TVCWFL Division Two South
It’s always a pleasure to visit Stag Meadow and catch up with the friendly and welcoming people involved with Windsor & Eton FC. This was a little like a case of déjà vu, this time last year I was at the same ground to see the Royalists lift the Division Three South trophy and, if the hosts were to pick up three points today, then they would be crowned Division Two South champions. An amazing achievement considering they were a brand new side created in the 24/25 season.
After a warm welcome and quick chat with the Windsor manager Cathy Corr I headed into the bar where I found many familiar faces. Marc & Fiona Surtees who I know well from their Woodley days and whose daughter Ellen now plays for Windsor, it was great to catch up with them and also Amy Saunders, the Maidenhead United legend who is another who has found a new home at Stag Meadow.
Added to that it was fantastic to see Gemma Bloor, another from Maidenhead, back playing after an ACL injury two and a half years ago. Strangely, I had drawn portraits of Amy & Gemma back in the 22/23 season at Maidenhead when I went through a drawing phase which is well behind me now!
It was a cold, gloomy and misty afternoon and, after a lot of catching up, it was time for the main event which Windsor began very quickly! With the first attack of the game, swift passing from Amy Saunders and Lucy Thomson found Ida Manneh in space on the right of the box. She fired the ball across goal where Naomi Gerhardt just failed to get on the end of it at the far post.
On 6 minutes Thomson was again the provider with a lovely defence splitting pass that Manneh ran onto and calmly slotted past Charlotte Buckingham in the Larkspur goal. 1-0
The home side continued to press and a free kick on the right was flicked on by Ellen Gooch to Alex Newman who sidefooted the chance just the wrong side of the post.
At the other end the visitors fashioned a good chance themselves when a nice pass from Amy Gibson found the run of Ashleigh Kinsey. She ran into the box and tried to slide it across Jasmine Matsell in the Windsor goal but it too went just wide.
Rovers came close again with the spritely Kinsey again finding space behind the home defence before again sending the ball just wide of the post.
Windsor lost Gooch who went off early presumably with an injury and Saunders who went down under a strong challenge and had to be helped off the field.
They were still on the hunt for another goal and next Newman beat the Larkspur offside trap. She launched a curling effort towards the top left corner that narrowly sailed over the bar. It wasn’t long before the hosts did double their lead, another superb pass through the visitors’ defence from Thomson picked out the run of Manneh who was taken down by the keeper, the referee pointed to the spot and showed Buckingham the red card.
Amy Gibson took over the goalkeeper’s bib and was sent the wrong way with the initial penalty only for the official to rule it out for encroachment and order a retake. The second was dispatched with ease by Newman. 2-0
Despite being down to ten Rovers continued to make chances to get back into the game. Nice play and pass on the edge of the box from Emily Green found Kinsey with space in the box but she was denied by a superb covering tackle from Catherine McElroy clearing away for a corner and adding to the growing Windsor injury list.
A quick break from the home side saw Emily Wilson find Manneh in space and this time she decided to shoot early but over the crossbar.
The away side then won a free kick 30 yards out which was curled just wide of the post by Aurela Gashi with Kirsty Aitkins almost getting on the end of it.
One final chance in the half came from a strong piece of play down the right by Manneh. Her pass into the box found Wilson who managed a shot on target which was well saved by Gibson.
H-T: Windsor & Eton 2 Larkspur Rovers Seconds 0
The Royalists were determined to take control in the second period with the visitors being a player down and they started passing the ball around, making their opposition chase and keep them in their own half. A poor defensive kick gave the hosts an early chance, Jacqui Hanson picking up the errant pass and firing a shot 30-yard lob which had the keeper beaten but rattled against the junction of the bar and post, and away to safety.
A third goal wasn’t long in coming, Gerhardt’s pace taking her clear of the defence and she finished nicely as Gibson came out. 3-0
It was all Windsor by now with Thomson and Hannah Jones controlling possession in the middle of the park and they thought they’d scored a fourth when a pinpoint Kasey Davenport cross found the head of Jones but she was deemed offside and the goal disallowed.
Still the chances kept coming for the home side. First Gerhardt’s pace again took her clear only for Gibson to save well at her near post, and next Thomson tried her luck from distance but straight into the arms of the keeper.
A fourth did come and once again from a poor clearance with Windsor pressing their opponents. Manneh picked up the loose ball and floated a lovely chip over the head of the helpless Gibson. 4-0
It looked like it was going to be a case of how many Windsor would score especially after Manneh had another couple of chances putting both wide but on a rare foray forward Rovers Sophie Lawless sprang the Windsor high line. Her shot was well parried away low to her left by Matsell and Davenport was on hand to clear the danger before Lawless could pick up the rebound.
The visitors did get a goal they deserved on the day when Gashi picked up a throw and lobbed Matsell from distance, the keeper getting her fingertips to it but not enough to keep the ball out. 4-1
Windsor came close again after a strong run and pass from Kayleigh Richardson-Taylor down the left found Hanson but her shot went just over. The hosts did round the game off in style though, Ida Manneh completing her hattrick sliding a shot across the keeper and into the left corner. 5-1
F-T: Windsor & Eton 5 Larkspur Rovers Seconds 1
The final whistle sparked celebratory scenes as it was confirmed the win had given Windsor & Eton a second successive league title. Huge congratulations to manager Cathy Corr and all the staff and players for this superb achievement. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer team. They controlled most of the second half and were rarely troubled by their visitors. A very good performance all round.
Larkspur for their part never gave up even after being reduced to ten and you’ve got to admire their team spirit. They look to have some useful young players and a good coaching set-up so they will only improve.
A cold but entertaining afternoon spent watching good football and touching base with some old friends. I’ll hopefully get down to Stag Meadow a lot more next season. As I said to Cathy after the trophy lift and the celebrations had died down, same time next year?