Winsford were up for today's clash with Glossop North End,
knowing full well that only a win would do, as the Ladies are
in a relegation battle with both Glossop North End and Airbus UK,
who we play next Sunday.
The Ladies squad for Sunday, was made up of the following:
Jessica Moore returns in nets.
The Defence was Rachel Robbins, Kathryn Hulme, Leanne Hudson
and Katie Mogford.
The Mid-field was Hayley Mogford, Emma Johnson,
Danielle Lydiate and Anna Watt.
And Winsford's strikers were Jay Anderson and Hanna Hewitson.
Substitutes was : Sarah Lee, Kerry Henstock and Nicola Bogue.
winsford kicked the game off, with only one thing on their
minds, to win! However, the home side had the same idea and
had really stepped up their game plan, immediatley putting the
Ladies under sustained pressure. Glossop kept Winsford on the
back foot for at least the first 25 minutes, where most of that
time the home side had possession of the ball, in Winsford's
half of the pitch. But Winsford's back four held strong and
kept clearing the ball. with the help of Moore, who was in a
very confident mood.
The Ladies team dug deep and once they had settled, they
started to change to flow of the game, turning the tide on
Glossop. Winsford's mid-field worked hard at regaining
possession of the ball and putting that killer pass through
that would see them with a scoring opportunity. Although,
they created several good chances, which left Hewitson through
on goal, with only the keeper to beat. It just wasn't to be
Winsford's day, as the Glossop keeper managed to get the
slightest touch from either toe or stud to deny Hewitson.
Winsford didn't let this deter them, as they kept up the
pressure all the way to the half-time whistle. If the Ladies
had managed to put away their scoring chances, they should
have gone into the break at least 4 goals up.
Half time. 0 - 0.
Winsford started the second half following a tough and at
times, very honest half-time team talk with the management.
The Ladies knew what was required of them and that's what
they intended on giving.
However, it was the home side who broke the deadlock,
when they won the back in their own half. Glossop switched
the ball to their right wing and overloaded the Winsford
defence, which caught Winsford out. The Glossop right winger
carried the ball into the 18-yard box and drove a hard low
shot at goal. Moore had her near post covered, but as the
ball clipped the post, it rebounded back into the 6-yard box
and right in to the path of the Glossop left winger, who had
an easy tap in.
1 - 0 to Glossop.
The management decided to make an early substitution, by
bringing on Sarah Lee on in place of Katie Mogford. Lee has
been out of the team due to an ankle ligament injury, which
she sustained in late September 2010. The substitution was
also a tactical change, which meant that by bringing on Lee
as striker, Hewitson moved to the right wing, Watt moved to
the left wing and Hayley Mogford moved to right back.
Once the Ladies had settled down from the positional
changes, they went to work. Winsford were determined to take
something away from this game, as they needed to keep some
distance between themselves and the bottom two teams.
The management made a final change with 20 minutes to go,
when they substituted Anderson with Henstock. This was very
nearly a a inspirational substitution, as Lee put through a
great pass for Henstock to run onto, but her shot was saved
by the Glossop keeper.
Then it was Henstock's chance to repay Lee with a great
through ball. Henstock picked the ball up just outside the
Glossop 18-yard box and with a bit of cheek and some flare,
she flicked the ball up and over the Glossop defence, right
into the path of Lee. However, Lee's shot was straight at
the keeper.
The Ladies kept up the pressure on Glossop and were
rewarded with an equalising goal from Lee in the last minute
of the match. The ball was threaded through the Glossop defence
for Lee, who picked up the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box.
Lee's initial shot was straight at the keeper and lacked power,
but the keeper couldn't control the ball and it rebounded back
to Lee who wasn't going to miss a second time, from 2 yards out.
Glossop North End 1 - 1 Winsford Ladies F.C.
The referee for the match, certainly didn't help Winsford's
cause and he definitely didn't have a good game, with numerous
strange decisions. The only positive thing that can be said
about the referee, was that he did handle an incident in the
last couple of minutes, when frustrations and tempers flared.
The resultant stern talking too, could have resulted in two
straight red cards.
Winsford's Girl of the Game was given to Moore, who had put
in a very strong and confident performance in nets. Although,
Moore didn't have many saves to to make during the match, which
was due to Winsford's dogged resisitance, those she did have to
handle, were done so safely and confidently. But it was Moore's
awareness of what the home side were up to when attacking, that
allowed her to charge out of her 18-yard box and clear the ball,
which Moore did countless times.
Glossop may have felt that they deserved all 3 points, but
the 1 - 1 draw keeps Winsford one place above Glossop in the
league and out of the relegation zone. The Ladies still have 4
games in hand on Glossop, but it's still going to be a hard battle
all the way to the end of the season. Winsford will take some
positives and negatives away from today's match, and it's those
negatives that the Ladies will need to work on at training, for
thier next match.
Winsford's next match is away to Airbus UK, on Sunday
20th February 2011.