Caversham United Women 1 Eversley & California Ladies 3
Sunday 2nd October 2022
Vitality Womens FA Cup Second Round Qualifying

I’d been planning to visit the Mapledurham Playing Fields to catch up with Caversham United since this project was just a twinkle in my eye. I’d been chatting with both the Mens and Women’s teams on Twitter for quite a while and I am so impressed with how they conduct themselves, raise shedloads for charities and have a wonderful selection of unique shirts which seem to have travelled worldwide. The Goats really know how to make social media work! Their latest charity fundraiser has been a one-off shirt sale in conjunction with the Phantom Brew Company to raise funds for the local charity Sport in Mind and, feeling inspired by them, I used my Thames Bridges Trek to raise money for the same cause.

The journey to the ground was one of the most picturesque I’ve had so far, much nicer than walking through trading estates, and even managed to look very touristy taking photos on Caversham Bridge and around Caversham Court. Definitely underestimated the hill though! Anyway enough of the preamble and on with the game at hand, a second qualifying round tie in the Women’s FA Cup no less.

If I thought the Met Police game started quickly it had nothing on the first couple of minutes here! The first attack saw a fantastic run down the right by Caversham’s Sumaya Zayadi and her lovely ball across the six yard box had Teri Harfield-Brown in the Eversley goal scrambling to parry away but it only fell to Freya Jenkins who snatched at the chance and sent it over. From the goal kick Eversley attacked and a good header on by Megan Averill found Joanne Harfield who blasted the ball home to make it 0-1. A breathless start indeed!

Eversley were on top and had two further chances, Rebekah Pantony played in Laura Comerford but she sent her shot just wide and soon after Comerford latched onto a ball over the top and this time sent her drive just over the bar. Caversham replied with a ball over the top of their own which Steph Nelson battled well to get onto and her shot was well dealt with by Harfield-Brown. The Goats had the next chance too, a header from a corner which was cleared off the line by Pantony.

The industrious Lauren Broadhurst in the centre midfield for Eversley created the next chance, a lovely through ball to Comerford which hit her heel and fell nicely for Harfield who sent her shot just wide of the post. Caversham had a better spell but they couldn’t find that killer ball to unlock the Eversley defence, the impressive Chelsea Jumratie coming closest with a nice run but her shot was blocked. Eversley countered with Broadhurst again playing a decent ball through to Harfield whose effort went straight to Rosie Willmott-Joyce in the Goats goal. Minutes later a corner for Eversley was swung into a dangerous area by Lucy Thomson which rebounded off a Caversham leg, onto the bar and was cleared to safety.

The last attack of the half came from Caversham, a good ball by Freya Jenkins put Ashton Downey through down the left but her first time cross was blocked by Ella Chandler. An even and end to end first half finished with Harfield’s strike separating the teams.
H-T: Caversham United 0 Eversley & California 1.

Caversham started the second half very much on the front foot, a decent spell of pressure resulted in a corner which had the defence at sixes and sevens before the shot was lashed over the bar. Eversley hit the advancing Goats on the break with Pantony running on and hitting a decent shot across Willmott-Joyce who got down well to save.

Caversham were looking more dangerous from set-pieces than in free play and it was from a corner they levelled. Sophie Wicks delivered a great inswinging cross which was volleyed home nicely by Zayadi. 1-1. Another corner minutes later was well punched away by Harfield-Brown with the loose ball eventually falling to Jenkins whose shot went into the grateful arms of the Eversley keeper. Caversham were enjoying their best spell of the match and almost capitalised on a rare mistake from Chandler which let in Jenkins but she dragged her effort just wide.

Eversley came through these anxious few minutes and retook the lead with a well taken goal from Pantony after some excellent work in the build up from Comerford and substitute Lilly-May Varney. 1-2.

With their lead restored Eversley took control of the game and could have gone further ahead but for a brilliant double save from Willmott-Joyce. Varney outpaced Jade Scott and went through on goal where Willmott-Joyce saved with her legs having narrowed the angle well and then saved again from Varney’s follow up effort. A great piece of goalkeeping from the debutant.

