Kidlington Youth Ladies 0 Woodley United Ladies 5
Sunday 5th March 2023
Southern Region Women’s Football League Division One North

Another chilly day and an early start for me, today’s travel news included a bus replacement service, train and another bus to get to a first visit to Exeter Park, home of Kidlington Youth Ladies. The travelling went swimmingly for a change and I reached the nice little ground about two hours early (I always expect the worst with public transport). I managed to find a very nice pub less than 5 minutes away serving my favourite cider which helped while away the time nicely!

This game would be the final curtain on a fantastic season for the SRWFL Division One North Champions Woodley and they had a few changes due to unavailability. Katie Hudson and Sophie Meacham coming in for Gemma Sims and Holly Wilkins, Lucy Routledge starting up front, and Maddie Sawyer taking the captain’s armband with Ellen Surtees starting on the bench. Kidlington still have one further league game to play, at Exeter Park against Eversley & California, and this was only their second home league match since November.

The game kicked off and Kidlington started well, pressing and making it difficult for the champions to play their usual passing game and they had a half chance early on when Courtney Sumner made a good run into the area but she just couldn’t get the ball down to get a shot away. Woodley’s first attack of note came from a great run down the left by Sarah Lawrence and her first time cross was blocked away well for a corner. May Hamblin swung the corner in left footed which caused the hosts some problems but was eventually cleared.

A great team move down the right led to the first goal on 19 minutes with Mollie Haines, Maddie Sawyer and May Hamblin all involved with the ball falling to Lucy Routledge in the area who turned and stroked the ball into the net. A classy finish. 0-1

This seemed to settle the visitors and just three minutes later a great passing move between Bonnie Messitt and Lucy Routledge opened space for May Hamblin who hit a lovely shot only to see it cannon back off the crossbar and away to safety. Another good move down the right with Haines finding Routledge again but this was well defended by Chloe Antonen. The same defender covered well again moments later when Hamblin found herself in space.

Woodley were now forcing the pace but the hosts were battling hard, really putting in a shift for the team. The second goal did come on the half hour mark. A superb defence splitting ball from Katie Hudson found Haines in space, she took it to the byline and squared it back for Routledge to tuck her second of the game away nicely with her left foot. 0-2

Mollie Steadman, on as a substitute, made an instant impact. She hassled the hosts defence, winning the ball back and played a lovely pass to Routledge. Emily Murphy in the Kidlington goal made a fine save from Routledge’s shot but Steadman anticipated the rebound and was on hand to put it into the net for her first goal for Woodley. 0-3

Steadman was involved again just before the break after she was sent sprawling in the area with the referee giving a penalty. Mollie Haines stepped up to take it but pulled it wide of the left hand post. A good half from both sides with Woodley gradually taking control but Kidlington certainly giving it a good go.
H-T: Kidlington Youth 0 Woodley United 3

The visitors started the second half on the front foot. An early short corner routine from Sawyer and Hamblin led to a dangerous cross from the latter which eventually fell for Steph Slann on the edge of the area but her shot went just over the bar. Next, Hamblin picked up the ball from a throw and played a lovely through ball to Sawyer who nicked it past Murphy but put just too much on it and she couldn’t turn it into the empty net.

In the 64th minute Woodley did find the net, a corner from Sawyer caused problems in the home defence with the ball bouncing around: it first came off Routledge and was headed on by Hamblin and ended up in the net although I think the final touch came from a defender desperately trying to clear. 0-4

Abi Haynes was ploughing a lonely furrow up front for Kidlington but she was keeping the Woodley defence on their toes. She ran on to a long through ball but couldn’t get a shot away. Hayley Clements also had a good game in midfield, she battled hard all game, was always involved and rightly was voted their player of the match.

