It was derby day on the Chantry as Staveley Miners Welfare
Ladies entertained near neighbours, Chesterfield Ladies who, have been struck
by the availability curse more than most in recent weeks and once again they
were without a recognised goalkeeper.
Staveley playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, were pretty much at
full strength and started the game on the front foot and as early as the third
minute Karla Burton out on the left of the front three twice had a cross
blocked before finding Carly Rowlands inside the box, with the third. Rowlands
unable to get a strike on goal set up Gina Benjamin on the edge of the area but
her shot went narrowly over the crossbar.
In the eighth minute Gina Benjamin was again involved and
after receiving an inch perfect ball from right back Dannielle Taylor she
marched into the acres of space in front of her and cut back to find Lauren
Hardy who was fouled just outside the area and from the resultant free kick
Karla Burton stung the hands of Spireites stand in ‘keeper Leoni Everly who palmed
it out for a corner which, came to nothing.
The space down the right was Staveleys best option in the
opening exchanges and Danielle Taylor and Gina Benjamin combined again, but
once again Staveley were thwarted by Everley in goal as she just got a hand to
Benjamins cross to prevent giving Carly Rowlands a simple tap in.
Despite the domination it wasn’t all plain sailing and just
like in the first game of the season the pace of Chesterfields forwards Lucy
Harris, in particular was causing problems and Staveley were thankful for the
alertness of Lorna Wakem in goal who did an excellent “Sweeper Keeper” job
throughout the match.
The deadlock was broken on 20 minutes when the ball broke
free to Gina Benjamin who slotted it home and despite numerous chance Staveley
couldn’t extend that lead but were able to keep it until half time.
Half time: Staveley 1-0 Chesterfield
The second half continued in much the same vain Staveley
with the possession with just the final pass or shot going awry, with Sam Kirk
and Anya Taylor going close early on but Chesterfield would not go away and but
for an excellent blocked save from Lorna Wakem Lucy Harris would have equalised
in the 53rd minute.
After Staveley had nearly doubled their lead via a first
time volley on the turn from Lauren Hardy following a left sided cross from
Karla Burton which looped all the way over to Carly Rowlands on the right who
first time volleyed it into the box for Hardy to strike, Chesterfield got their
deserved equaliser when after another excellent save from Lorna Wakem the ball
fell kindly to Georgina Camfield who returned it with interest over the
stranded Staveley ‘keeper into the back of the net.
Staveley 1-1 Chesterfield
They went 1-2 up just a minute later in a carbon copy move
but this time it was Abigail Creed who added the coup de grace.
Staveley 1-2 Chesterfield
Staveley had twenty minutes remaining to rescue a game that
they had arguably should’ve had wrapped up already and once again had the lion’s
share of the ball and chances but still it would not go in.
On 73 minutes Staveleys Billie Gordon landed a free kick
given for a foul by Jade Boulton on Sam Kirk onto the base of the post which
sparked a mad scramble to score but was eventually cleared.
With ten minutes remaining Billie Gordon headed Karla Burton’s
corner wide, but five minutes later just when it seemed like being one of those
days another goalmouth scramble ensued but this time the ball fell kindly at
the feet of Carly Charlesworth whose poke goal wards was turned in at the far
post by Lauren Hardy.
Staveley 2 – 2 Chesterfield.
Team:Lorna Wakem,Danielle Taylor, Teresa Oliver,Anya Taylor, Kirsty Woolley,Carly Charlesworth,Leanne Millington,Gina Benjamin, Carly Rowlands,Lauren Hardy, Karla Burton.
As Sub: Sam Kirk,Billie Gordon,Laura Poole,Cheryl Smith, Georgia Lowe
Chesterfields Abigail Creed was sent off for dissent in the
last minute but it was too late for Staveley to make use of the numerical
advantage and a draw was about fair in the end…
The day's other games saw leaders Dinnington Town crash at
home to Dronfield 1-2 and third place Beighton Magpies defeated second placed Sheffield
Rangers 2-1 to tighten the whole
division up once more…
Staveleys next game isn’t until the 8th November
where they face Sheffield United Community (seconds) from division three who
have gained 13 points from 5 games this season, at home in the Krukowski Cup.
