Farnborough FC Women v Andover New Street Ladies
Hampshire County Women’s Football League Division One
My penultimate game of the 24/25 season and it was a late decision after an early morning trawl through Twitter. I happened across a post from Andover New Street Ladies advertising the game and, with it being an 11am kick off, that left the rest of the day free. This would be my fourth time seeing Farnborough and a first watching Andover New Street despite them being on my list to visit all season.
The game didn’t have a lot on it with Farnborough already being crowned champions (more on that later) but I’m sure Andover would be looking for a little revenge after losing to Farnborough on penalties in the County Cup. I’m not sure what is going on with Andover’s one remaining match and where they’ll finish which could be second, third or fourth but as usual, the FA Full Time website isn’t conclusive on the subject.
It was a little blustery at Farnborough Gate, the council pitch on Ringwood Road, as the game kicked off and the visitors were on the front foot from the off. Boro found themselves pushed back early on and just a couple of minutes in Freya Twigg picked up a diagonal ball inside the box. She shrugged off a challenge from her marker before firing a shot into the roof of the net from 10 yards out. 0-1
Farnborough tried to rally and a nice run and pass from Jordan Thompson picked out the run of Ellie Stalley but her first time effort was easily saved by Cherie Connolly in the Street goal.
The visitors continued to control the first period and, a nice move across the edge of the area eventually fell to Twigg on the left. With her back to goal she rolled it back to Nikki Barnes who hit a swerving shot from 25 yards out which was well saved low down by Boro keeper Jodie Sawyer.
New Street continued to push forward and got their reward from a corner kick. Keira Smith swung a cross to the edge of the six-yard box where it was met by a Rachel Gwilliam glancing header with the ball flying into the net. 0-2
Just before half time the visitors nearly made it three, Barnes volleyed a diagonal pass to Twigg on the left side of the area, she hit a strong first-time effort which Sawyer just managed to get a foot on to deflect it wide of the post. A dominant first half performance with Street deservedly ahead at the break.
H-T: Farnborough 0 Andover New Street 2
Farnborough started the second half much better, controlling play early on but without being able to find a way to break through the well drilled visitors defence, with Street’s Brooke Casey-Batley looking a class player, covering well and getting important touches in when needed.
The first goalmouth action came at the other end, from another good delivery from a Smith corner into the six-yard box Charli Wright got a touch to send it goalwards but again Sawyer managed to get enough of a touch to deflect the ball away from danger.
A nice one-two between Boro’s Ellie Stalley and Katie Taylor saw the former head into the box marshalled by Gwilliam. As Connolly came rushing out Stalley managed to get a touch to take the ball away from the keeper and across the face of the goal but nobody in a yellow shirt was following up which allowed Casey-Batley time to clear.
Andover had two chances in quick succession to add to their lead. First, Summer Williams ran onto a through ball from a quick break and tried to slide the ball across Sawyer who again managed to save well low down to her right. Then just a minute later Wright made space for herself in the box but fired over the bar.
The game got a little tetchy going into the last ten minutes with some niggly fouls on and off the ball. In the 82nd minute, from an Andover break, a battling run down the right by Williams ended with a nice pass off to Smith on the edge of the box where she fired across the keeper with it flying wide of the post.
Farnborough nearly made it an interesting last five minutes when Stalley blocked the ball with the visitors trying to play out from the back, cut back inside the defender but her shot from the left drifted just wide of the far post.
The last action of the game came for New Street, Twigg latched onto a short back pass and stabbed a shot towards the goal where Sawyer was again well positioned and made the save.
F-T: Farnborough 0 Andover New Street 2
A well deserved three points for Andover New Street and a decent performance from them on a bobbly surface. It was a frustrating day for Farnborough who improved after the break but couldn’t pick away through Andover’s impressive defence and certainly didn’t work Connolly enough.
New Street look a decent outfit, strong all over the pitch and always looked dangerous on the break. The hosts struggled and only Jodie Sawyer in their goal saved them from a heavier defeat on the day.
Congratulations go to Farnborough who celebrated a fantastic season after the game. A glorious treble, winning the HCWFL Division One title, HCWFL Invitational Cup winners and taking the Hampshire FA Women’s Trophy. A fantastic achievement!
The funny thing is this match doesn’t seem to have happened! According to the aforementioned FA Full Time website, this match is showing as an away walkover so I’m beginning to think I had too much ale in the beer festival afterwards and maybe all of the above was just a vivid alcohol induced dream. Nah, I’m sure it all happened!
A long hard season comes to a close and I’d like to wish all the very best to both sides in the future whatever leagues they find themselves in next season, I’m sure we’ll cross paths again soon!