Eversley wrapped the game up when Varney chased a long ball, firstly winning it on the edge of the area before striding forward and finishing beautifully into the bottom left corner, not giving Willmott-Joyce a chance. 1-3.

The game carried on for a further ten minutes or so, I think the referee was enjoying it so much he kept adding time although he did seem to lose the plot a bit at the end with some erratic decisions. Other than that he and the other officials had a good game. The scoreline probably tells the story of the game, Eversley made more clear cut chances throughout the game and made Caversham pay with some quality finishes. The Goats for their part will probably be a little disappointed with their performance, they never really looked like unlocking the Eversley defence through open play but did look dangerous from set pieces. A good game played on a difficult pitch which looked quite bobbly with the sandy drainage troughs not helping either side.
Good luck to Eversley in the next round.
F-T: Caversham United 1 Eversley & California 3.

Maidenhead United Women 0 Exeter City Women 5
Sunday 9th October 2022
FA Women’s National League Division One South West

Matchday twenty of my non-league and women’s football journey was bathed in autumn sunshine. An incident free 45 minute train journey meant I reached York Road at around 12.30pm, plenty of time for a good look and wander around the ‘oldest senior football ground continuously used by the same club’ (thanks Wikipedia!). As Maidenhead is only ten miles or so from where I live I found myself wondering why it had taken me so long to visit.

The tea bar opened soon after and I tested out their Magpie Burger (quarter pounder with bacon and cheese) for £5 before heading for another walk around the ground, obviously needing to get my steps up after wolfing down the burger! I enjoyed talking to a few people on the way around, the partner of one of the Maidenhead players, introduced to and had a nice chat with the Maidenhead Women’s club secretary and some early arriving Exeter supporters taking in the October sunshine before checking out where I was going to spend the game. I chose to go into the main stand and set up for the game itself.

The first half started with both sides feeling each other out, first Emily Toogood hit an early shot from distance which was gathered well by Gemma Harvey in the Magpie’s goal, and after some neat play Natalie Cowell turned and shot which Abbi Bond was equal to in the City goal. Exeter started to take control and went ahead in the 10th minute, Connie Pengelly played a nice ball through which looked to be heading back to Harvey but Jenna Markham’s pace allowed her to just nip in and get to the ball before the keeper, taking it round the prone keeper and stroking it into the empty net. 0-1.

The Grecians doubled their lead a minute later when a ball through the middle and Markham’s pace again took her clear and she tucked the ball away nicely under the advancing Harvey. 0-2.

With a two goal advantage Exeter could relax and started passing the ball around nicely and looking dangerous every time they attacked. Maidenhead for their part looked a little shell-shocked and their defence and midfield were struggling against City’s inteligent running and the pace of Markham and Sarah Stacey. On 18 minutes City added a third this time a quality corner from Emily Toogood into the near post was headed into her own net by Gemma Bloor. 0-3.

Maidenhead tried to respond to the mountain they had to now climb and Megan Halfacree found herself one on one with Jaydee Seaman who marshalled her outside well, Halfacree found Tina Brett whose cross found the head of Cowell but her effort was well taken by Bond. Exeter were guilty of a couple of poor challenges first on Halfacree near the halfway line followed by another on Cowell, both waved away by the referee and resulted in both needing treatment from the physio.

The next action was a fourth for Exeter but it came from a contentious penalty. The impressive Phoebe Baker made a run towards the area and was hit in the face by a flailing hand as the Maidenhead defence tried to stop her. The referee consulted with her assistant who, from the actions of the referee, seemed to signal there was an elbow used on the City player. From where I was sitting it was never an elbow and I’m not convinced the coming together actually took place inside the area. Anyway, Zoe Watkins put the penalty away nicely and Maidenhead’s mountain had just added a few metres to its height. 0-4.

The last action of the half saw a lovely curling corner from Halfacree towards the far post which found Shylla Carty-Duhaney unmarked and somehow she put it over the bar when it seemed easier to score. As the scoreline suggests, Exeter were on top for most of the first half and looked a yard quicker to the ball than their Berkshire opponents. Maidenhead for their part looked lethargic and wanting too much time on the ball which was exploited by City’s energetic high press game.
H-T: Maidenhead United 0 Exeter City 4.

