Match Report
Sheffield’s penultimate match of 2007/08 took them north to face the already relegated Collingham Tadcaster whom Sheffield had beaten 4-0 in their very first league game of the season. The visitors were without the services of first team regulars Jodie and Natalie Crofts, Katrina Brett and Kate Rowell, so Sophie Thomas and Sarah Wilson came into the squad.
The game kicked off on a compact pitch in bright and sunny but cold conditions, and Sheffield were soon ahead thanks to a fine low strike into the bottom corner by Lisa Giampalma from Nell Taylor’s set up. A few minutes later, Helen Wakefield drove up the left wing with the ball and cut in to attempt to play a little deft chip over the keeper but Gina Robinson, in nets for the hosts, read the situation really well and grabbed the attempt just as it left Wakefield’s boot. With 14 minutes gone Clare Holmes intercepted a short goal kick and played a cushioned lofted pass through to strike partner Lisa Bailey who, in turn, lobbed the keeper from 16 yards out. The hosts added a third when Bailey again ran onto a neat through ball from midfield to hit a low shot which found its way into the bottom corner in spite of Robinson getting a palm onto the effort. Two minutes later, and Sheffield were 4-0 to the good when a Rachel Charles corner from the left was driven low through a crowded box all the way to Holmes at the far post for a simple tap in.
Although Sheffield provided the greater attacking force, they struggled with the confined dimensions of the pitch and found it difficult to really get their passing game going all afternoon. In spite of this, they still made and converted their chances well with Holmes getting her second on 37 minutes: a Bailey shot hit the crossbar and rebounded out to the left of the goal where the alert Giampalma collected the ball and whipped in a good cross to pick out the head of Holmes in the centre of the goal, whose looping header dropped over the keeper’s outstretched gloves. Three further goals were added before half time when first, Wakefield floated a cross in from the left which glanced off the head of a defender only as far as Bailey who drilled the ball in from 10 yards for her hatrick. Another break up the left through Wakefield and Bailey allowed Giampalma to pick out Homes with a great pass, and the striker converted for her hatrick. With the temperature dropping fast, Grainger was pushed forward to get her more involved, and within minutes, she had the ball in the back of the net with a looping header from Holmes’ excellent cross from the right wing.
The sun had well and truly disappeared after the break and the afternoon had turned distinctly wintry. Sheffield struggled to find the momentum they had in the first half, whereas Collingham Tadcaster seemed to have found a renewed resolve and the opening moments of the second half were played in Sheffield's half. A couple of corners failed to threaten as Sheffield cleared their lines well and were first up to the headers, but Caz Whiteman did have a couple of saves to make as players were put through up the right, but the Sheffield keeper was off her line smartly and got down really well to block the attempted shots on goal. On 58 minutes, Sheffield furthered their lead when skipper Taylor collected the ball 35 yards from goal and as space opened up, she carried the ball all the way through to slot coolly under the diving Robinson for 9-0.
Sophie Thomas replaced Lauren Davids, and it seemed as though that was how things were going to end as Sheffield hit the woodwork on no less than three occasions: Giampalma with a superb strike from the edge of the box to round off Sheffield’s best move of the afternoon which deserved a goal, then Bailey from 10 yards out, then Wakefield on a surging run up the left shot with her right foot to bend the ball round the keeper but it came back off the junction between bar and post. Sarah Wilson was brought on with 20 minutes remaining and with her first touch of the game set Holmes up for what should have seen Sheffield hit double figures but the striker pulled her shot wide. Holmes made up for the miss eight minutes later when she finished with a simple tap in after a fine run and cut back from Charles up the right.
Three goals in the final ten minutes helped Sheffield to the biggest away win in the league this season, and their biggest victory ever on the road. Holmes got her fifth of the afternoon with a fine finish from outside the box which was bent round the diving Robinson after good work and a final pass from Bailey. The pace of Sheffield had been too much for Collingham Tadcaster to handle for much of the game, and the visitors were finding it all too easy to break through the defensive line to set up chances. Wilson added to Sheffield’s tally with another simple tap in after a drive up the right and cross from Charles, just before Wakefield ended the scoring with an excellent calm finish from 10 yards out.
No surprise with the win, but it was good to see Sheffield work hard on a bitterly cold afternoon and play the match to the finish to boost their already considerable goal average. With one game to go now against Keighley, Sheffield need at least a point from it to secure the League title for the very first time, but against a side that have always given us close matches, that is not going to be a straight-forward task.
Teams:
Collingham Tadcaster LFC: Robinson, King, Blakey, Kirkaldy, Nixon, Roberts, Young, Kent, Lendhill, Menzer, Eccles (Midgley 63)
Sheffield FC Ladies: Whiteman, Wright, Davids (Thomas 62), Grainger, Gale (Wilson 70), Charles, Giampalma, Taylor, Wakefield, Bailey*, Holmes
Goals: Giampalma 8, Bailey 14, 29 & 39, Holmes 22, 37, 41, 79, & 82, Grainger 43, Taylor 58, Wilson 86, Wakefield 88
Player of the Match: Lisa Bailey
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