I was over at Burroughs Park, Great Wakering for the opening round of the Eastern Region Womens Football League Premier Division as Great Wakering Rovers Ladies hosted Stevenage Ladies.
Wakering (who were formally known as Southendian Ladies) won the First Division title last season whilst Stevenage had finished 4th in the Premier Division last time out, so it would be a tough entry into Premier League football for the hosts.
However the Wakering girls have been together for a few years now (as Southend Manor Ladies and more recently Southendian Ladies) and they didn’t get to this point (several promotions in recent years) without playing good football and on 3 minutes they hit the front in what was a great start for the hosts as Georgia Holdaway got through and hammered her effort past the keeper and give them the ideal start to the game. GWR 1 Stevenage 0.
On 10 minutes it was almost two for Wakering as a shot from the edge of the box flew just wide before the visitors had their first effort on goal a couple of minutes later when their effort flew across goal and wide from distance. On the quarter hour mark the hosts went two goals in front in what was now becoming a magnificent start to their Premier Division campaign as the ever impressive Georgia Holdaway ran through a number of challenges before slotting home for a great goal and give the hosts a two goal lead. GWR 2 Stevenage 0.
On 20 minutes the hosts came oh so close to number three as a great ball from Holdaway found Rhianne Cunningham whose shot across the keeper came back off the inside of the post and into the keepers arms. It was so close but the visitors almost got one back when a corner saw the ball headed off the line at the far post. Cunningham again threatened a few minutes later when she got around the full back and drove into the box but her weak left footed effort was easy for the keeper.
The visitors were having quite a lot of the ball despite the hosts chances and on the half hour mark another corner from the hosts caused problems but came to nothing but three minutes later they did grab a goal back when a cross from the right was volleyed across the keeper and into the far corner to half the deficit. GWR 2 Stevenage 1.
Wakering had to dig deep for a few minutes and then three minutes before half time made it three when Rhianne Cunningham burst through down the right and struck an effort across the keeper which came back off the post again but Georgia Holdaway was on hand to slide in to finish the rebound into the top corner and give the hosts a two goal cushion once again. GWR 3 Stevenage 1.
In first half added time Stevenage fired a bullet of a free kick at goal which was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by the hosts keeper and this was the final act of an entertaining half of football and saw the newly promoted hosts go in two goals ahead.
Half Time Great Wakering Rovers Ladies 3 Stevenage Ladies 1
The visitors knew they would have to score the next goal if they were to have any chance of getting something from the game and two minutes into the second half they won a penalty after a tumble in the box although it looked a touch soft to me. Anyway the penalty was easily converted and the Hertfordshire side were right back in it now. GWR 3 Stevenage 2.
The visitors had come out very strongly in this half and were pinning their opponents back in their own half so it came as no surprise when they levelled it up at 3-3 twenty minutes into the half when a diagonal cross-field pass over the defence found the visitors in behind and the ball was lashed past the keeper and we were all level in this match. GWR 3 Stevenage 3.
It was now all Stevenage and with just under twenty minutes to go a close range header went straight into the keeper’s arms. If it had been either side of her it was a certain goal and three minutes later another cross into the Wakering box saw the keeper comes and end up in no mans (or women’s!!!) land and the visitors flicked a header just wide. Sadly for the keeper she was injured in the challenge, looked like her ankle, so had to go off meaning outfielder Rhianne Cunningham took over the gloves for the last quarter or so of the game.
Wakering did have a couple of breaks at goal through Holdaway and second half substitute Helen Clifford but they were wasteful when getting into good positions around the box. The hosts though were battling gamely to hold onto at least a point from this game and with three minutes left of the ninety the hosts were furious after a hand ball was given against them on the edge of their own box but Cunningham beat the effort out superbly before it was cleared.
Just as we entered the 90 minute mark and into stoppage time the hosts gave away another free kick on the edge of the area which saw them have a decent shooting opportunity and and sure enough the strike was hit with venom and deflected in past the helpless Cunningham and into the corner for what looked like the winning goal. GWR 3 Stevenage 4.
It was hard on Wakering who had battled gamely but you couldn’t argue with the fact the visitors Stevenage had dominated most of the second period so deserved something from their efforts too. However the hosts didn’t lie down and three minutes into stoppage time a ball crossed into the visitors box was whipped just wide of the Stevenage goal and seven minutes into stoppage time Wakering went close again as a Nikol Chapman free kick was swung into the area and saw Holdaway power a header at goal but straight at the keeper when if it had gone either side of her it was surely the equaliser.
The referee blew soon after and Stevenage had got the points in what was a very good game of football. Hard on Wakering after they battled so gamely but no doubt they will learn from this and come back stronger.
Full Time Great Wakering Rovers Ladies 3 Stevenage Ladies 4
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