FA Cup Result - Forest Ladies Win
Yeovil 0 - 1 Nottingham Forest Ladies
Sunday 14th February 2010
The following match report is courtesy of Yeovil Town Ladies FC. Visit their website at http://www.yeoviltownladies.com/news.html . The report is from the view of Yeovil Town Ladies, but is a fair accurate report of the match.
By the 15th minute Yeovil were starting to find their feet. You could see the belief starting to flow through their veins, and with it, they started to get a lot more possession, and attacks. Lindsey Roe was seeing a lot more of the ball in midfield, and was competing well with her opposite number, Terri Trowbridge was making a number of key interceptions on the right, and sending some great balls to Anusia Rourke, who was battling the front line brilliantly with Jemma Tewkesbury. Kayleigh Nardiello was also seeing more of the ball on the left, and Emma Brazell was having a blinder, both in defence and coming forward. Georgia Coles was doing well on the right, with Rachael Edwards and Karen Perkins impressive in the centre, with Kim Turner battling in midfield.
Forest were still well in it, with their close knit passing, and pace up the flanks. Yeovil were doing well, yet they were still having problems adapting to the pace of the game, a factor that was stopping them getting quality balls to the front line. However, on 20 minutes the Glovers played a great pass up the flank to Nardiello who ran at the defence, beat her man, but the ‘keeper gathered her shot with ease.
The game continued in a similar vein, but Forest started to gradually eat away at the Yeovil defence, and as a consequence Suzanne Davies was enjoying some success in and around the box, and had a good chance on 24 minutes when she shot well from 18 yards. Dodge pulled off a great save, but couldn’t hold the ball, with it coming back to Davies who shot over the bar.
On the half hour she got in another great shot that was again equalled by Dodge. Davies sprang on the rebound, but was denied by a brilliant off the line clearance by Terri Trowbridge.
Yeovil were still competing, and on 36 minutes Rourke made a great run down the left to send in a powerful angled shot that the ‘keeper did well to keep out, and at the other end Davies got back in the act with a good shot, but Dodge again performed a fantastic save, much to the applaud of the 255 watching supporters.
Neither manager made any chances at the break, and Forest continued to attack in the second half, with Chloe Fostor going close early on with a great shot from just inside the box, but yet again Dodge was on hand with a fantastic save, this time diving to her right to tip that ball away with her finger tips.
The Glovers were still holding their own, although they were still unable to get into their usual close passing game. The commitment was superb though, and they were making good inroads into the visitor’s defence, something that the large crowd were appreciating.
The enthusiasm of the supporters was brilliant, and a number even stood on the Skate Park behind the dugouts singing renditions of ‘Green Army’ and ‘Yeovil Ladies Barmy Army’. The girls really appreciated it, and continued to put their all into the game. Forest were still on top though, and slowly started to turn the screw, with Catherine Lawson having a great chance on 55 minutes, but her shot went inches wide. Dodge was playing out of her skin, and three minutes later denied Lawson with a fantastic save.
Glovers’ boss Steve Phelps needed to change the pattern of the game, and get his side back into it, so he now moved Trowbridge up front, allowing for the speed of Jemma Tewkesbury on the right wing. Unfortunately, before this tactical move could have an effect, Forest managed to score, when Bell swung in a corner that evaded the defence to go over Dodge’s diving arms into the top corner of the net.
Forest tried now to go for the kill, but they came up against an ever resilient Glovers, who were determined to get back in the game, and deny them the chance of any further goals. Lauren Cresswell thought her luck was in on 66 minutes as she powered her way down the wing and into the box, but she came up against a determined Roe who made a quite brilliant last ditch tackle to deny her. Two minutes later Davies shot wide, and you could sense that perhaps the game was going to turn back towards Yeovil.
The Glovers had a great chance to score on 70 minutes when Roe sent a sweet ball to Nardiello, who belted her way up the wing to send in a perfect cross to Rourke in the centre of the box, but the striker unluckily volleyed inches over the cross bar. Minutes later at the other end, Forest were awarded a free kick 20 yards out. Fostor lined it up and sent in a good effort. The crowd held its breath thinking that it was goal number two, but Dodge launched herself brilliantly to grasp the ball with both hands.
Phelps now brought on Stacey Pearson for the injured Terri Trowbridge; the youngster had been struggling with a pulled muscle in her thigh. Pearson slotted into midfield, allowing Turner to push up front to use her height to try and grab an equaliser. The effect of this was almost immediate, with Turner almost getting the ball into the net. Awarded a free kick, Tewkesbury sent a great ball into the box from the centre of the park. In connecting with Turner’s head, the ball looked destined for the right corner of the net, but Forest ‘keeper Clare Wallhead dived brilliantly to knock it round the post . Incredibly close!
