Caversham United Women 0 Woodley United Ladies 5
Sunday 6th November 2022
Southern Region Women’s Football League Division One North

I’d planned to attend this game for a while, two of my local women’s teams clashing in a league game, what’s not to like? The problem was, we’d had rain of biblical proportions for three days in the run up to the game and, as such, I’d anticipated a postponement. Somewhat surprisingly the game was still on when I left home at 11.30am to head off to the Mapledurham Playing Fields, the home of Caversham United. Arriving at Reading, the rain had finally stopped, the sky was brighter and I’m sure I even saw a flash of blue sky so things had started to look more hopeful. It was then I made a schoolboy error, I decided to take the half hour walk to the ground instead of catching the bus. Big mistake. I’d reached halfway when the sky turned black and the heavens opened.

So, a soaked and wet through Wandering Tractor arrived to find both teams out warming up, a good sign, and the pitch not looking too bad, mainly due to the drainage system installed I guess. Finally the rain subsided and, warm ups done, the teams took to the pitch for this local derby.

The game started with Woodley on the front foot, pressing high and playing some nice football but it was Caversham who had the first chance. They won a corner which was delivered into a good area and met well by a Caversham head only for Holly Wilkins to block on the line and clear. After this warning shot Woodley continued to look the better side with Michelle Quinn and Maddie Sawyer pulling the strings in midfield. A first goal wasn’t long in coming, a decent corner from May Hamblin managed to find its way to Gemma Sims who struck it high into the top right of the Goats goal. 0-1

Woodley continued to press and could have had a second when a floated free kick from Rebecca Gooch found the head of Quinn but her effort was gathered by Thoreau in the Caversham goal. Soon after Woodley doubled their lead, a corner swung into a dangerous area by Charley Evans was fumbled by Thoreau and the ball squirmed into the net. 0-2.

Gemma Sims fancied her chances with a free kick from distance but her effort didn’t quite have enough curl on it and it flew just past the post for Woodley, while Freya Jenkins had an ambitious effort from a Caversham free kick 30 yards out which Sophie Measham in the Woodley goal got well behind to save. Woodley were still hunting for more goals and a nice passage of play down the left by Holly Wilkins and Amie Benton led to the latter winning a corner which was cleared. They finally made the pressure count when Sims controlled the ball halfway inside the Caversham half, strode forward and then struck a beauty into the roof of the net from just outside the area. 0-3.
H-T: Caversham United 0 Woodley United 3.

It had been a dominant perforance in the first half from Woodley and they thoroughly deserved the lead. Caversham for their part struggled to keep possession and, being forced to defend deep by the visitors, their forwards were isolated when breaking.

The second half started in much the same vein, a neat move down the right led to Mollie Haines playing a lovely diagonal ball into the six yard box but May Hamblin sliding in just couldn’t get a touch to turn it in. Caversham tried to rally and had a decent spell forcing a couple of corners but not really threatening Measham in the visitors goal. Hamblin almost made it four when breaking into the area she saw her shot rebound off the near post and her follow up saved by the legs of Thoreau.

Woodley were now looking dangerous with every attack and catching Caversham with the ball over the top as the hosts pushed to get back into the game. One such through ball fell nicely in the path of Hamblin and she finished with aplomb to make it four. 0-4.

Caversham were caught again with 15 minutes to go, a cross again found the impressive Hamblin who controlled the high ball away from Thoreau and lobbed the ball towards the empty net where, despite a despairing effort a Caversham defender, the ball nestled into the net. 0-5.

There were a couple of half chances for Woodley to add to their tally but a mixture of good defending, decent awareness by Thoreau to gather at the edge of the area and players just running out of energy on the testing pitch kept the score at five. A very good performance from all over the pitch for Woodley saw them take all three points home with them. A brace apiece for Gemma Sims and May Hamblin, a tireless performance (and her love of a sliding tackle!) from Mollie Haines, a controlling performance in midfield by Quinn and Sawyer and a very impressive display from Charley Evans helped make this a complete team performance. A nasty injury to Rebecca Gooch marred the day a little for the visitors, fingers crossed her injury isn’t as bad as it seemed and she can make a swift recovery.

Caversham had a bad day at the office and couldn’t find a way to keep possession or break down the Woodley defence. Credit to them for not giving up and battling away in tough conditions on a difficult day for them. Thankfully there was no further rain during the game which would have made the testing conditions a lot worse.
FT: Caversham United 0 Woodley United 5.

Woodley United Ladies 3 Kidlington Youth Ladies 0
Sunday 13th November 2022
Southern Region Women’s Football League Division One North

Sunday saw a return to the Bulmershe Pavilion for the SRWFL clash between Woodley and early season front runners Kidlington. Always good to catch up with Mark, Andy from Oakmist Photography who had this week produced an excellent programme for the game, Andrew Batt, and the ladies from Woodley. A lovely cup of tea later and we were good to go.

After a brisk start by both sides, Woodley won an early corner and, something that would go on to be a feature of this game, Ellen Surtees perfectly delivered a corner into the six yard box which was cleared well by the Kidlington defence. The visitors thought they’d taken an early lead when Katie Thorp was played in on goal only to see her shot rebound off the far post where a lurking Elisha Cox put the ball into the net but the goal was ruled out by the linesman’s flag as she was deemed to be in an offside position. Woodley had another half chance at the other end when Amie Benton was played through but she couldn’t get a good contact on the ball and it drifted wide.

Woodley now took charge of the game and restricted the visitors to quick breakaways. Their next chance was from a corner which was played short to Charley Evans whose whipped cross eventually found its way to the feet of Gemma Sims who, leaning back, put it over the bar. Woodley were now playing some lovely football and a smart move down the left involving Michelle Quinn, Holly Wilkins and May Hamblin was scrambled away to safety by the Kidlington defence. The subsequent throw was worked to the byline, pulled back into a dangerous area by Wilkins which the defender sliced but the ball went straight into the grateful hands of Emily Murphy in the visitors goal.

A great crossfield ball by Surtees found Mollie Haines running into the area and her cross-shot was blocked well by the legs of Murphy. It was now pretty much one way traffic although the hosts had to be wary of the threat from the pacy Cox on the break. The breakthrough came from another excellent set piece delivery by Surtees when her corner was headed in by Gemma Sims. 1-0.

Woodley now had their tails up and went hunting for a second which duly arrived a few minutes later when a great cross from Charley Evans on the right was headed home by Maddie Sawyer. 2-0.

The hosts were in the mood to put the game to bed and had a chance when a ball down the left hand side from Wilkins was controlled well by Hamblin who then turned her marker, ran into the area where she was brought down for a penalty. Sophie Measham took responsibility and smashed the spotkick into the post rebounding onto the diving keepers body and into the net. Murphy being a tad unfortunate there. 3-0.

The first half ended with a stoppage after Measham had a long range effort which was spilled by Murphy and, as she dived to retrieve the ball, she was caught in the face by Hamblin’s attempt to get the ball. There was no malice in the challenge and with the ball being loose, Hamblin was quite entitled to go for it. It looked a nasty clash and Murphy took a while to recover but bravely carried on.
H-T: Woodley United 3 Kidlington Youth 0

The second half started slowly, Kidlington had regrouped during the break and showed signs of improvement in the second half, Abi Haynes came on as a substitute and caused a few problems for the hosts defence. Hamblin was again involved when she won the ball back halfway inside her own half and proceeded to run virtually the whole length of the field, taking it past three Kidlington players, before being upended just outside the area which, mysteriously, the referee decided wasn’t a foul.

The visitors had a half chance when Courtney Sumner hit a speculative shot from outside the area which Jen Heine in the Woodley goal comfortably watched go past the post. Woodley still looked the more likely add to their tally and the impressive Hamblin again found herself played into a one on one situation but her shot was well blocked by Murphy. Two minutes later Charley Evans played a lovely ball to Hamblin on the right, her cross was pulled back by Sarah Lawrence to Maddie Sawyer whose shot cannoned off the crossbar and away to safety with Murphy beaten.

The last action of note was another long range effort by Kidlington’s Claire Chewings which was saved well by Heine. All round an excellent team performance from Woodley, at times playing some lovely football. Kidlington will probably be disappointed, they didn’t really look like they could break down the impressive Woodley defence and were left to try their luck from distance. Hard to choose a player of the match as pretty much everyone on the Woodley teamsheet would be in with a shout. The defence was impressive, Quinn, Measham and Sawyer ran the midfield offering the visitors very few chances to get into a rhythm and Hamblin and Haines always looked dangerous and never stopped running. Good to see the return of the Mollie Haines sliding tackle too!
F-T: Woodley United 3 Kidlington Youth 0.

Another entertaining game and always a pleasure to visit this quickly improving Woodley side. Nice too, to catch up with Rebecca Gooch after her nasty injury last weekend. Hopefully you’ll have good news when you see the specialist, a quick recovery and be back playing soon. Til next time…

Maidenhead United Women 0 Cardiff City Women 3
Sunday 20th November 2022
FA Women’s National League Division One South West

Another short journey for me (I could get used to this!) and always nice to make the trip to York Road and catch up with the great people they have involved with the ladies team there. I arrived nice and early to deliver another drawing to Neil before heading off on a wander around the ground to get my steps count up (!) but more just for something to do while waiting for the refreshments hut to open! Had my second experience of the Magpie burger which went down as well as the first, and then into the stand to prepare for the game.