Maddie Sawyer played another lovely ball through catching the run of Mollie Haines who ran into the area and got a shot away which Murphy saved well at the near post. Woodley did make it five with just over ten minutes to go. Great play down the left from Sarah Lawrence beating the defender and then played a nice ball through to Mollie Steadman who controlled well before volleying into the net with the outside of her right foot (thanks to Brian for talking me through the goal as I missed it typing up the previous attack!) 0-5

Still Kidlington searched for a goal and Abi Haynes again came close after racing clear into the area but was denied by a cracking diving save from Sophie Cheadle at her near post. As I haven’t mentioned Sophie Cheadle much you’d have thought she didn’t have much to do but that was far from the truth. She organises the defence so well, impressive kicking and distribution, and pulled off a superb save when needed. A top quality goalkeeper who impresses every time I see her play and that’s not just my goalkeepers union membership talking!
F-T: Kidlington Youth 0 Woodley United 5

Another convincing win for Woodley to round off the league season and it was achieved like so many before, with a great team performance, nice passing football and good finishing. They never let up no matter what the score, they always continue to attack and look for more goals. Too many players had good games today to go through them all but special mentions for Lucy Routledge and Mollie Steadman for their performances and their goals today. A shout-out too for Bonnie Messitt, she managed to break her hand in two places but just strapped it up and carried on playing. Hope you have a speedy recovery Bonnie.

Kidlington for their part battled all the way throough the game and put in a great team performance. I like Kidlington, they are a really friendly team, they play the game the right way and with a smile on their faces, I’ll definitely be back a few times whichever league they’re in next season. They also all went over to the Woodley team after the game and presented them with a couple of bottles for winning the league. A lovely gesture from a classy club.

Maidenhead United Women 4 AFC St Austell 0
Sunday 12th March 2023
FA Women’s National League Division One South West

It was time to see if I could finally break my duck watching Maidenhead. This would be my eighth visit and a third “home” ground watching Maidenhead this season with the late switch to the 1878 Stadium in Burnham, after previously seeing them at York Road and Arbour Park in Slough. My record was pitiful, every league game I’d seen the Magpies had lost, the only win I’d seen coming in a pre-season run out at Ascot. Would this finally be the day against fellow strugglers St Austell? With this match being the furthest distance fixture for the visitors this season, they travelled on the Saturday and stayed overnight. It was fantastic to see and chat to some of their fans who had made the journey with them.

The Magpies were joined at the 1878 by an enthusiastic and excited group of mascots for the day with the Under 11s Kites from Maidenhead Boys & Girls FC. They enjoyed a kick about on the pitch during the warm up before the game with a couple of Maidenhead players and came out with the team and officials. They didn’t stop singing and shouting for the Magpies all game and it was great to see them having such a wonderful day. That’s what it’s all about though isn’t it, inspiring the next generation?

So onto the game and St Austell started very much on the front foot and certainly didn’t look like a side struggling at the bottom of the table. It took five minutes for the hosts to find their rhythm and, on their first foray forward, Imogen Fisher and Megan Halfacree linked well with the latter dribbling past three defenders before being crowded out. This was a warning shot for the visitors and the Magpies took the lead with their next attack. A wonderful diagonal ball from the right by Eva Thomas found Fisher in space and she finished beautifully, lifting the ball over the advancing Maisie Frickleton and into the roof of the net. 1-0

They came close to adding a second minutes later when a similar diagonal ball, this time from Halfacree, again found Imogen Fisher down the left. She cut inside Lily Chapman and attempted a repeat finish but this time she got it over Frickleton but also the bar. St Austell rallied and, after a quality delivery from a Kayley Brown free kick was headed clear by Gemma Bloor, Francesca Thornton picked up the loose ball and hit a first time shot which just went over the bar.

Back came Maidenhead, another lovely through ball from Thomas set Nat Cowell free in the area but Frickleton in a one-on-one situation did well to force her wide and with the ball running loose, Thomas following up had her shot blocked well by the defender. Cowell was involved again moments later, picking up a ball on the edge of the area with back to goal, she turned smartly and got a shot away but it was straight at Frickleton.

Maidenhead were looking to double their lead and Imogen Fisher managed to get her head on a cross from Thomas which Frickleton just managed to get down to, to tip wide. The resulting corner was headed over by Sarah Thompson.

