The First Round Qualifying looms tomorrow with Dearne taking on a team that sounds like a real football club, Huddersfield Town. I have done extensive research to find out a little bit about this team (well, I looked at their website!) and it seems to me from the sound of the league they are in that they will be of a higher standard. I say 'seems' as it is practically impossible to find out what sort of pyramid exists in the lower levels of the women's game.
Dearne are in the West Riding County Women's Football League and Huddersfield are in North East Regional Women's Football League and the Premier Division of that. So I think Regional is higher than County so I think there are two divisions between the teams. Having said that both teams have lost every league game so confidence may be low. I'm going for a narrow Huddersfield win.
Saturday, 26 September 2009
Monday, 21 September 2009
Dearne & District Ladies 2 Kirklees 1
Having spent a number of years playing Sunday League football and then managing youth teams it has always been my view that if a game is competitive it is often very enjoyable, no matter at what level it is played.
And so it proved with this match - a really good tussle between two well-matched teams. The skill levels were not Premiership, admittedly, but here were two teams who were prepared to give everything for a win and Dearne just about held on to get it.
So, my first step was to actually locate the ground (and fortunately, good directions on the Kirklees website helped with that). Let's just say the facilities are basic! The teams and the ref had somewhere to change (even if it did resemble an old container you would see on the back of a lorry!) and there was a barrier around the pitch - but that was about it.
However, none of that mattered. The teams did the usual FA Cup style walk out together followed by shaking hands before the game. Like in the early rounds of the FA Vase (which I followed last season) I think, frankly, that the players find this a bit embarrassing, but it does signify that this is slightly different from the normal run of the mill league game.
There was a stiff breeze which Kirklees kicked with in the first half. Initially, there seemed to be a lot of kicking the ball with very little passing. However, things soon settled down and it was obvious that both teams were well organised and a number of players knew how to play the game very well. Even those who were less skilled stuck to the basics and played an important part for their team.
After 15 minutes or so a young lad came round with a programme (free!) which helped me to identify some of the players.
Those who stood out for me did so because they were a combination of being good and having a name that could be easily recognised from the programme!
On the Dearne team the star player for me was midfielder Vicki Bruce (she had an Irish accent which also helped her stand out), a combative and skilful player. Her partner in midfield (No. 8, whose name I did not get) scored the opening goal early in the second half, after a first half that ws marked by the number of chances that Kirklees missed. Indeed, the finishing was so poor I was worried I would witness the first 0-0 draw to take place in this competition for over a year!
The goal, when it did come, was from fully 30 yards out, a direct free kick that swirled viciously in the air, completely fooling the Kirklees keeper, dropping through her hands and into the net.
Dearne were taking advantage of the wind now, and went into a two-goal lead with a goal scored from a great through ball.
Another notable player for Dearne was Jenna Heydon who proved a real nuisance to the Kirklees defence all afternoon.
2-0 was a harsh scoreline for Kirklees, who deserved to be level, just from the chances they had created. Their notable players were Yasmin Ayub who rarely missed a tackle and distributed the ball well, Amy Hesselden, who showed some neat tricks on the right wing and my player of the match Sonya Moore - she was everywhere and never gave up the cause.
Kirklees did get a goal back 5 minutes from the end from a corner and nearly grabbed an equaliser on a couple of occasions shortly after.
So it ended 2-1, a thoroughly enjoyable affair and competitive encounter. To me this was best summed up by one of the players, who, after the ref had given a free kick after a particularly robust challenge was heard to say, "What does he think we're playing - netball!!" A really 'feel good' afternoon, I'm looking forward to the next round, already.
And so it proved with this match - a really good tussle between two well-matched teams. The skill levels were not Premiership, admittedly, but here were two teams who were prepared to give everything for a win and Dearne just about held on to get it.
So, my first step was to actually locate the ground (and fortunately, good directions on the Kirklees website helped with that). Let's just say the facilities are basic! The teams and the ref had somewhere to change (even if it did resemble an old container you would see on the back of a lorry!) and there was a barrier around the pitch - but that was about it.
However, none of that mattered. The teams did the usual FA Cup style walk out together followed by shaking hands before the game. Like in the early rounds of the FA Vase (which I followed last season) I think, frankly, that the players find this a bit embarrassing, but it does signify that this is slightly different from the normal run of the mill league game.
There was a stiff breeze which Kirklees kicked with in the first half. Initially, there seemed to be a lot of kicking the ball with very little passing. However, things soon settled down and it was obvious that both teams were well organised and a number of players knew how to play the game very well. Even those who were less skilled stuck to the basics and played an important part for their team.
After 15 minutes or so a young lad came round with a programme (free!) which helped me to identify some of the players.
Those who stood out for me did so because they were a combination of being good and having a name that could be easily recognised from the programme!