This match always promised to be a tough fixture for the hosts with Cardiff being top of the league with seven wins from seven. They have swept away all who stood in their way so far with many of their games being goal fests including three 5-0’s, a 6-0, a 7-1 and a 9-0 away win, a very impressive start indeed! Maidenhead had picked up their first win of the season with a late winner the previous week and so their confidence was up too. An intriguing match-up.

With Cardiff being the standout team in the league so far you would have expected them to start on the front foot and you’d be right. After just four minutes, a mix up and a poor header in the area by the Maidenhead defence fell nicely for Kerry Bartlett and she finished well. 0-1.

The Bluebirds went hunting for a second and came close when Bartlett again wriggled free and played a dangerous ball into the six yard box which was put out for a corner by a last ditch challenge as Laura Williams looked poised to strike. In the 12th minute a good through ball was knocked forward by Natalie Cowell but the touch was just too heavy and Laura O’Sullivan in the visitors goal managed to claim. Cardiff were playing a very high press and Maidenhead were finding it difficult to find any space to play the ball out of defence. On 19 minutes Bartlett was again in the action, hitting a shot from distance which just went wide of the far post.

Maidenhead tried to counter and a great run by Megan Halfacree, dancing past two challenges before delivering a good cross to the near post that Cowell just couldn’t get on the end of it. On 30, Cowell found herself played in on goal but her shot went straight into O’Sullivan’s arms. The ball was going from end to end as both teams tried to fashion a goal, the closest we came was from a lovely run and through ball by Chloe Lloyd which found Cori Williams, she controlled well and shot just over the bar from the edge of the area.
H-T: Maidenhead United 0 Cardiff City 1.

The second half started in similar fashion with first, Lloyd swinging in a dangerous free kick which was dealt with well by Gemma Harvey in the Magpies goal then nice play from Maidenhead’s Halfacree found Cowell who hit a long range effort only to see it saved well by O’Sullivan. Maidenhead fashioned another half chance when a nice move down he left found Cowell again and her curling cross to the far post just evaded Imogen Fisher.

Cardiff came back again and started to take control, playing some lovely one touch football. Chloe Lloyd hit another shot from 20 yards but Harvey was equal to it. The visitors won a free kick in a dangerous position, thirty yards out on the right which was swung in by Lloyd but Harvey managed to get a good punch on it to clear.

On the hour mark, the Bluebirds pressure paid dividends when they were awarded a very contentious penalty which from where I was sitting looked very soft. Sarah Thompson was adjudged to have hauled down Cori Williams by the referee which looked to me to be a poor decision but hey, it’s easy to officiate when you’re sitting in the stand isn’t it? Lloyd stepped up and stuck the penalty away low to Harvey’s left. 0-2.

Cardiff were definitely on the front foot and came so close to making it three when Lloyd fizzed a ball across the six yard box which Hannah Mills was millimeters away from finishing sliding in at the far post. Think Gazza against Germany in Euro 96! Maidenhead tried again to force a way back into the game with a swift break down the left, good interplay between Megan Halfacree and Lydia Vettese found Vicky Carvill and she saw her snapshot hit the bottom of the post and rebound to safety.

Cardiff came right back and forced a succession of corners, all well defended by the Maidenhead back line. In added time a speculative shot was only parried by Harvey and Grace Horrell-Thomas pounced on the rebound, chipped the ball up and over Harvey and it trickled seemingly in slow motion over the line for Cardiff’s third. 0-3.

That was pretty much the end of the action and the referee’s whistle brought the game to a close with the three hard earned points going back to Wales with Cardiff.
F-T: Maidenhead United 0 Cardiff City 3.

Cardiff look a class outfit and will likely win the league. I was really impressed with Kelly Isaac who marshalled the defence well in the first half before moving into a more advanced role in the second. Her calmness on the ball and range of passing was impressive. Kerry Bartlett and Chloe Lloyd also both had very good games.

For Maidenhead, this was a good performance where they matched their opponents for long periods of the game, looked much more solid defensively and definitely look to be heading in the right direction, there’s more to come from the Magpies this season.

Footnote. It was bloody cold.

