Match Report

Solihull Ladies v Birmingham Medics

Sunday 24th February 2008

Birmingham County Womens League – Division 1

The game kicked off at 2pm at The Glades. Solihull knew they would be playing a Birmingham Medic side full of confidence, after their last win of 6-0 against Withymoor.

Solihull started the game doing most of the pressing and closing The Medics down when they hadn’t got the ball. Trish had some great runs down the left wing early on in the game and delivered some great balls into the box. Shauna and Katie were able to make use of these balls coming in and both players managed to get shots away early.

The deadlock was broken in the 13th minute. Shauna picked up the ball on the edge of the box with her back to goal, a defender was marking her closely and the keeper came rushing out, as this happened Shauna turned and lobbed the ball over both of them into the top corner.

Birmingham were looking for a quick response and after the goal the pace of the game picked up. Up to the challenge Solihull’s midfield of Hollie, Trish, Denise and Sam were getting in crucial tackles so Birmingham had to resort to the long ball.

In the 45th minute Birmingham Medics were awarded a free kick just 15yds outside the box. A clever ball was knocked over the Solihull defence for a Medics player to run onto. Steph the Solihull keeper was quick to notice the danger and came out to close down. She half smothered the shot but somehow it managed to squirm under her body making the half time score 1 – 1 .

The second half got underway with both sides determined to get a result. Solihull were always in control of the game with the midfield winning most of the battles, although the score line remained the same. Solihull continued to press but couldn’t make their dominance count.

Solihull knew a draw would not be good enough for the title hopes, so with 20 minutes to go a substitution was made with Katie Hipwell giving way to Heather White. Within 2 minutes of Heather coming on a chance was created from the right hand side. Denise played the ball to Shauna who in turn played it to Heather on the edge of the box. Heather didn’t hesitate and hit the ball first time, only to see it hit the side netting.

Shortly after, an unfortunate incident took place when a Medic player suffered a serious injury as she was chasing the ball. The game was stopped whilst she received first aid, we wish her a speedy recovery.

The game restarted with 10 minutes left. Solihull started to throw numbers forward trying for the elusive winner. Shauna had a great shot which came back off the woodwork, Sam’s shot from the edge of the box clipped the crossbar - it didn’t look like it was going to be our day.

With a few seconds remaining and the game heading for a draw, Shauna picked up the ball on the right and drove for the goal line, she cut back a drilled ball into the 6 yard box which Heather and the Medics keeper both went for, Heather just managed to get her foot there first and saw the ball roll into the back of the net, which sent Solihull into raptures.

Solihull deserved the victory but Birmingham Medics came so close to stealing a point.

Full Time : 2 – 1 (Half Time : 1 – 1)

Man of the match : Trish Samuels

Team : Stephanie Witherspoon, Dianne Baker, Rachel Fowkes, Jenny Price, Michelle Witherspoon, Denise Corfield, Hollie Chambers, Sam Hunt, Trish Samuels, Katie Hipwell (Heather White(1)), Shauna Towey (1).

Subs not used : Jemma Canning, Danni Hill, Louisa Ward

Established 1994