Match Report
was new territory for Sheffield FC Ladies as they competed in their first ever Cup semi-final match against defending champions and Premier Northern division side Sheffield Wednesday. With three divisions separating the two teams, it was always going to be a massive ask of the visitors to spring a major upset, but they put in a very commendable performance which certainly made Wednesday work for their win.
As expected, Sheffield Wednesday came straight at the visitors from the kick off and calamity almost ensued as Nell Taylor managed to head a lofted ball dangerously towards her own goal in the opening seconds, which would have seen Sheffield a goal down had it not been for a brilliant clearance off the line by team mate Christina Wright. Wednesday were clearly intent on unsettling Sheffield as early as possible and intimidating them with their direct style of play and vocal following. The visitors knew they had to weather the early storm and get used to the pace of the game, and initially they found it difficult as Wednesday moved the ball quickly and opened up the Sheffield defence on a couple of occasions. One such move fashioned the first goal with 12 minutes gone, as the ball was moved quickly across the top of the box to allow Emma Woolley space to pick her spot.
Another five minutes though, and Sheffield started to settle, playing the ball around really nicely and enjoying some decent attacks and spells of possession, and for the next 20 minutes, a uninformed spectator would have been extremely hard-pressed to have been able to tell that there were three whole divisions between the two teams. Approaching the half hour mark in the game, a ball swung in from the left for Rachel Charles was intercepted by the head of a Wednesday defender and headed onto the crossbar with the keeper nowhere near it. From this scare, Wednesday broke and immediately scored a second courtesy of on-loan Doncaster Rovers Belles striker, Frankie Waller, which had a distinct hint of offside about it (confirmed as being so by the totally impartial John and Trev after the game)!
So from almost being 1-1, the game swung to 2-0 and Sheffield slightly let their concentration drop, disappointed that their improved showing hadn't reaped any reward. Wednesday were clinical in the final 15 minutes of the half as Sheffield struggled to get organised again, adding two more goals before the break. Woolley struck again with an excellent strike into the top right corner, then Beth Gingell got her name on the score sheet with 5 minutes of the half remaining. A 4-0 lead perhaps slightly flattered the hosts although the last action of the half was produced by Sheffield when a Charles corner was met by the head of Ozzy Davids climbing through three Wednesday defenders to direct the ball just wide of the target.
With the tie already effectively over, Sheffield were determined to lift things in the second half and not let Wednesday run away with the game. A great run from Gemma Gale and shot from Lisa Bailey forced an early corner from which Charles headed over the bar at the far post, seemingly catching Wednesday a bit asleep immediately after the restart. Fantastic work at the back from player of the match Davids with a couple of goal saving tackles prevented Wednesday from further extending their lead, as did a couple of fine saves from Caz Whiteman.
Midway through the half, the referee suddenly took the limelight with a ridiculous piece of unhelpful officiating when he awarded Wednesday a free kick in the area after Whiteman was judged to have picked up a back pass...Whiteman having asked the referee several times as the ball was running through to her whether she could pick the ball up, which drew no reaction from him at all. Sheffield blocked the resultant effort on the line (courtesy of Davids' backside), and the team pulled together all the more producing some good attacks once again. A lapse in concentration allowed the hosts in again after 69 minutes, but Sheffield continued to play well and Bailey brought a fantastic save from Claire Wallhead in the Wednesday goal with just over ten minutes to go. Again Wednesday hit straight back and scored their sixth of the afternoon, Waller getting her hatrick, whilst Sheffield played out the final minutes with some good possession in the Wednesday half in a very creditable attempt to get on the score sheet themselves, but it was not to be.
Owl's boss, Dan Duke, was delighted with his team's performance after the game, and generous in his praise of the visitors: "Sheffield are a very good side who could play a couple of leagues above their current league and not look out of place. They have a never say die attitude so will be a force to be reckoned with in the future." We hope he is right!
Teams:
Sheffield Wednesday LFC: Wallhead, Severns, Smith (Barker 75), Wale, Gomersall, Foreman (Ross 71), De Silva, Woolley, Waller, Skeemer, Gingell (Skull 63)
Goals: Woolley 12 & 36, Waller 27, 69 & 83, Gingell 40
Sheffield FC Ladies: Whiteman, Wright (Rowell 67), Davids, Fletcher, Gale, Charles, Taylor, Giampalma, Grainger (N Crofts 74), Bailey, J Crofts (Holmes 52)
Player of the Match: Lauren Davids
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