Match Report

Stoke City v Solihull Ladies FC, 0 - 0

West Midlands Premier League

With Solihull playing quite a defensive system, there was very little time and space for Stoke to play their normal flowing game. With the midfield packed, much of the play was bogged down in the centre of the park with very few chances falling to either team. Although the first half was quite an even affair, the best chance fell to Stoke, when on 18 minutes a shot beat Nathalie Simon in the away goal, only for the effort to rebound back off the post and be cleared.

The second period started in much the same vain as the first but as time ticked by, it was Stoke that started to dominate possession and force Solihull further into their own half. The heavy pressure of Stoke was matched only by the excellent defensive work of Solihull, who worked tirelessly to reduce the passing options available to Stoke and limit their opportunities at goal.

Simon was forced into a good save on 85 minutes and her good reactions kept Solihull in the game. In fact despite Stoke have the better of play the away team could of nicked all three points in the closing 5 minutes after Vicky Hands chased her own punt forward and closed down the Stoke goalkeeper quicker then she had anticipated. Under pressure from the onrushing Hands, the keeper’s clearance was hit straight against Hands and her shot rolled just inches wide of the post.

Final Score: Stoke 0 v 0 Solihull

Solihull Player of the Match: Emily Brimson

[TEAM: Simon; Coley; Slade(C) (Kelly); Brimson; Sansome; Davies (Wentworth) Pointon; Westwood (Hands); Levasseur; Pugh; Link]

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