Maidenhead made a couple of substitutions at half time and started the second with a much higher tempo with the energetic Mia Stovell giving them an outlet up front. The first chance of the half however went again to the Grecians, some nice interplay by Markham and Pengelly with the latter making a smart turn and cross only to see Sarah Stacey head just wide. At the other end the Magpie’s managed to block a kick from Abbi Bond outside the area but the shot was well blocked. Next Emily Toogood tried her luck from twenty yards out but her effort sailed the over the bar.

On 60 minutes another lovely passage of play led a fifth goal for the visitors. A lovely through ball from Toogood found Pengelly in space, her shot was parried by Harvey and the ball fell kindly for Sarah Stacey who lashed it into the back of the net. 0-5.

City went hunting for more and in the 66th minute a lovely flowing move down the right between Chloe Gilroy and Stacey who had a chance to shoot but instead squared it to Pengelly who saw her effort go just over the bar. Maidenhead went straight down the other end after winning the ball in midfield and fashioned a shooting chance when the ball reached Cowell who got a shot away but saw her effort tipped arond the post by Bond. The Grecians looked to sit back a little and Maidenhead had probably their best spell over the following ten minutes although there was another interesting decision when on a quick break an Exeter player managed to fall over her own feet with no-one within five yards, the referee awarding an Exeter free kick mystified everyone.

Exeter had one final chance when more good work from the impressive Pengelly who knocked it back to Toogood, her pass found Steph Beck who saw her effort cleared off the line by Sarah Thompson. That was the final action of the match, Exeter thoroughly deserved their win and they were better in every area than the hosts. Maidenhead for their part will have learned a lot from this match and did improve after the break but, by that time, the game was already out of their reach.
F-T: Maidenhead United 0 Exeter City 5.

Just a few words on the officials. To be honest with you, I’ve been impressed with much of the standard of refereeing I’ve seen so far on my journey and, being a neutral and free of the shackles of the blinkers you wear when you’re following one of the two teams playing, have come to appreciate what a thankless task refereeing and running the line can be at times. I was fortunate to stand with a group of officials at a game earlier in the season and talking to them throughout the match gave me a fascinating insight into seeing a game from a referee’s perspective.

I thought the officials had, in the main, a decent game but with a few bizarre decisions thrown in. The referee is obviously highly regarded by the FA to be officiating at this level at a young age and did well early on with clear decision making and good communication despite it being a highly competitive game from the off. She must have felt additional pressure knowing there was an assessor in the stand scribbling down comments detailing every move she made. I’m sure she will learn from this match, fulfil her undoubted potential and go on to become a top class official for many years to come.

Onto the summary. Exeter look an excellent side, on this performance they should have a good season and be challenging at the top end of the table. Jenna Markham will rightfully take a lot of plaudits for her quickfire double and all round performance, Connie Pengelly and Sarah Stacey were excellent throughout but it was Phoebe Baker who caught my eye, most of the incisive attacking moves from Exeter went through her and she showed she has quick feet and a good passing range. Saying that you could probably make a case for six or seven of the Grecians team for player of the match! I spoke with a few of their fans before and during the game, it was a great turnout from them considering the long journey to sunny Berkshire (nice flag collection too!) and they were a friendly and interesting bunch. Hopefully they all got back to Exeter safely and I’m sure their journey back will have been buoyed not only by this result but also the excellent result from their men’s side on Saturday. A good weekend for Exeter City FC indeed!

Maidenhead for their part had a tough first half but showed good spirit and battling instinct to improve in the second. They will need to improve again in the coming games and you do wonder if they are currently a little behind some other sides following their lack of a full pre-season. I’ll keep popping back to see how they’re getting on throughout the season and hopefully bring more luck with me next time which I’d obviously left at home on this occasion!

S4K FC Berks County Ladies 2 Stonesfield FC Ladies 3
Sunday 16th October 2022
Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League Division Two

I’ve been trying to get to a S4K game since deciding to follow six local women’s teams over the course of the season, we’d chatted on Twitter but so far I’d not been able to make a game. Fixtures not working out and postponements had factored but finally the planets aligned and I was off on my shortest journey, just a ten minute walk, to finally catch up with them. There was an entertaining mixed walking football tournament on the 3G pitch where they play beforehand, so I managed to catch a bit of that before the two teams descended onto the pitch for S4K’s second home game of the season having been on an away day tour recently.

