Match Report
With Howden Clough involved in the League Cup quarter-finals, the opportunity for more ground to be made up on them was fully taken by Sheffield as they recorded their biggest win of the season with a 12-0 thrashing of Bilton Athletic. A lacklustre performance in the away fixture way back in September was well and truly made up for with seven different people players getting on the score sheet for the hosts as they bettered Bilton Athletic in every department of the game.
Lynne Grainger got things moving for Sheffield as early as the fifth minute when she met an excellent Gemma Gale cross to lash the ball home first time with a brilliant left-footed strike from 12 yards out. Some early resistance from Bilton Athletic won them a couple of corners, but these failed to trouble Caz Whiteman in the Sheffield goal and the ball was cleared quickly and effectively each time. Clare Holmes added a second for the hosts on 11 minutes with a looping header from Gale's corner, a combination which has become a very reliable source of goals. A couple of good one-on-one chances went begging, but the keeper stood up well to the attempts on goal, before Nell Taylor finally got it right with a run through the defence and shot low to the keeper's right. Lisa Giampalma followed suit just a couple of minutes later with a super finish that went in off the underside of the crossbar, putting Sheffield 4-0 up after just 25 minutes.
Sheffield struggled to adjust to Bilton's high defensive line and the hosts were regularly caught offside with players either too keen to make the break for goal, or the ball from deep not coming quickly enough for the strikers to break through. Consequently, the midfield were the ones breaking through from deep or carrying the ball forward as the defence were caught flat footed or distracted by players coming back onside. A fifth goal for the hosts was eventually added just before the break when Giampalma finished off a super move involving Gale and Natalie Crofts.
With the result in the bag, Sheffield looked to make early substitutions, with Gale making way for Katrina Brett at half-time. Bilton Athletic's defence seemed to be playing slightly deeper this half and so there was more space for Sheffield to play the ball around in. Patient build up play, where the ball went back rather than forward all the time, also created additional space for the hosts, and they proceeded to play some really good football in the second half. With Gale off the pitch, Rachel Charles took over corner kicking duties and she found the head of Ozzy Davids on one such corner after 58 minutes, which the defender headed down and over the line for 6-0. Holmes grabbed her second with an excellent solo break through the middle and calm finish, before Grainger doubled her tally too from the acutest of angles to the left of the goal after a brilliantly timed pass from left back Christina Wright put the winger through.
Jodie Crofts and captain Taylor made way for substitutes Lisa Bailey and Michelle Fletcher, and there was a slight lull in scoring as the team adjusted to the altered line up. Davids almost got a rare second with another header from a corner after 78 minutes, before four more goals were rattled in during the final ten minutes of the match. Great work from Bailey and Nat Crofts allowed the young winger to cross a super ball into the box where Giampalma and Holmes were racing in on goal. Giampalma got there first but her effort rebounded off the keeper and Holmes reacted really quickly to cut the loose ball back across the line for her hatrick, but more significantly, her 50th goal for the club!
Another great cross from Nat Crofts set up Bailey who made no mistake with her finish, then Bailey turned provider with a great run to the by-line and square ball into the six yard box to set up Holmes' fourth of the game. With time almost up, Bailey set up the final goal of a prolific afternoon for Sheffield with a cross into the box which produced a great volleyed finish from player of the match Natalie Crofts to mark an excellent performance from the young player. It had been another professional display from the Ladies team and one which was played with an excellent spirit and buzz about the team, contributing to a really enjoyable afternoon for players and spectators alike.
Teams:
Sheffield FC Ladies: Whiteman, N Crofts*, Davids, Wright, Gale (Brett 45), Charles, Giampalma, Taylor (Fletcher 69), Grainger, J Crofts (Bailey 62), Holmes
Goals: Grainger 5 & 67, Holmes 11, 63, 82 & 87, Taylor 23, Giampalma 25 & 43, Davids 58, Bailey 83, N Crofts 89
Player of the Match: Natalie Crofts
Bilton Athletic: Waslin, Pickering, Jackman, Winter (Clark 45), Holye, Fordon, Trowill, Elliott, Dalby, Garrod, Demoulpied
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