AFC DUNSTABLE LADIES BLUES FC
28th September 2014
AFC DUNSTABLE BLUES FC V WELWYN GARDEN CITY LADIES
The Blues got their league cup campaign underway with a well deserved win over Welwyn Garden City ladies. After an initial mix up and some confusion on whether the game was going ahead due to miscommunication, the game kicked off late with both sides starting with 9 players.
The Blues got off to a slow start and were caught unaware when an opposition player ran on to a loose ball bypassing the defence and slotting the ball past keeper Kirsty Scott. Shortly after we welcomed on CJ Wakefield who joined Keira How up front and Beth Cusack who joined the defensive four alongside Shannon Planson, Lauren Swinnerton and Becca Lightfoot.
CJ Wakefield made an almost immediate impact running onto a through ball from How to fire into the back of the net. As the first half went on the home side settled into a more composed approach, making the most of the wide pitch, and playing some attractive passing football. Planson then got herself on the score sheet, receiving the ball on the edge of the 18 yard box and playing the ball across the keeper to slot into the far bottom corner. An injury to an opposition player saw them reduced to 8 players before they made a straight swap with the goalkeeper.
The final goal of the half saw Charlie Peters, in centre midfield, link up well with Wakefield to tear apart the Welwyn defence, and despite being fouled stayed calm to finish the ball home from close range giving the Welwyn keeper no chance. Half time saw the home side lead 3-1.
With several home players carrying injuries, the second half commenced with the Blues aiming to keep possession of the ball and allowing it to do all the work. There were several occasions to add further to the score sheet, Planson's long distance shot rocketed off the cross bar and midfielders Emma Wells, Sophie Mason and Georgie Liscio all came extremely close. How then managed to get a goal which resulted from Peters sending the ball through to Wakefield running down the right wing who selflessly crossed it across the goal into the path of the unmarked striker to volley into the back of the net.
The opposition managed to pull one back when possession was lost in the middle and their attacker caught Scott, who had a relatively quiet game, off her line and despite getting her fingertips to it she couldn't quite keep it out. Cusack, Swinnerton, Planson and Lightfoot all did well to keep the opposition's attack quiet. Swinnerton went on a mazy run from her defensive positon, playing a one-two with How on the edge of the box but was unfortunately unable to connect well with the ball sending it into the arms of the keeper. A foul on the edge of the 18 yard box also saw Wakefield's effort on the set piece follow the same suit. The Blues pushed on and added a fifth with a 20 yard screamer coming from the left foot of Charlie Peters and a sixth coming from CJ Wakefield leading to a well deserved first win for the Blues.
AFC DUNSTABLE LADIES BLUES FC 6 - 2 WELWYN GARDEN CITY LADIES FC
Goalscorers: CJ Wakefield x2, Charlie Peters x2, Shannon Planson, Keira How.
Player of the Match: Shannon Planson