Stonesfield FC Ladies West Oxfordshire to give them their full title, started the game very much on top forcing S4K onto the backfoot and Anna Cook nearly opened the scoring but saw her effort hit the bar with the rebound being blocked well. S4K were well and truly under the cosh for the first 10 minutes but survived and started to come back into it, Macy Handscombe hitting a decent long range effort which went just wide. They also forced a free kick on the edge of the area but Stonesfield keeper Vess Yacheva was able to watch it go safely over the bar.

Stonesfield took the lead when a long ball over the top fell kindly for Anna Cook and she made no mistake from just inside the area. 0-1.

Back came S4K, Megan Cox did well to escape down the right and managed a shot but Yacheva was equal to it. Stonesfield’s Eve Blake, made a great turn and run into the box before hitting a lovely shot which cannoned off the base of the near post and was cleared away to safety. This see-sawing games next action saw S4K make progress down the left with nice play from India Eldon winning a throw. This was quickly taken and found its way to Kate Stewart whose shot crept under the despairing dive of Yacheva to level the scores. 1-1.

S4K were now in the ascendancy and a lovely move again by Megan Cox who pulled it back to the edge of the area where Michelle Meila’s shot was deflected and looped just wide. From the following set piece they took the lead. A great driven corner from Claudia Periquito found Cox unmarked in the six yard box and she stabbed it home. 2-1.

More end to end action followed as first S4K had a chance to increase their lead when the dangerous Megan Cox went through on goal, her first effort was well parried away by Yacheva and the rebound produced an even better reflex stop from the Stonesfield number one to push the ball over. The visitors had the final chance in a breathtaking half when Anna Cook wriggled free inside the area but again saw her effort hit the top of the bar and bounce away to safety.

H-T: S4K FC Berks County 2 Stonesfield West Oxfordshire 1.

The second half started with S4K very much on the front foot, nice linkup play between Macy Handscombe and Megan Cox down the right lead to the ball falling to Kate Stewart but again Yacheva was equal to the shot, tipping the ball onto the crossbar. Still S4K went searching for the elusive third and after a decent build up the ball fell to Michelle Meila who thundered a shot from fully 35 yards out only to see it go narrowly wide with the keeper beaten.

Stonesfield seemed to have weathered the storm and came back into the game when again Eve Blake went on a mazy run before going down in the area but the referee waved away any penalty shouts. On 68 minutes Stonesfield levelled, a throw in on the left found its way to Blake again and her first time shot curled into the right corner of the net. 2-2.

S4K responded and some great interplay between Cox and Periquito resulted in the ball being blocked away for a corner. The busy Periquito put in another quality cross, this time to the near post, which Yacheva fumbled but recovered, taking the ball at the second attempt. Back came Stonesfield once more and retook the lead, a fine ball over the top from Blake found Emily Mumford whose shot sneaked in at the near post despite a valiant effort from the S4K keeper. 2-3.

With the lead, Stonesfield now attempted to see the game out but did have one further scare when another decent cross from Periquito was met by Cox in the middle but her header ricocheted off a defender and into the grateful arms of Yacheva.
F-T: S4K FC Berks County 2 Stonesfield West Oxfordshire 3.

An all action game between two good sides, S4K will probably be disappointed not to get something out of the game especially after being on top at the start of the second half, just not being able to find that all important third goal to give themselves that two goal cushion. Good performances all over the pitch for them, Charisse Treager had a solid game in defence, Meila a rock in midfield and Cox, Periquito & Macy Handscomb look a handful going forward. Stonesfield kept going in this topsy turvy game and look to have a dangerous front three of Cook, Mumford and Blake with Eve Blake being the standout player in the match for me. Maybe a draw might have been a fairer result between two well matched teams but I’m sure Stonesfield will be happy to have taken all three points.

