<p>The Ladies Team were determined to put in a much improved
performance from the previous weeks game and they did this. The
performance was a hundred times better.</p>
<p>The Ladies squad for Sunday, was made up of the following:
Jessica Moore was in nets.
The Defence was Rachel Robbins, Emma Johnson, Kathryn Hulme
and Hayley Mogford.
The Mid-field was Jay Anderson, Kylie Kettle, Danielle Lydiate
and Anna Watt.
And Winsford's strikers were Amy Hughes and Hanna Hewitson.
Substitutes was : Katie Mogford, Vicky Jones, Nicola Bogue
and Leanne Hudson.</p>
<p>The match kicked off and Winsford went to work with a very
positive attitude and a will to win. The whole of the first half
was fairly evenly match, with both teams having an equal amount of
possession, but Winsford had the lions share of goal scoring chances,
but just couldn't make them count. The Ladies had at least ten shots
in the first half, which were on target. Both Lydiate, Johnson and
Hewitson took shots from free kicks, which were within their range,
but ended up easy pickings for the Liverpool Keeper. Winsford's
striker, Hughes, worked tirelessly up front, getting herself into
great positions and taking numerous shots at goal, but again they
were easily dealt with by the Liverpool keeper.</p>
<p>Moore, the Winsford keeper made sure of the few chances that
the visitors did have, were gathered safely in her hands or cleared
from her 18-yard box.</p>
<p>However, it was the visitors who were to break the deadlock
by scoring the opening goal of the game. Liverpool won the ball in
their mid-field and pressed forward into Winsford's half. The Ladies
back four, who were holding a tight line and had caught the Liverpool
striker off-side several times previously, were furious with the referee
as on this occasion, the referee was not in a position to see that the
Liverpool player was clearly off-side, so this meant she had a clear
run at goal, with just the keeper to beat, which she did.</p>
<p>0 - 1 to the visitors.</p>
<p>Winsford didn't let their heads drop from going behind in the game,
but kept up the pressure for the remainder of the first half, continually
creating chances and asking lots of questions of the Liverpool defence.</p>
<p>The whistle went for half time and Winsford went into the break
knowing they shouldn't be behind in this game, but should be 3 or 4
goals up themselves. However, that's football for you.</p>
<p>Winsford came out in the second half with renewed energy and
went straight to the job in hand, which was scoring that illusive goal
that would get themselves back in the game. The management made an early
change by bringing on Vicky Jones, to replace Jay Anderson on the left wing.</p>
<p>The Ladies pressed Liverpool back into their own half and that's
where they stayed. Pinned back on the edge of their 18-yard box, with
Jones, Kettle, Lydiate and Hughes all testing the Liverpool defence with
their individual pace, ball skills and passing ability. They also
continued taking lots of shots from both close and long range. The
Liverpool keeper certainly earned her place within the team.</p>
<p>With all this pressure, the visitors turned to unfair means to stop
the Winsford onslaught, and did anything to ensure they disrupted the
Ladies passing game, which was causing Liverpool major problems. So,
it was from one of these tackles, that Winsford scored the equaliser.</p>
<p>The referee awarded Winsford a free-kick from about 25-yards out,
which both Lydiate and Hewitson stood ready to take. As the whistle blew
one of the Liverpool players came and stood in front of Lydiate, so
as to block her run up to the ball. But the move was in vain, as it
was Hewitson who took the free-kick and what a strike it was. Hewitson
made perfect contact with the ball and from the moment it left her boot,
it was destined for the back of the net. It was like watching it in slow
motion, the ball looped over the Liverpool wall, defence and then the
keepers head, as she tried to get a touch on the ball. But even at
full stretch, the keeper was unable to keep the ball out, as it dipped
just out of reach and under the cross-bar. The home croud errupted
into raptures of applause and cheers, as the ball went in.</p>
<p>1 - 1. What an equaliser!!</p>
<p>The Ladies were straight in again at the kick-off, keeping the pressure
up on the visitors and making sure they weren't allowed time on the ball.
The Winsford back four worked hard and kept the Liverpool attacks away from
their goal area, whilst the mid-field kept the the visitors in their own
half for long periods.</p>
<p>The management made a late second half substitution, when they replaced
Hayley Mogford at right back with Leanne Hudson, who is returning from an
ankle ligament injury, that has kept her out for the past few weeks.</p>
<p>When the final whistle blew, the Ladies knew they had been in a
tough match. But Winsford they left the pitch in a very positive mood,
having not lost and having taken a point from a strong Liverpool side.
The Ladies can definitely hold their heads high following a far, far
better individual and overall team performance. Some of the passing
football that we know Winsford can do, was just exquisite during the
game. Lydiate definitely deserved the Girl of the Game award, following
a commanding, determined performance. And she didn't play her best, so
watch out because Lydiate is back.</p>
<p>The referee for this weeks game, unfortunately didn't offer Winsford's
players much protection and and yet again there was justification for the
referee to issue numerous Yellow Cards for late challenges and certainly
a definite Red Card should have been given for foul and abusive language
directed at the referee, which everyboby heard. However, not one card was
shown.</p>
<p>Winsford's next match is at home to Mossley Hill Reserves on Sunday
28th November 2010.</p>