Newbury Ladies Football
Match Report -- Season 2011-12
Southern Region Women's Football League Division 1 South
25th September 2011
Newbury 0 Boscombe Albion 6
Newbury Ladies were prepared for a tough encounter against opposition that were well known to them, having faced Boscombe Albion 3 times last season, with the previous matches always having been very competitive affairs. They went into the game with a strong squad and were hopeful of picking up their first points of the season.

However the warning signs were present straight from the kick off, with Newbury losing the ball in midfield and Boscombe’s left winger latching onto an angled ball. She bore down on the Newbury goal from the left flank, but sent her effort a foot wide of the near post.

After this early let-off, Newbury recovered their composure and began to build some pressure of their own. Captain Leanne Crease was instrumental in playing some quality balls into the right channel behind the Boscombe defence. Ruby Oliver was the first to benefit from such a pass, only to see the opportunity snuffed out by a covering defender. Jenny Petrylak then received the ball on the right and tore into the penalty area. Her cross flew across the Boscombe goal and was met by Nicole Beesley coming in at the far post, but she too fired wide.

It was Boscombe who took the lead on 15 minutes in a somewhat controversial fashion, when Chloe Hunt, in the Newbury goal came out to punch clear a cross. As soon as the ball was cleared, Hunt was clattered into by the Boscombe forward and was too winded to recover her position. The original clearance fell to an arriving midfielder on the edge of the box, who slotted the ball away for one nil. The Referee deeming there had been no foul in the build up and so the goal stood.

As in previous games, Newbury conceded again within just two minutes, after a good through ball by the Boscombe midfield, who by now were threatening to dominate. Newbury did try to wrestle back some of the initiative, with Lorna Parr and Sarah Haughey in the middle of the park continuing to hustle and get their tackles in.

But it was Boscombe who continued to carve out the better chances as the half went on, with Newbury having the woodwork to thank for keeping the score within their reach still at 2 nil. Boscombe won a corner however on the 40 minute mark and they converted from a bullet header to take a 3 nil lead into the break.

There was just enough time left in first half injury time, for Newbury to push forward and show a glimmer of some promising football. A great cross field ball by Leanne Crease found Jenny Petrylak, who cushioned her header into the path of Ruby Oliver at the edge of the Boscombe penalty area. Unfortunately Oliver’s volley sailed just over the bar and half time came with Boscombe three goals to the good.

Newbury pushed Nicole Beesley up front at the start of the second period, in the hope of getting her more involved, as they went in search of a goal and a foothold in the game. In the opening spell, Newbury enjoyed more of the possession and forced two corners. They weren’t able to take advantage however, with their attempts at goal still failing to hit the target.

The first change from the Newbury substitutes bench was made on 60 minutes, with Kendall Gilmore brought on up front and Lorna Parr withdrawn. But within minutes Boscombe poured forward again, with an effort hitting the underside of the Newbury cross bar and somehow crashing back out of the goal. Boscombe did add to their tally soon after, when their striker broke the offside trap, ran through on goal before rounding the Newbury keeper to slot home, making it 4 nil.

Again Newbury conceded almost straight away, with the game now well and truly over and Boscombe taking an unassailable 5 nil lead. Newbury’s last two substitutions were made with 20 minutes remaining. Bex Walker replaced Sarah Haughey in centre midfield, and Sophie Self coming on for Lauren Sheldon at right back.

Newbury refused to let their heads drop and they continued to battle and seek a consolation. They won a corner after good work by Ruby Oliver on the right. Crease’s cross was met firmly by a diving Gilmore header, only for the Boscombe goalkeeper to make the save and push the ball around the post. From the resulting corner, Boscombe’s keeper claimed the ball, then set up a breakaway, which ended with Albion’s midfielder connecting with a pull-back on the edge of the box. This time the shot skimmed the Newbury cross bar and whistled over for a goal kick.

In the last 5 minutes of the match, a final Boscombe attack brought about a sixth goal, as a shot was unluckily deflected by Newbury full back, Sophie Self, and diverted past a despairing Hunt into the Newbury net.

Players: Chloe Hunt, Lauren Sheldon (sub Sophie Self 70 mins), Leanne Saunders, Sam McConnon, Naomi Purvis, Leanne Creese (capt), Jenny Petrylak, Lorna Parr (sub Kendall Gilmour 60 mins), Sarah Haughey (sub Becky Walker 70 mins), Ruby Oliver, Nicole Beesley.
Referee: Jim Finlay
Goal scorers
Player of the match
Next fixture

Southern Region Premier

League season closed
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