The second did come along in the 37th minute when Megan Halfacree took advantage of a loose defensive pass to drive to the right hand corner of the box and rifle a left footed shot into the opposite corner of the net. A cracker. 2-0

Just before the break St Austell caused pandemonium in the Magpies six yard box from another quality delivery, this time from a corner by Thornton. There was a melee as the hosts tried desperately to clear with the ball bouncing around, finally squeezing towards the far post where Gemma Harvey managed to gather.
H-T: Maidenhead United 2 AFC St Austell 0

The second half began in a similar fashion to the first with the hosts being pinned in their own half following a fast start from the visitors. St Austell made the first chance when a quality cross from the impressive Teagan Ridgment was spilled by Harvey in the Magpies goal and a scramble at the far post was eventually cleared by a combination of Harvey and Thompson just ahead of Eve Moore.

Maidenhead came to life when a fine crossfield ball from Halfacree found Fisher down the left and she ran into the area and shot low to Frickleton’s right which she saved well. St Austell’s excellent work from set pieces once again had Maidenhead struggling when Kayley Brown swung a decent free kick into the six yard box but Gemma Harvey was decisive and punched away from danger.

In the 65th minute Maidenhead made a couple of substitutions with Aleasha Lunn and Lydia Vettese replacing Eva Thomas and Ines Cipriano. Vettese made an instant impact just a minute later latching onto a great cross from Halfacree, she controlled the ball well but still had a lot to do under pressure from Izzy Mansell. Some good footwork gave her a little space and it was enough to allow her to stab the ball into the bottom corner. An inspired substitution! 3-0

The hosts now surged forward looking for more goals and nearly had a fourth moments later. A superb ball from Vicky Carvill, who I think must have covered every inch of the pitch, found Vettese in space and her cross reached the head of Imogen Fisher but she just couldn’t get enough on it to trouble Frickleton.

Maidenhead put the result beyond doubt in the 72nd minute. Megan Halfacree broke forward but had the ball nicked off her foot with it eventually falling to Nat Cowell whose left footed shot flew into the top corner for the goal her forward play deserved. 4-0

The Magpies made three further substitutions following the goal and the pace from the oncoming players caused a tiring defence more than a few problems but, despite a couple of half chances, there was no further scoring and Maidenhead picked up an important three points.
F-T: Maidenhead United 4 AFC St Austell 0

A win and good team performance from the hosts, cheered on throughout by the mascot choir behind the goal, but the visitors gave them a very tough game. Both Eva Thomas and Vicky Carvill put in all action performances but my player of the match is someone I’ve not mentioned. I thought Bethan Poole had a really good game at left back, defended well and made some good interceptions, kept bombing down the wing all the game and put in some very dangerous crosses and set pieces. Another quick shout-out, Izzy Stockton made her debut from the bench and looks to have something about her. She’s got very good touch and awareness and I’ll be interested to see more from her in the future.

Talking of set pieces, St Austell are very good from dead ball situations. Several times they got the ball in the right area causing a few headaches for the Maidenhead defence. Teagan Ridgment is small in stature but can easily hold her own and has pace to burn, she had a good game especially in the first half. Francesca Thornton played well as did Eve Moore. I didn’t see the game at Poltair Road but heard several people from Maidenhead commenting about how they’ve improved since that game so it seems AFC St Austell are going in the right direction. Good luck to AFC St Austell in the future and I hope you all had a safe journey home.

And finally, I’ve seen a Maidenhead league win!!!

Rushmoor Community Women 0 AFC Stoneham Ladies 2
Sunday 19th March 2023
Southern Region Women’s Football League Division One South

Another interesting journey (with a long walk!) to get to the Rushmoor Community Grounds. It’s a nice little set up, three main pitches, over forty teams covering all ages and a nice clubhouse. I was delighted to find the bar and food cabin open upon reaching the ground and, after a two and a half mile walk from the station, I thought I’d worked off enough calories to allow myself their special, a quarter pound burger with sausage, bacon and cheese, which incidentally, was very nice!

