The weather has put the brakes on the Staveley Ladies season
somewhat in recent weeks but they did take to the field last Sunday in the
first round of the Krukowski Cup were they hosted Sheffield United Community
Seconds.
The wind was howling and the Trojans in winning the toss
elected to kick towards the cemetery to try and take advantage of it… however, getting
to grips with the conditions was easier said than done and early on the
normally technically brilliant Billie Gordon attempted to receive a simple
short pass from Sam Kirk but couldn’t catch it as the force 10 gale blew the
ball on and on and on some more.
With seven minutes on the clock the ball sat up nicely for
Anya Taylor, who under pressure from the defence got in an effort on goal but
the opposing keeper saved comfortably.
With ten minutes gone Billie Gordon started to play
and skipped past her marker with ease before trying to burst through several
defenders who only succeeded in clearing the ball as far as Sam Kirk who lobbed
the United keeper from the edge of the area to make it…
Staveley MW Ladies 1 – 0 Sheffield United Community Seconds.
Leanne Millington very nearly doubled the lead three minutes
later when, after receiving the ball back from Anya Taylor following a throw-in
she had taken herself, she hit a looping wind assisted cross / shot with the
outside of her right boot which unfortunately the back peddling goal keeper
caught just as it was going in.
Despite facing a the head wind United tried their best to
get forward and almost equalised on fifteen minutes but Lorna Wakem in goal for
Staveley stood firm and beat out the shot from just inside the area and they continued
to press, causing problems for the Staveley defence.
Things got a little easier though when Billie Gordon made
full use of a great advantage played by the referee for a clip on Staveleys
midfielder and her ball over the top to Sam Kirk eventually made its way to
Lauren Hardy who scored via a smashed lob over the keeper.
Staveley MW Ladies 2 – 0 Sheffield United Community Seconds
Even at two down third Division United were far from beaten
and looked dangerous going forward and a minute after Georgia Lowe had blocked
a goal bound effort they pulled one back when Kirsty Woolley was not helped by
the wind as her crunching challenge only resulted in the ball “popping up”
rather than travelling forward like it would have done on any other day and
fell invitingly for Kelsey Hallam to volley home.
Staveley MW Ladies 2 – 1 Sheffield United Community Seconds
The scores were level at halftime when Kelsey Hallam again
stole in and deftly lifted the ball over an onrushing Lorna Wakem who was stuck
between the proverbial rock and hard place of coming out to narrow the angle or
stay on the line.
HT: Staveley MW Ladies 2 – 2 Sheffield United Community
Seconds
The question of abandonment was asked of the referee as by
now the wind was so bad that the corner posts were almost horizontal, and it
would be if the “Goal Keepers couldn’t kick the ball out of the area”. Lorna
Wakem mentioned that we weren’t far off that situation but up and down the
pitch was fine-ish it was side to side was the problem.
But “at least it wasn’t raining” said one of the spectators…
and right on cue the heavens opened.
Nonetheless play continued and with the wind at their backs
the young united side who this season have scored 27 goals in just 6 games took
control and after heading against the post in the 64th minute they
took the lead in the 65th.
Anya Taylor didn’t get the luck her meaty last ditched challenge
deserved and the ball fell kindly to Rebecca Cork who unmarked and 6 yards from
goal couldn’t miss.
Staveley MW Ladies 2 – 3 Sheffield United Community Seconds
Staveley battled gamely to regain parity but despite chances
for Lauren Hardy who shot wide after a run and cutback from the byline by
Billie Gordon who also hit a fierce strike over the bar they couldn’t manage to
force extra time.
A decent game in the circumstances and the girls will be
disappointed with going out to a side in a lower division but nobody wanted
extra time ….
Full Time: Staveley MW Ladies 2 – 3 Sheffield United
Community Seconds
That result leaves Staveley with just the league to
concentrate on now after going out of the County Cup the week before where a
Carly Rowlands hat-trick was not enough to prevent a 3-5 defeat to Hepworth
United.
