Woodley United Ladies v Selsey Women
SRWFL Premier Division
Sunday saw a return to my most visited team, Woodley United Ladies, for the 18th time in the last two and a half years. It’s always great to catch up with everyone at the Bulmershe Pavilion and this was no different. For this match they were also doing their bit for the local community with a collection for the Woodley Foodbank which was very well supported. They will be collecting again next Sunday so if you’re in the area please do drop some items in, if you are able, when they play Reading Women, it all helps.
Their opponents Selsey are also a team I have seen on my travels, I watched them at Maidenhead in the FAWNL and was taken by their togetherness, spirit and just the joy of playing football while going through a difficult time in the league. It’s always lovely to see a team play with a smile on their faces. They are yet to win a league game this season but came so close last week, leading from an Isabelle Childs goal in the 40th minute away to Sholing before suffering heartbreak in added time, conceding two goals in the 97th and 99th minutes.
Woodley for their part have been struggling with injuries and unavailability this season and to still be sitting in the top four of a very competitive league speaks volumes for their resilience and the quality of their squad and coaching.
So, onto the game on a day where the sun was trying to break through but there was a cold wind just to let you know we’re still in winter. Woodley started the game quickly and opened the scoring after just two minutes. Sarah Lawrence chased after a seemingly lost cause, retrieving the ball on the byline before skipping inside the defender and passing to Chloe Melton whose sidefooted finish swept the ball past Bethany Donoghue. 1-0
The hosts continued to push forward, Lauren Devlin found Melton outside the box with her back to goal, she turned quickly and fired a first time shot goalwards but straight into the midriff of Donoghue.
At the other end Isabelle Wheatley tried to lob Woodley keeper Jo-Anna Nowak-Allum from distance but Novak-Allum got back well and gathered. Next in this fast-paced opening ten minutes, Lucy Giles tried her luck from 30 yards out which Donoghue dealt with well.
In the tenth minute a cross from the right flank into the box from Mollie Haines missed everyone with Lawrence first to reach the loose ball. She held the ball up well in the area before feeding Devlin on the left side of the area and she hit a great effort over Donoghue and into the top right corner. 2-0
Selsey battled back and hit the hosts on the break, Lucienne Selvester linked up well with Isabelle Childs before the ball fell to Wheatley who again tried to lob the ball over the advanced Nowak-Allum. This time she got the height to beat the keeper only to see it sail just the wrong side of the post.
Woodley were playing some nice football with Haines and Melton linking up well down the right. Melton played a clever ball inside the full back for Lawrence to run onto, she shifted the ball to her left and got a shot away which was saved well by the foot of Donoghue. The ball was recycled and crossed in but just too far in front of May Hamblin coming in at the far post.
Lawrence was again in the centre of the action when making a good run down the right, reaching the byline and firing a cross towards the near post which Donoghue parried away diving to her left.
Selsey were still making chances of their own, a free kick from the right was half cleared but only to Wheatley whose first time shot looked to be heading goalwards but Gergana Kehayova managed to get an important block in.
Melton then picked out the run of Lawrence down the middle where she knocked the ball around Donoghue but she did enough to force her wide. Lawrence managed to flick the ball back into the six-yard box finding Melton whose quick turn and shot went just wide of the post.
H-T: Woodley United 2 Selsey 0
The second half started with Selsey having more possession and forcing the hosts to battle hard. There were a couple of half chances early on, for Woodley Lawrence picked up the ball on the left and drifted past three defenders before shooting low to Donoghue’s right where she again just managed to get a foot on it to keep it out. For Selsey Wheatley made a good run down the right and hit a cross into a great area only to see Nowak-Allum gather well in front of Childs.
The visitors continued to press and force a couple of corners but all were defended well by the home side and saw two shots go wide. At the other end Lawrence had a shot blocked, the rebound wouldn’t fall kindly for Melton but she did manage to knock it back to Bonnie Messitt but her shot blocked well by the resolute Selsey defence.
In the last ten minutes Woodley upped their game and had a flurry of corners of their own. From one the ball fell to Chante Bynoe-Gittens but a fantastic last-ditch sliding tackle by Maisie Guymer denied her a chance to get a shot on goal.
Lawrence had a snapshot that went just wide before wrapping up the points with a stunning goal. A long clearance was chased down by Melton, she held the ball up before playing a delightful chip pass over the head of Gemma Halford and perfectly picking out the run of Lawrence. She picked her spot, firing into the top corner from just inside the area. 3-0
F-T: Woodley United 3 Selsey 0
A deserved win for the home side but they were made to battle for everything throughout. Their forward line always looked the more dangerous and likely to score. Good performances all round for the hosts, Nowak-Allum keeping a clean sheet, Gergana Kehayova looks a solid addition who made several important blocks during the match, and Chloe Griffiths played well on the right side of defence hassling forwards and always managing to get a foot in when it was needed. Bonnie Messitt was everywhere, defence, midfield, joining attacks, what an engine she has! The front two, Lawrence and Melton always looked dangerous and it was lovely to see Kezia Browning make her Woodley debut.
Selsey battled back well after going behind so early and were in the ascendancy for long periods in the second half. Isabelle Wheatley looks a good player and there were also good performances from Georgia Morris and Lucienne Selvester. They look to have a good base and will hopefully continue to improve. Fingers crossed their fortunes will turn soon and a first win is just around the corner!
An enjoyable game and good luck to both sides for the remainder of the season, let’s hope they can both finish well!