Margate Ladies 3 Tunbridge Wells Foresters Ladies 2
Sunday 30th October 2022
South East Counties Women’s Football League Premier Division

The second game of my Kentish adventure took me to a twentieth new ground of the season, a long awaited trip to Hartsdown Park in Margate. As I got there, there was a local cup game in progress on the 3G surface, this would eventually go into extra time and cause a delay to the ladies kick-off time. I met Evan Paris, the manager of the Margate side, and had an enjoyable chat about the local women’s game in Kent and some of the problems with squad size, player availability and keeping a settled side, a situation I’ve heard previously when chatting to the local women’s sides I’ve been following in Berkshire.

The game started in a frantic fashion with both sides launching early attacks and after just three minutes the visitors were ahead. Rona Wignall pounced on a poor pass in the Margate defence and launched a beauty from the edge of the area that sailed over Lauren Montgomery in the hosts goal and into the top corner. 0-1

Margate battled back as first Jessica-Joy Speller hit a good shot from distance that was beaten away by Sophie Elks and then from the resulting corner Elks punched a dangerous corner from Abigail Greetham away while under pressure. The pressure was telling and, when a lovely through ball left Amelia Woodgate with a one-on-one with Elks and finished well to level the scores after just 8 minutes. 1-1

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure and came close again when Nicole Adams smashed a shot goalwards only to see Elks claw it away for a corner. Another dangerous corner came in but was headed over. Margate were in control but were architects of their own downfall again when another defensive mistake let in Rona Wignall who finished well past Montgomery for her second of the game on 18 minutes 1-2.

Just three minutes later Margate were back level, after a period of pressure Amelia Woodgate again broke free, knocked the ball over the advancing Elks and finished nicely for her second, keeping her fantastic goalscoring run going. 2-2.

Tunbridge Wells tried to respond and a free kick from Olivia Carter just outside the box went just over the bar. Next a nice link up between Sandra Nightingale and Shannon King down the left released Woodgate again, Elks just got there first but cleared the ball straight into the midriff of her own defender. The ball rebounded out to the left where it was retrieved by Woodgate again and her shot was parried away for a corner by Elks.

Wave after wave of Margate attacks continued and Rebecca Slevin was unlucky when she picked up a throw, headed it on and shot from distance but had to watch it go narrowly wide. Slevin was involved again moments later when a fine pass looked to have put Woodgate in again but a slightly heavy touch allowed Elks to clear. The hosts had been on top for most of the half, just two mistakes meant the sides went in at half time level.
H-T: Margate 2 Tunbridge Wells Foresters 2

The second half started in much the same vein, Margate slightly adjusted their formation with Nicole Adams playing a little further forward and Madison Woodgate swapping to the right wing where she would have a lot of success. The first action of the second half saw Amelia Woodgate’s shot hit the base of the post and bounce to safety and then her twin sister Madison skipped clear of the Foresters full back but Elks did well to gather her low cross. A long throw from Nicole Adams found Greetham whose shot was blocked leading to claims of handball by the Margate players which were waved away by the official.

Adams was having much more of an effect in her advanced role and played a great ball through to Amelia Woodgate again who controlled the ball well and got a shot away but it went agonisingly wide of the post with Elks beaten. Nice play and pass by Natasha Hurst found Madison Woodgate in space down the right but her sister was just unable to get on the end of her first time cross. The waves of attacks from Margate finally paid off in the 75th minute when a quality corner was headed goalwards by Adams, blocked on the line and Slevin was in the right place at the right time to stab home the loose ball. 3-2

Margate tried to see the game out but did have a scare towards the end when another loose ball in defence was picked up by Foresters Lauryn Underhill whose shot beat Montgomery but hit the post and rebounded to safety.
F-T: Margate 3 Tunbridge Wells Foresters 2

A good performance by Margate who dominated the game for long periods and could and possibly should have won by more. Tunbridge Wells were second best, especially in the second half where they were forced to defend in numbers and attempt to hit the hosts on the break. Foresters keeper Sophie Elks had a very good game and made several important stops. For Margate the stand-out players were the Woodgate twins, captain Rebecca Slevin, Nicole Adams (loved the two cruching tackles in quick succession!) and a special mention for Natasha Hurst who shrugged off a shaky start to produce a good performance in the second half. Thanks to Margate for the hospitality and good luck for the rest of the season. There’s every chance they will see me again when I make another trip to Kent in the new year.