The Staveley Ladies travelled up the M1 to Junction 34 for
their third match of the season against a Sheffield Wednesday Ladies Reserve
side who, were something of an unknown quantity having not played any games up
until this point.
Staveley were hampered slightly by their recognised goal
keepers not being available so central defender Carly Charlesworth, not for the
first time “took one for the team” and went between the sticks. Otherwise the girls
had a pretty much full strength squad with Gina Benjamin, Danielle Taylor and
Kirstie Woolley returning to the starting line-up with Karla Burton, returning
from injury and Cheryl Smith starting from the bench.
Wednesday started the better of the two sides and within
three minutes had skewed a shot narrowly past the far post and another shot hit
the side netting. However a great interchange of passes from Gina Benjamin and
Carly Rowlands out wide resulted in a free kick from which Sam Kirk scored with
a high lofted effort from all of 25 yards to put Staveley 0-1 up.
Staveley nearly went two up moments later when Carly
Rowlands fired a low shot towards goal which had the ‘keeper scrambling to her
left to save. But it was the owls who got the next goal, when their striker got
to a long punt forward just before Carly Charlesworth, who in sensing the
danger had raced out of goal to clear and could only watch as the ball was
tapped into the open goal, and just four minutes later Emily Darwin turned the
game on its head, after collecting the ball out on the right she, cut inside
and unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner from the edge of the
area. 2-1
The first half ended with Staveley on the attack and Gina
Benjamin nearly grabbed the equaliser when she got on the end of a Sam Kirk
cross to the far post but, in stretching to reach it she couldn’t get the
required power or direction and the ball went narrowly wide.
HT: 2-1
They didn’t have to wait long for that equaliser however as
three minutes into the second half Carly Rowlands collected the ball on half
way, turned and pinged a perfect ball over the defence and slightly in front of
Anya Taylor who had joined the attack from midfield, the Wednesday ‘keeper came
out to clear but Taylor got there at the same time and won the challenge,
leaving the ’keeper on the floor and herself with the simple task of knocking
the ball into the open net. 2-2.
The last half an hour was frenetic as both sides went in
search of a winner Karla Burton's pace took her away from her marker and
despite a slight recurrence of the injury that had kept her out of the last
game she crossed for Lauren Hardy but, the ball just wouldn’t sit right in the
crowded box and her shot was blocked and Staveleys Gina Benjamin was the victim
of an “advantage” decision when play was brought back for a foul on Anya Taylor,
whilst she was through on goal.
Staveleys net was also leading a charmed life and required
one or two goal line clearances, Megan Nelson hit the post for Wednesday and
they were denied again by a last ditch Georgia Lowe challenge when through on
goal following a ball over the top of Staveleys defence which, had been their
main point of attack all afternoon.
In the end Wednesdays quality shone through when with
fifteen minutes remaining they got the goal that claimed all three points when
that same ball over the top this time landed perfectly for the forward to lash
home.
Full time Sheffield Wednesday Ladies Reserves 3 – 2 Staveley
Miners Welfare Ladies
The defeat was a tad unfair on our ladies as the Wednesday
squad features no less than ten players who are also eligible to play
for their senior side who are higher up the pyramid and whilst dual signing is
not in itself against the rules it is perhaps against the spirit of the game.
Team:Carly Charlesworth,Georgia Lowe,Teresa Oliver,Danielle
Taylor,Kirsty Woolley,Anya Taylor, Sam Kirk,Leanne Millington, Carly
Rowlands,Lauren Hardy,Gina Benjamin
As Sub:Cheryl Smith, Karla Burton, Ellie Johnson, Laura
Poole
Elsewhere in the league Dinnington Town went top with a 4-1
home victory over then leaders Sheffield Rangers and Staveleys next opponents
(at Home 25/10/2015 2pm) Chesterfield were also without recognised goalkeepers and
fell to their third defeat in as many games 2-5 at home to Beighton Magpies.
Lastly the Ladies would like to thank Mr David “Norm”
Whitworth for his generosity in donating two match balls and for his continued
support, it really is much appreciated.
Sheffield & Hallamshire Women's County Senior League : Division One at 11/10/15
| P | W | D | L | F | A | PTS | GD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dinnington Town | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 4 |
| 2 | Sheffield Rangers LFC | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| 3 | Beighton Magpies | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | Sheffield Wednesday Reserves | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | Staveley Miners Welfare | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 3 | -3 |
| 6 | Dronfield Town | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | Chesterfield LFC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 0 | -5 |
