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Sunday 12 October 2003 Women's Premier Reserve League Division 2 South
Enfield Town Ladies Reserves
3
-
1
AFC Wimbledon
Match report
ENFIELD TOWN LADIES RESERVES 3 AFC WIMBLEDON LADIES RESERVES 1
AFC Reserves started in the worst possible way against league leaders Enfield at Southgate on Sunday. Asked to play into a strong wind early pressure brought a corner. A melee in the goalmouth ensued and when a shot came back off a post it rebounded off keeper Charlotte Nash and nestled in the back of the net putting AFC a goal down inside 2 minutes.
Facing a tricky fixture with their 3 regular centre-backs missing, manager Rick Hack had to juggle his resources moving the versatile Danielle Davies into the middle to partner the elegant Rachel Woodland and giving Lyn Brown her debut at right back. All 3 proved inspired selections as Davies dominated in the air, Woodland showed great composure on the ball and Brown proved what an asset she will be for the remainder of the season.
AFC got over their initial shock but it was 10 minutes before they had their first strike on goal, Roxanne Camp cutting in from the right and sending a left-footed shot just over the bar. Soon after Michelle Storrier sent a shot wide before Nash made a fine save when the Enfield centre forward was put clear. AFC got the equaliser they were threatening on 23 minutes. Karen Douglas won the ball on the left and fed Joanna Goodwin whose precise pass played Storrier clear down the middle and the young striker made no mistake, slotting the ball wide of the advancing keeper. The remainder of the half proved very even with Storrier and Goodwin having shots blocked before Nash pulled off the save of the match, tipping a rasping drive over the bar 2 minutes from the break.
The opinion was that AFC had done the hard work and they soon had the home side under pressure. Camp had a shot held following a Brown free kick and Rose Maskell saw her lob go over the bar. It was Enfield, however who took a surprise lead when, with no apparent danger, a hopeful cross from the left sailed over the bemused Nash and into the far corner giving her no chance.
With the exception of midfielder Kelly Nethercoat AFC seemed content to hurl the ball forward with the help of the wind but too often the ball ran untroubled to the competent home keeper, leaving wide players Camp and Francesca Chappell under-used, although the small pitch did not help. AFC did create a couple of chances, Nethercoat?s fierce drive held by the keeper and Storrier?s shot cleared off the line but it was Enfield who had the last word. Their speedy centre forward finally breaking clear to put the ball past the onrushing Nash and over the line just beating the despairing effort of Davies to clear.
AFC?s talented young side have not found a team to frighten them this season but perhaps need a couple of experienced players to see them through in these tight matches.