This was to be Rushmoor’s final game of the season and it has been a good one for them. Despite being near the bottom of the table they’d more than held their own during this, their first season at this level. Their opponents, AFC Stoneham were lying in second place and challenging for the title. This was always going to be a difficult game for the hosts but having already played them three times this season, they were very familiar with their opponents and had beaten them in the cup.

The game itself started pretty evenly with Stoneham looking dangerous with the pace of Chloe Melton (you’ll be quite familiar with that name by the end of this report!) on the break and Natalie Washington starting brightly for Rushmoor, winning the ball and making several intelligent runs early on. Melton was involved in the first real chance breaking down the right and sending a great cross into the box but Madison Payne just failed to get on the end of it.

Soon after, another break from a nice through ball from Abbie Awdas released Payne again who got a shot away but it was well saved by Emma Henshaw in the Rushmoor goal. A mix up between Sophie Hawkes and keeper Hollie Keefe almost led to problems following some good closing down by Mary Kinsella. The keeper ended up outside the area as the ball bounced over her but they managed to clear the danger.

Stoneham were starting to take control by this time and Henshaw was forced into several decent saves, she also showed quality handling skills taking a couple of corners cleanly. The visitors thought they’d scored when a free kick from Rebecca Moody caused problems for the Rushmoor defence. After being flicked on, there was a bit of a scramble in the box which was turned in at the far post but the referee had seen a hand ball and disallowed the goal.

From a Rushmoor attack the visitors broke quickly and Melton thought she’d got away but was thwarted by a superb covering tackle by Gemma Bennett. Melton again chased a ball over the top moments later and hit a good shot only to see Henshaw make another good save low down. The pressure was growing and the referee saw another handball, this time one of the Rushmoor players in the area, and pointed to the spot. Payne stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly stroke it left footed into the bottom right corner. 0-1.

Minutes later another long through ball was chased down by Melton who shrugged off a challenge and lifted it over the onrushing Henshaw into the net. 0-2.
H-T: Rushmoor Community 0 AFC Stoneham 2

The hosts began the second half at a much higher tempo, with more energy and fashioned the first chance of the half when Jessica Boyd played a lovely ball down the wing for Becca Duncan to chase. She controlled the ball, ran into the area and got a shot in under pressure from Hawkes which Keefe dealt with well. Next, Melton picked up a loose ball on the edge of the Rushmoor area and got a snapshot away which just went past the left hand post.

A nice combination down the left between Duncan and substitute Emma Mutch, in her first game back after a long injury, ended with Mutch winning a corner. The corner was swung in and after a bit of head tennis, the visitors eventually cleared. At the other end, Moody swung another dangerous corner towards the far post where Melton won the ball and knocked it back to Laura Ingram whose shot went just wide.

Some god work in the centre from Mary Kinsella, twice winning the ball before passing off to Boyd but her cross was gathered well by Keefe with Mutch looking to pounce on any mistakes. Jenna Sutton had the last clear chance as she ran on into the area but once more Henshaw was there to make a save. There were a couple of nervy moments towards the end where the ball appeared to go through Henshaw but both times she recovered well to grab the ball by the far post.

F-T: Rushmoor Community 0 AFC Stoneham 2

A deserved win for AFC Stoneham with Chloe Melton being the outstanding player on the pitch. Saying that, the visitors put in a very good team performance, with captain Abbie Awdas and Rebecca Moody looking strong in midfield and an excellent cameo from substitute Charlotte Gatehouse. They played with a high energy, high press game plan giving the hosts no space or time and Rushmoor struggled to contend with that.

Rushmoor were slightly below par and struggled against the pressing game and to break down the Stoneham defence. Emma Mutch looked good when she came on and Abbie Jean-Smith followed her excellent performance against Abbey Rangers with another good one here. She reads the game so well in defence. Goalkeeper Emma Henshaw also had a very good game.

An enjoyable game with plenty of goalmouth action albeit with the best chances going to the visitors. Good luck to them in their big winner takes it all match with Badshot Lea and I look forward to seeing them again next season.

