Shammies Ladies raining cats & dogs & goals……
Bletchley Shamrocks Ladies – 4
D Snowden 9’ 69’ A Thompson 27’ H Carter 44’ (p)
Easington Sports Ladies – 3
D Andrews 19’ J Welling 47’ H McGinley 60’
13th February 2022
This was a game that had everything for the old school purist, pouring rain, an ever increasing bog of a pitch, sliding tackles that changed the colour of the kits, penalties at both ends, stunning free kicks and seven goals thrown into the mix as Bletchley Shamrocks Ladies eventually overcame title rivals Easington Sports Ladies to cement their position at the summit of the Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League Division Three North table. The hosts took the lead early on but were pinned back from the penalty spot, two goals before the interval saw the home side looking home & dry however parity was restored by the hour mark, but the second of a Daniella Snowden brace saw the points sewn up & takes her to twenty goals for the season, but more importantly see’s the league title within grasp in their inaugural season as a Ladies team.
The deadlock was broken after just nine minutes in a move which saw Snowden feed Kirsty Walker out wide, she advanced into the area and as the Sports keeper went out to deal with the danger the Shammies skipper looped a pinpoint cross into the six-yard box for Snowden to head home, the lead did not last long however as a corner curled in saw a flick on at the edge of the box which a green & white shirt couldn’t get out of the way of & the official pointed to the spot, Deb Andrews equalising from twelve yards.
The home side retook the lead just before the half hour when Araina Thompson took possession on the edge of the area before curling across goal into the bottom corner, and it was three just before the break when a sliding tackle inside the box saw the ball hit the arm of the defender and once gain the whistle sounded and a penalty awarded, Hannah Carter saw her spot kick hit the keeper but rebound into the bottom corner.
Easington pulled a goal back within ninety seconds of the second half starting when a Jemma Welling shot from distance had Shammies keeper Charlie Harrington back peddling but unable to prevent from dipping under the crossbar, and they levelled matters on the hour mark as Hannah McGinley struck with a well taken free kick. As the weather turned the pitch into a mud bath the game could have gone either way, but the winner came with twenty minutes left to play as a long range effort eluded the grasp of the Easington custodian and quickest to react Snowden stole in to round the stricken keeper and roll into the empty net.
Walker then almost made the game safe, but her shot was fingertipped onto the crossbar and over for a corner, as much as the visitors huffed and puffed the Shammies backline stood strong to hold on for all three points. F/T: 4-3
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