Woodley United Ladies v Sholing FC Women
SRWFL Premier Division
After all of yesterday’s trials and tribulations I had thought of taking a day away from football to give my body a rest more than anything, but also to take stock after a few hectic weeks. Going back to work full time and doing two matches every weekend has certainly taken its toll over the last couple of weeks especially with trying to keep on top of the updates on here.
I had originally planned to head to the Farnham WFA Cup tie but that would have meant another battle with public transport (4 trains and a rail replacement bus to travel 20 miles for goodness sake!) Then the thought of the Brentford v Ascot cup tie appeared in my head but again travel issues and a slightly later kick off time put paid to that idea. I was just about to put my feet up for the day when I saw Woodley Ladies were at home in the league…
For me, going to Woodley is like being wrapped up in a warm comfort blanket. They were the first ladies team I covered and I’d like to think we’ve built up a good friendship over the last couple of years. They are a lovely friendly club and to feel that warmth after the last couple of weeks was very much needed. In some respects it felt like I was back at home for the afternoon.
So after pretty much chatting with everyone in sight it was time to settle down for the match. Going into this game Woodley were sitting just a point ahead of today’s visitors Sholing, in the Premier Division table so on paper it looked likely to be a tight encounter although the away side did have the Wandering Tractor curse to contend with (more on that later).
The visitors kicked off and were very much on the front foot early on. In the 8th minute a ball through the Woodley defence by Molly Pinnick saw Emily Serridge beat the offside trap and bear down on goal. She reached the ball just before the onrushing goalkeeper Jo Novak-Allum and poked it past her only to see it hit the base of the post and rebound away to safety.
A nice turn from Siena Millen in the area left Charley Evans beaten but her shot could only find the side netting. Serridge had another chance soon after, cutting back inside the box and firing a shot low towards the goal which Novak-Allum did well to block away with her legs.
Woodley had their first shot after good battling from Chloe Melton in midfield gave Sarah Lawrence a chance but her effort from distance went straight to Sarah Kelsall in the Sholing goal. Chloe Griffiths made a good run down the right before Katie Shorter got back to cover well and put the ball out for a throw. From the throw Lawrence had a half chance but the ball was slightly behind her and she ended up having a bit of an air shot!
In the 25th minute Woodley were awarded a penalty by referee Jake Crowdey after adjudging Lauren Devlin had been barged over in the box. The referee placed the ball on the spot and Chloe Melton took responsibility for the kick but didn’t get a good contact and Kelsall was able to save to her left.
At the other end Millen tried to lob the keeper from 40 yards out when she saw Novak-Allum in an advanced position but it was too high.
In the 37th minute a goal did finally arrive and it went to the hosts. Melton chased down a long ball and closed in on the area, the keeper came out to close her down but Melton slipped the ball to her left and Lawrence was there to stroke the ball into the empty net. 1-0
The last five minutes of the first half ended with the ball going end to end but without any further chances before the official brought the half to a close.
H-T: Woodley United 1 Sholing 0
This time it was Woodley who started quickest and just three minutes into the second half they doubled their lead. A loose back pass was chased by Lawrence who touched the ball around Kelsall, picked it up and, seemingly in slow motion, rolled the ball into the corner of the net. 2-0
The home side had made a couple of changes to their formation and they were very much on top in the early stages of the second half, one of the changes, Pippa Humphrey, seemed to be everywhere, battling for every ball, making runs down the middle and had a shot from outside the box which Kelsall saved.
Case in point for the above, a Sholing corner was crossed into the box and headed clear by Leah Knapp and who was first to it? Yep, Pippa Humphrey. She ran from the edge of her own penalty area to halfway, exchanged passes with Lawrence before running on again past the defence, finally shooting from outside the box where Kelsall again saved well. A superb piece of play!
In the 59th minute the ball bounced about midway in the Sholing half and was picked up by Chloe Melton who launched a rocket over the advanced keeper and into the roof of the net from fully 35 to 40 yards out. A stunning finish. 3-0
Another substitute who made an impression was Chante Bynoe-Gittens whose appearance down the right flank gave Melton the chance to move into a more central role and make more space for Lawrence on the left. Bynoe-Gittens made a nice run down the right and found Lawrence whose shot was deflected behind.
Woodley were now playing some fantastic football, Molly Haines brought the ball over halfway, found Melton whose deft touch gave her the space to pick out the run of Lawrence. She ran to the byline and pulled it back to the edge of the box for Melton but a defender had tracked back well and cleared the ball before Melton could pull the trigger.
Another one touch move down the left this time with Haines and Alex Ayckbourn the architects finding the run of Lawrence who again squared it across the six yard box where Melton did get across the defender to get a touch this time but it went straight into the keeper’s hands.
Sholing never gave up and kept battling on but where struggling to get through with Charley Evans putting in a great performance covering everything at the back. There was a heart stopping moment when she misplaced a pass and Millen thought she was through on goal but Evans recovered well to put pressure on the striker and her shot went just over the bar.
The visitors were given a free kick late on, on the left side around 25 yards out. Catherine Browning hit a shot that seemed destined for the top corner until Novak-Allum got her fingertips to it to push it over the bar.
Woodley then saw out the rest of the game without any further scares to pick up the three points with a very good performance especially after the break against a good strong side.
F-T: Woodley United 3 Sholing 0
Top marks for Woodley on the day with some excellent performances on show, their defence after a shaky start looked secure, Devlin, Humphrey and Ayckbourn controlled the midfield for long periods in the second half, and Melton and Lawrence look to be building a great understanding up front and are always dangerous. My player of the match though would be Jo Nowak-Allum who made several important saves early on, claimed the ball well from set pieces and pulled off that fingertip save at the end to preserve her clean sheet.
Sholing look a good side and have two quality forwards who look dangerous but were starved of any service in the second half as Woodley took control of the midfield. Their keeper pulled off some good saves too and saved the penalty early on.
Now, to go back to the Wandering Tractor curse for Woodley’s opponents. I’ve seen Woodley Ladies play 17 times over the last two and a half years and now have a record of seeing them win 15 of those, with one draw and one defeat. The single defeat came at home to New Bradwell St Peter in the B&B Cup last season. Not a bad record and no, I can’t come every week!
Good luck to Sholing for the rest of the season and for Woodley, I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon!