Match Report
This was the first meeting between these two sides this season, and although Wigton Moor were currently embroiled in a battle to avoid relegation, a 4-4 draw in the same fixture last season made Sheffield wary of a similar potential slip up today. With Lynne Grainger rested, and Clare Holmes and Sophie Thomas unavailable, Sheffield could still boast a strong squad for today's game, and one that had conceded just a single goal in their past five matches.
Playing up a slight slope but with the wind at their backs, Sheffield took the game to Wigton Moor in the opening period, the hosts being reduced to ten men after just a few minutes of the match when captain Beryl Hockey got the ball full in the face and was unable to continue. After 12 minutes, Sheffield were ahead thanks to a superb move involving Christina Wright and Lisa Bailey up the left which was converted by Helen Wakefield driving forward into the box and slotting the ball just inside the near post with a first time left-footed shot. 1-0 quickly became 2-0 when Jodie Crofts bundled the ball over the line from a typically excellent corner delivery from Gemma Gale.
Although Sheffield had the better possession and exerted more pressure on the Wigton Moor goal, they were finding it hard to dig the ball out from the sticky, bobbly surface to really test the home keeper, and most of their efforts were comfortable for Michelle Clance to save. A good overlap by Lisa Giampalma on Natalie Crofts allowed the midfielder to cut in and shoot, but the keeper made a good save to deny Sheffield a third. Some determined defending by the home side kept Sheffield at bay until the 33rd minute, when Bailey scored with an excellent lofted shot from the edge of the penalty area after being set up by Giampalma. Bailey added another just a couple of minutes later when a clever drag back by the striker gave her a bit of extra time and space to drill the ball passed the keeper to make it 4-0 to the visitors.
Immediately after the goal, an enforced substitution was made when Michelle Fletcher was brought on for Lauren Davids who had sustained a pulled muscle. More pressure from Sheffield in the final minutes of the half created two further chances when Giampalma's shot was well saved after another great surging run and cross up the left by Wakefield, and then Bailey's shot from just outside the box got the faintest of touches from Jayne Potter's outstretched leg which was just enough to deflect the ball onto the post.
Sheffield sought brief but very welcome respite at the break from a bitterly cold afternoon before emerging, somewhat reluctantly, for the second half. Space opened up on the left after an early corner which broke to Fletcher and her first time shot seemed to be heading for the bottom left corner of the goal, but the keeper got down well to make an excellent save. Wigton Moor rallied well at the start of the half and enjoyed more possession plus more time in Sheffield's half as the visitor's took time to adjust back after the break. When they did though, they couldn't make their pressure on Wigton's goal area count, and squandered several good positions by a reluctance to shoot or by the final ball just being slightly laboured.
Bailey made way just after the hour mark for Rachel Charles to partner Jodie Crofts up front to form the youngest forward pairing Sheffield had ever had, totalling just slightly more than that of the departing, yet leading, scorer's! Charles looked lively straight away and eager to take players on in front of goal, but it was Jodie Crofts who struck next for Sheffield with a good finish off a low cross from the right. Kate Rowell replaced the scorer immediately after her goal and just minutes later, Giampalma saw her shot flash past the upright after a good cross by Charles. With an abundance of space now, Sheffield were moving the ball about really nicely and switching play in quick, flowing moves which enabled both full-backs to advance deep into their opponents half. In the final five minutes, Gale dispatched a long range effort just wide of the post, before Wright picked up the ball on the halfway line, drove forward and slotted a well-timed pass through the Wigton defence to Giampalma whose cross was converted at the far post by Charles to make it 6-0.
So, another good three points for Sheffield FC Ladies which closes the gap on the top two, neither of whom played this week-end.
Teams:
Wigton Moor LFC: Clance, Potter, Hilshaw, Hockey, Lewis, Hartley, Neville, House, Casey, Adair, Woods
Sheffield FC Ladies: Whiteman, Brett, Davids (Fletcher 36), Wright, Gale, N Crofts, Giampalma, Taylor, Wakefield, Bailey (Charles 65), J Crofts (Rowell 73)
Goals: Wakefield 12, J Crofts 16 & 72, Bailey 33 & 35, Charles 87
Player of the Match: Helen Wakefield |
