This was a thrilling, entertaining match played on a difficult pitch which had done well to survive the bad weather. My friend, Diane, came to this match with me, for her first exposure to the women's game, and she thoroughly enjoyed it.
I prepared her for the potentially very basic facilities, but no, this was the best standard I had come across yet. The match was played at the Phoenix Social Club near Rotherham so there was quite a plush bar (for the record we didn't have a drink!) and a pitch with a concrete path so despite the damp conditions we stayed relatively dry.
United started brightly in the first half but as the match wore on Boro' gradually took control especially once the second half was underway.
The breakthrough came in the 65th minute when the ball was played into the path of Katie Kinlan who side-stepped a tackle and coolly found the back of the net. Boro' briefly went to sleep allowing United to break through only for their keeper to make a great save.
The game was very 'competitive' with some fierce tackling. Then 15 minutes from the end Middlesbrough scored the crucial goal, a free kick being bundled over the line by Becky Stephenson. Sheffield did not give up without a fight, though, and when they scored in the last minute from Mawhood the added time period was very jittery for Boro, but they were deserved winners in the end.
As for Charlton? Well,you can see the date of the previous post which shows that I am pretty good at predicting the men's game and £75 richer from a £10 bet on Northwich to win at 15-2 - yep, I couldn't resist it and am thoroughly glad that this competition meant I didn't need to endure that embarrassment on TV.
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