S4K Ladies 2 Wycombe Wanderers Women Reserves 3
Sunday 27th November 2022
Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League Division Two

Dull, damp, dark and dismal is probably how you’d describe the day. More rain overnight which might have troubled a grass pitch but fine on the 3G surface at the Bracknell Sports Centre, the home of S4K FC Berks County Ladies. Due to postponements and fixture changes this would only be my second chance to visit S4K despite it only being a five minute walk from home. It seemed the weather hadn’t deterred people from coming to watch either, helped by a healthy following from Wycombe at kick off time over 50 people were in attendance (and yes, I did count them all…sad eh?)

With the Chairgirls sitting comfortably at the top of the table having won 8 of their 9 league games and S4K sitting near the bottom, you’d have thought this would be a tough game for the hosts and the odds would be on an easy win for Wycombe. It didn’t quite work out that way…

The visitors came out of the blocks quickly, a shot from distance from Emily Norfolk cannoned off the crossbar and minutes later Shannon Read had the ball in the back of the net but was adjudged to be offside. When Amy Norfolk’s sweet turn and shot was blocked well by Lucie Harvey it appeared Wycombe were totally in control and it was just a matter of time before they went ahead.

S4K rolled up their sleeves, battled their way back into the game with Kiah Owen and Macy Handscomb looking dangerous down each wing and started to take the game to the visitors. This improvement led to the opening goal, a loose ball was picked up by Owen and her strong shot from the edge of the area squirmed under Chairgirls keeper Emma Dean’s body to give the hosts an unexpected lead. 1-0.

S4K’s tails were now up and Owen had another chance soon after when she found herself free on the left side of the area but this time Dean managed to tip the shot past the post. Wycombe countered, first Amy Norfolk managed to wriggle into the area and get a shot away which Jo Anderson in the home goal was able to watch as it went wide, and soon after Emily Norfolk beat the offside trap but saw her effort again blocked well by Anderson.

The hosts were looking to double their lead and came close when Lucie Harvey chipped a ball through which deflected off a defender’s head but Dean came out well to get the ball just in fromt of the onrushing Megan Cox. S4K were putting pressure on the visitors defence and did double their lead when Megan Cox picked up a loose ball and perfectly lobbed the backpedalling Dean. 2-0.

The home side continued to press in the final minutes of the half but couldn’t make any further chances count.
H-T: S4K 2 Wycombe Wanderers Reserves 0

Wycombe changed to a more attacking formation for the second half and looked a lot sharper but S4K had the first chance of the half with Erin Simmonds hitting a powerful shot from 20 yards which just went wide. Wycombe continued to press and Shannon Read had a half chance when she tried to curl the ball into the far corner but just couldn’t get enough whip on it and it drifted wide. Two minutes later the visitors were back in the game, Read latching onto a great through ball by half time substitute Ciara Moore and finished coolly. 2-1.

Wycombe were now totally on top with S4K struggling to keep possession and being pushed into defending deeper and deeper. A fantastic ball threaded through the crowded defence by Chelsea Reeves found Read who smashed the ball into the net giving Anderson no chance. 2-2.

Jo Anderson produced a superb double save minutes later to keep S4K level. Emily Norfolk broke through the hosts defence but saw her shot blocked by the advancing Anderson, the loose ball fell to Read whose effort saw Anderson make a great diving save to her left. The home side rallied against the onslaught and a great run down the right was ended when she was tugged back, Claudia Periquito took the free kick but put too much on it and it went safely into the arms of Dean.

The visitors went ahead when once more Emily Norfolk broke through the defensive line and knocked the ball past the advancing Anderson. The ball bounced off the bottom of the post and out where Niamh Creighton saw her first effort blocked on the line but managed to stab home the rebound. 2-3.

Wycombe continued to push forward with Reeves pulling the strings in midfield playing some excellent passes to try to release Read and Norfolk. S4K had a half chance to level when a back pass didn’t have enough on it and Cox nicked it away from Dean and send it goalwards only to see Rebecca Hesketh clear. The final chance of this pulsating game came to the visitors with Read setting Creighton free inside the area but her shot sailed over the bar.
F-T: S4K 2 Wycombe Wanderers Reserves 3

The proverbial game of two halves, S4K looked very good in the first half with Wycombe taking control after the break. The home side never got to grips with the visitors formation change and paid for being pushed too deep leaving Cox isolated up front, meaning they had no outlet. Wycombe looked much more like a top of the table team in the second period and in the end just about deserved the win. A good performance from S4K but they do seem to have a habit of letting teams back into games when ahead, something they’ll need to address. They’ll probably view this as a missed opportunity to gain a valuable confidence boosting win.

Really enjoyable game which could have gone either way with both teams having spells on top in an end-to-end match. Looking forward to visiting again soon and good luck to Wycombe for the rest of the season.