net. The home side make their final substitution Haines the player taken off, Charlie Wellings coming on.Birmingham launch a counter attack from a Yeovil set-piece the ball into Stringer played up field for Brazil she is challenged by James the ball going out for a throw in. 

  Wiltshire goes to lob the keeper as the ball is rolled across to her in space 35 yards out getting her foot up and over the ball launches it into the air, Berger has time to judge it's flight and as it drops short inside her six yard box gathers the ball. Mannion brings the ball forwards from the back Birmingham attacking with intent want to get that opening goal that could well prove to be the match winner playing the ball into Mayling she slides it into the area with Wellings ahead of her squaring the ball across the six yard box Brazil can't connect as it races across her. 

  Walsh has been commanding in her area even as her defence drop deeper giving her little room to operate, calling and claiming the ball high in the air unfazed by Birmingham's attackers coming at her. Into injury time Birmingham pile players forwards the cross fired in from the right by Brazil drops for Rachel Williams far post sends her header over the bar. A collision in the box sees Short knocked to the ground is taken of after treatment on the pitch Yeovil to try and see the closing minutes out with 10 players. Is all Birmingham at the end Yeovil have everyone back in defence the final whistle blows and the points are shared.

Full time Birmingham City Ladies 0-0 Yeovil Town Ladies

   A valuable point earned in their final match of the Spring Series a welcome one too for Yeovil giving them far more to take into the new season than going the entire campaign without anything in the final column of the league table. A battling performance plenty of grit and determination the longer the game wore on to keep their goal intact. Little going forwards Birmingham rarely troubled up the other end. A frustrating performance from Birmingham will feel they did everything but find that one crucial strike had the majority of the attack creating chances. Striking the bar twice, needing that one clinical finish it wasn't to be, plenty of options going forwards they will score more often than not.

SWF Blog - Player of the Match

 A difficult one this to chose tonight's SWF Blog - Player of the Match a few contenders from both sides, thought Coral-Jade Haines did well for Birmingham in the middle of the park, Abbey-Leigh  Stringer was excellent too attacking right side. For Yeovil, their defence put in a real shift backed up well by Megan Walsh, am choosing centre back Hannah Short who made a number of blocks and well timed tackles throughout the game.

 One more game to go, back at Birmingham on Saturday for their final Spring Series game v Chelsea Ladies... then I can have a rest.