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Sunday 22 February 2004
FA Nationwide Women's Premier League, Southern Division
| Enfield Town Ladies |
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1 |
AFC Wimbledon |
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Match report
ENFIELD TOWN LADIES 2 AFC WIMBLEDON LADIES 1
The omens were out for this one. Firstly the wayward coach driver took the via Oxford Street route so the team arrived late. Then a mix up with the kit meant the Dons had to borrow a set from the home team, which delayed kick off by ten minutes. Then Rachel Axon failed to recover from a knock picked up during the week's England Under 19 trials and Vicky Elcome was called into action despite a cracked rib sustained last weekend. To rub it in it was as cold and windy as Siberia and Brimsdown's pitch had less grass than your average basketball court.
None of these, however, are valid excuses for defeat against a team struggling against relegation.
For 44 minutes of the first half, Dons were on top, but failed to convert any of their chances. Unable to control the flight of the ball in the wind, and too reluctant to play the easy ball on the bald pitch, the ladies still managed to carve out several good chances. Notably, Beth Sims was clean through twice but took too long to get her shot off and was tackled superbly, and Julie Bygrave had a cracking shot turned onto the bar by Enfield's solid custodian, Jo Ayres. Maria Bertelli was having a fine game, winning everything in the middle, but the rest were giving it back to their opponents at every opportunity. Seconds before the half-time whistle and Town made the Dons pay for their profligacy, Tracy Perry rooted to the line as the ball found it's way across the goalmouth from the left wing and Keisha Ramos was left alone with two attackers, one of whom, Siobhan O'Neill, nipped in to bundle the ball into the back of the net. It was pretty much the first chance the home side had created, but it was enough to give them the lead at the break.
Graham Newnham showed his displeasure by keeping the team out on the pitch for the break, but Town now showed the confidence they'd been lacking in the first period and the game became much more level. Even so, Dons managed an equaliser on the hour. Beth Sims chased a lost cause over the top and the diminutive striker jumped between the keeper and a defender to bravely head in. Reports indicate this was her first headed goal in several years! Unfortunately, just as it looked like the away side would pull it around, Enfield Town hit back. A needless free-kick was given away 30 yards out and Kelly Townshend's curling effort found the gap between Perry's hands and the cross-bar. Try as they might, Dons failed to trouble the keeper again, and Town recorded only their fourth victory of the season. |
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