Newbury Ladies Football
Match Report -- Season 2016-17
Southern Region Women's Football League Premier Division
Sunday 12th March 2017
Newbury Ladies 1 Winchester City Flyers 1
Newbury kicked off the match and launched an attack straight away, with both Lauren Hanson and Nicole Beesley involved in the build-up. They worked the ball up to Amy McNab, who played a return pass with Beesley, but unfortunately her first time shot was just wide. That effort seemed to wake up the visiting team and Winchester then had a spell of sustained pressure in the Newbury half. But Newbury’s back line were coping well. It took until the 14th minute for Winchester to register their first shot, when the right sided midfielder cut in and fired a hard shot goal-ward. Nicky Isted, in Newbury’s goal was equal to it and she held the ball safely.

The same Winchester played then tested Isted again just four minutes later, when she had a shot deflected. Isted watched it well, getting down low to parry initially and then claim at the second attempt. Beesley then won a corner for Newbury, which they worked short and resulted in a shot at the goalkeeper by Ellie Reed. The deadlock was broken on 25 minutes, after a quick break by Winchester and an accurate through ball, which split the Newbury defence. Although there were very strong appeals by the home side for a marginal off side. The Assistant was unmoved and the Winchester striker was allowed to continue into the box for a one-on-one chance, that she gratefully buried into the bottom corner of the net, giving her side a one nil lead.

Newbury reacted well, showing great resilience, remaining in the game. With the first half wearing on and still only one goal in it, Newbury created a couple of half chances just before the half time break. First Beesley set up Reed for a strike and then McNab had a shot, which the keeper was able to gather. But the signs were promising for Newbury.

Just 11 minutes after the re-start, Newbury’s Bex Walker was fouled near the half way line, with tempers fraying from both opposing players. The flare up lasted only seconds and the Referee did well to keep everything calm, although both players were cautioned for their reactions. Ruby Oliver was introduced for Newbury on 63 minutes and this meant a change of flank for Walker, as she moved onto the left. If it could be said that Winchester had the better of the first half, then Newbury had come more into the game in the second period, with an increase in the frequency of the home attacks and more of the play in the visitor’s half.

The game changed in the 69th minute when deep lying midfielder, Lorna Kinder-Parr, stormed forward in a break away move down the right. She was in behind the Winchester defence and charging into the penalty area. Newbury had both Walker and Tracey Beales creating a 2 versus 1 situation at the far post. Kinder-Parr’s cross was pin point, evading the reach of the goalkeeper and defender. Waiting at the back post was Beales, who slid in and connected deftly with the outside of her right boot, to steer the ball home. It was a terrific piece of attacking play by Newbury and finished off so well by Beales. It was her second goal in consecutive games and it was an equaliser that Newbury thoroughly deserved.

Not long after that piece of magic from Kinder-Parr, she was replaced in midfield by Lisa Elboth, who provided fresh legs and helped to sure up Newbury’s midfield for the final 15 minutes. Both sides refused to sit back however and the tempo in the game was so high. It was an intense encounter, with both teams looking for the win. Newbury had at least 3 good corners, which Winchester defended well, charging down shots and blocking efforts from Beales and Oliver. Then with the Referee playing over five minutes of additional time, Winchester forced their own corner. The Referee checked his watch and the cross was sent into the near post, where Hanson was covering for Newbury. She held her arms into her chest and in front of her chest, and the ball hit her forearms. Within a second of that occurring, the Referee blew for full time, much to the huge relief of Newbury. There then followed loud appeals from the visitors for a penalty for hand ball, but the Referee was completely un-moved and the match end at 1-1.

It was an excellent point for Newbury, as it had been a performance full of determination, spirit and character.

Match report bt Sue Hewett

Players: Nicky Isted, Lauren Hanson, Sam Atkins, Leanne Saunders, Lorna Kinder-Parr, Hannah Byrne, Ellie Reed (Capt), Tracey Beales, Bex Walker, Nicole Beesley, Amy McNab, Ruby Oliver, Lisa Elboth, Megan Kirby, Maria Rodrigues.
Referee: Aaron Baker
Goal scorers
Tracey Beales
Player of the match
Tracey Beales
Next fixture

Southern Region Premier

League season closed
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