I’m beginning to wonder if Rushmoor will let me come back next season as both games I’ve seen them play have coincided with two of their more disappointing performances. Maybe I’ll have to come in disguise next time…

Ascot United Women 1 Winchester Flyers 0
Sunday 26th March 2023
Southern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division

Another dismal and wet start to Sunday morning but today was Women and Girl’s Day at the Racecourse in Ascot, all part of the Women’s Football Weekend. A kick about on the pitch pre-game and at half time along with a challenge and post match activities planned, it would be an exciting day for the girls taking part! Also on the menu, literally, was a special burger and some dirty fries with cheese, bacon, peppers & onions. I had the fries and they were very tasty! A group from the Girls Development Centre were the mascots for the day, coming out with the teams at kick-off time. A busy itinerary for all the girls present!

This would be the final game of the league season with Ascot finishing second in the table and looking to round off a successful season on a high note while Winchester, who had been rooted at the bottom for a large part of the season, were looking for a good performance to take into an upcoming cup game.

Winchester’s Libby Wilkinson had the first chance of a competitive start when she hit a speculative shot from distance which clipped the top of the bar and went behind. The Flyers came close again when a strong run into the area from Lia Francis was halted by Laura Spark but Francis managed to win the ball back and get a shot away which beat Lisa Phillips in the Ascot goal but rebounded off the bottom of the right hand post and bounced to safety.

Ascot took the lead from their first attack in the 5th minute. Georgia Luckhurst-McCord lifted the ball over the Winchester defence finding the run of Tiff Skinner who advanced towards the goal, dummied passing across to fool Flyers custodian Lauren Saylor and rolled the ball into the empty net. 1-0

Winchester responded well and, from a quality Wilkinson free kick, Charlie Snelling found herself in space but got underneath the header and it went harmlessly over the bar. Ascot’s Phillippa Holden showed an impressive burst of pace down the left wing to take her past two defenders but she just ran out of pitch before she could get a cross into the box. Some nice football released Flyers Hannah Chalk who hit her shot first time but put it wide of the near post.

Phillippa Holden was back in the action twice in quick succession, firing over from a Hayley Cruickshank cross before a lovely move from the hosts saw Luckhurst-McCord and Dom Carrington combine well down the right with the latter fizzing a ball across the six yard box where Holden could only direct her touch into the arms of Saylor.

The final action of the half saw a great save low to her left from the Yellas keeper Phillips from a snapshot by Wilkinson and, at the other end, Nicole Brown saw her first time shot saved well by Saylor.
H-T: Ascot United 1 Winchester City Flyers 0

Winchester started the second half on the front foot, high pressing well and forcing the hosts to play on the break. They were passing the ball around nicely but just failing to find the killer pass. They just had a couple of half chances, Shayne Prasad nicked the ball off Luckhurst-McCord but put her shot wide and substitute Sophie Spoor forced Phillips into a smart save.

Ascot broke several times with Sarah Davern heavily involved but Winchester defended well and kept pushing forward to find the elusive equaliser. A nice passing move gave Snelling the chance to play a lovely ball behind the hosts defence where Chalk shot across the goal but it just drifted wide of the far post.

With nine minutes to go the visitors had possibly their best chance. Snelling picked out the run of Georgia Allen who headed towards the area only to confront Phillips who had narrowed the angle well and she managed to block Allen’s shot with her legs. Sharna Watson saw her shot from distance go wide and a Spoor effort was easily dealt with at the near post by Phillips. The referee brought the game to a close soon after with Ascot taking the three points.
F-T: Ascot United 1 Winchester City Flyers 0

Ascot looked a little subdued which did at times look like a traditional end of season performance although they did constantly make changes to personnel to give everyone a run out with their cup final coming up in a month’s time. Winchester were impressive, passed the ball around nicely especially in the second half. They pressed well, pushed Ascot back and didn’t allow them any space. Players that impressed included Libby Wilkinson, Lia Francis, Georgia Allen, and the two substitutes, Sophie Spoor and Megan Guy definitely improved them in the second half.

A good game on an afternoon that turned decidely colder as the day went on.