On the Dearne team the star player for me was midfielder Vicki Bruce (she had an Irish accent which also helped her stand out), a combative and skilful player. Her partner in midfield (No. 8, whose name I did not get) scored the opening goal early in the second half, after a first half that ws marked by the number of chances that Kirklees missed. Indeed, the finishing was so poor I was worried I would witness the first 0-0 draw to take place in this competition for over a year!
The goal, when it did come, was from fully 30 yards out, a direct free kick that swirled viciously in the air, completely fooling the Kirklees keeper, dropping through her hands and into the net.
Dearne were taking advantage of the wind now, and went into a two-goal lead with a goal scored from a great through ball.
Another notable player for Dearne was Jenna Heydon who proved a real nuisance to the Kirklees defence all afternoon.
2-0 was a harsh scoreline for Kirklees, who deserved to be level, just from the chances they had created. Their notable players were Yasmin Ayub who rarely missed a tackle and distributed the ball well, Amy Hesselden, who showed some neat tricks on the right wing and my player of the match Sonya Moore - she was everywhere and never gave up the cause.
Kirklees did get a goal back 5 minutes from the end from a corner and nearly grabbed an equaliser on a couple of occasions shortly after.
So it ended 2-1, a thoroughly enjoyable affair and competitive encounter. To me this was best summed up by one of the players, who, after the ref had given a free kick after a particularly robust challenge was heard to say, "What does he think we're playing - netball!!" A really 'feel good' afternoon, I'm looking forward to the next round, already.
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Not the Road to Wembley this time
A number of you who know me will know that I have spent the last three years following different FA competitions through to the final at Wembley. These journeys have taken me as far afield as Bideford in the south west up to Middlesbrough in the north east. I must have travelled hundreds of miles to see these games and have some very fond memories.
So, what to do in 2009/10? Looking at the other competitions the FA runs, one of the biggest is the FA Women's Cup. And why not? Women's football continues to grow in popularity and England have just reached the European Championship Final, something our men's team have never done! I did go and see a women's international in the early 80s at The Valley and I do remember being impressed and surprised at the skill levels so it will be interesting to see what the sport is like at lower levels (at least at first!)
The first step was to get a game to go and see and following my usual practice that is the Preliminary Round tie closest to where I live (Grantham). The number of teams entering is down on last year (have the FA made it more difficult?) so the nearest game to me is in Yorkshire, Dearne and District Ladies vs KirkleesLadies.
So where is Dearne? I must say, I have never heard of it. Kirklees, yes, as I used to live in Bradford for a while so I know that area of West Yorkshire quite well. Thank goodness for the internet where I found web sites for both clubs. Unfortunately, the Dearne one seems a little out of date and Kirklees seems to be very much a one woman show (Amy Hesselden - well done Amy!) Obviously, no surprise in that all these players do this for fun.
Anyway, armed with as much info as I can get, I think I have enough to at least get to see the game tomorrow in Wath-upon-Dearne, near Rotherham.
The two teams are in the same league, The West Riding County Women's Football league, although I think Dearne may have just got promoted to it. Dearne seem to play at a local recreation ground, although the map seems to show that it is a bit more than that (which it probably has to be if they are allowed to enter this competition?!).
That's about all I know - I really am plunging into the unknown with this one - but I'm hoping that the 'football community' is as friendly in the women's game as it is in the men's - it will be an experience I'm sure!!
So, what to do in 2009/10? Looking at the other competitions the FA runs, one of the biggest is the FA Women's Cup. And why not? Women's football continues to grow in popularity and England have just reached the European Championship Final, something our men's team have never done! I did go and see a women's international in the early 80s at The Valley and I do remember being impressed and surprised at the skill levels so it will be interesting to see what the sport is like at lower levels (at least at first!)
The first step was to get a game to go and see and following my usual practice that is the Preliminary Round tie closest to where I live (Grantham). The number of teams entering is down on last year (have the FA made it more difficult?) so the nearest game to me is in Yorkshire, Dearne and District Ladies vs KirkleesLadies.
So where is Dearne? I must say, I have never heard of it. Kirklees, yes, as I used to live in Bradford for a while so I know that area of West Yorkshire quite well. Thank goodness for the internet where I found web sites for both clubs. Unfortunately, the Dearne one seems a little out of date and Kirklees seems to be very much a one woman show (Amy Hesselden - well done Amy!) Obviously, no surprise in that all these players do this for fun.
Anyway, armed with as much info as I can get, I think I have enough to at least get to see the game tomorrow in Wath-upon-Dearne, near Rotherham.
The two teams are in the same league, The West Riding County Women's Football league, although I think Dearne may have just got promoted to it. Dearne seem to play at a local recreation ground, although the map seems to show that it is a bit more than that (which it probably has to be if they are allowed to enter this competition?!).
That's about all I know - I really am plunging into the unknown with this one - but I'm hoping that the 'football community' is as friendly in the women's game as it is in the men's - it will be an experience I'm sure!!
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