Tuesday 10 May 2016

Ladies: Season 2015 / 2016

After a successful preseason campaign that saw wins recorded against Worksop Town (h 3-2) Sheffield Wednesday Under 18s (h 3-1) Dronfield (h 4-2) and Mansfield Town Development (h 3-2), the season finally got underway following a delay of a week for one reason or another, and began in....

September



20th v Chesterfield (a) - The home side began the brightest and only a combination of poor finishing and a desire to "get back in" from the Staveley defenders kept them at bay, it was Staveley that took the lead though when Billie Gordon took control in the crowded box and smashed it into the roof of the net after 25 minutes.

Chesterfield hit back though with a 25 yard thunderbolt from Jade Boulton from the right of the area and Ellen Rowley who took advantage of a dubious offside decision to tap home at the far post after a corner had not been cleared.

After the break Lauren hardy stabbed home a Leanne Millington cross at the far post and Billie Gordons spectacular standing overhead volley from all of 35 yards - which gets further out every time its mentioned turned it back into a short lived lead for Staveley as with just two minutes left Abigail Creed reacted quickest to a rebound off the crossbar to equalise, but the points came back to Inkersall Road thanks to an unselfish square pass from the non stop Samantha Kirk for Gina Benjamin to score. 3-4 W


27th v Sheffield Rangers (h) - Carly Rowlands shot wide from an Anya Taylor pass for an early Staveley chance, but after a shot which sailed over the bar Rangers took the lead when Kirsty Bradley got hold of the ball on the edge of the area, turned and fired her shot into the bottom left corner and made it two just after half time when a corner was turned in at the far post.

With thirty minutes left Lauren Hardy made a game of it, bustling through the defence to tap home with the ‘keeper rooted to the spot Staveley pressed for the eualiser and some good work from Sam Kirk down the left forced a Leanne Millington short corner to Laura Poole who returned the favour to Millington who, was wrongly adjudged to be in an offside position just as she was about to square the ball across a crowded box. (the ref accepted after that he'd got it wrong afterwards)


Lauren Hardy creates a chance

Inevitable gaps appeared at the back however and Kirsty Bradley completed her hattrick, firstly winning the footrace with onrushing 'keeper Coran Wright to lob her from the edge of the area, with the ball just creeping in at the far post and secondly with a cross shot which ended up inside the same post. 1-4 

Sheffield and Hallamshire Womens County Senior League (SHWCSL):

Division One at 28th September 2016

P W D L F A PTS GD
1 Sheffield Rangers 2 2 0 0 8 2 6 6
2 Staveley Miners Welfare 2 1 0 1 5 7 3 -2
3 Dinnington Town 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 0
4 Dronfield Town 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 0
5 Sheffield Wednesday Reserves 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Chesterfield  1 0 0 1 3 4 0 -1
7 Beighton Magpies 1 0 0 1 1 4 0 -3

October

11th v Sheffield Wednesday "Reserves"(a) - With no recognised goalkeeper, defender Carly Charlesworth "took one for the team" and played between the sticks for this one but otherwise a full strength team took to the field against the owls who having not played yet were somewhat of an unknown quantity. They didn't take look to become known however and started brightly but a quick interchange of passes from Carly Rowlands and Gina Benjamin resulted in a Samantha Kirk free kick from near the right touchline which looped high and floated into the net from 25 yards, to give Staveley the lead. 

Carly Rowlands nearly made it two straight away but her low shot was scrambled to safety by the 'keeper, and it was the Owls who scored next when their striker got to a long punt forward just before Carly Charlesworth, who in sensing the danger had raced out of goal to clear and could only watch as the ball was tapped into the open goal, and just four minutes later Emily Darwin turned the game on its head, after collecting the ball out on the right she, cut inside and unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner from the edge of the area.

Gina Benjamin almost equalised before halftime but couldn't stretch enough to get the required power or direction onto Samantha Kirks cross but after the break Anya Taylor  did equalise when she raced onto Carly Rowlands inch perfect ball over the defence, won a 50/50 challenge with the 'keeper and knocked it into the open net.

A frenetic last half hour saw chances at both ends, Karla Burton's pace took her away from her marker and despite a slight recurrence of the injury that had kept her out of the last game she crossed for Lauren Hardy but, the ball just wouldn’t sit right in the crowded box and her shot was blocked and Staveleys Gina Benjamin was the victim of an “advantage” decision when play was brought back for a foul on Anya Taylor, whilst she was through on goal 

Staveley made one or two goal line clearances and a last ditch Georgia Lowe challenge when through on goal following a ball over the top of Staveleys defence which, had been their main point of attack all afternoon, kept the scores level. but...Wednesdays quality shone through in the end when with fifteen minutes remaining they got the goal that claimed all three points when that same ball over the top this time landed perfectly for the forward to lash home. 3-2 L

25th v Chesterfield (h) - Chesterfield had the goalkeeper problems this week with Right winger Leoni Everly wearing number one, and Staveley tried to take advantage right from the kick off with Gina Benjamin firing over from a Karla Burton cross and a Carly Rowlands lay off. Benjamin combined with Danielle Taylor to cutback for Lauren Hardy who was fouled for Karla Burton to sting the hands of Everly in goal from the freekick.

Taylor and Benjamin had the right hand side to themselves but Everly again denied Staveley by flicking it away from Carly rowlands who had a simple tap in otherwise.

The deadlock was broken on 20 minutes when the ball broke free to Gina Benjamin who slotted it home but despite numerous chance Staveley couldn’t extend that lead but were able to keep it until half time.

The domination continued in the second half 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 whose pace was causing problems would have equalised in the 53rd minute and 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.

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, and so 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. 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, and 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. 2-2

November

22nd v Hepworth United (h)(Sheffield and Hallamshire County Cup Round 1)- Carly Rowlands scored twice inside the first five minutes but the visitors, had won four and drawn one so far and with Staveley being a bit rusty having lost the last few weeks to the weather they were arguably the pre-game favourites and so despite being two down they continued to play. They got a foothold in the game with Lorna Wakem in the Staveley goal being called to dive to her left to beat out an Abigail Igglden effort when one on one after fifteen minutes.  

But then Carly Rowlands sent Staveley into dreamland by completing her hattrick when she lashed home a quickly taken Billie Gordon freekick from the right hand edge of the box. Unfortunately it was too good to be true and Hepworth began their fightback in the 25th minute when they scored following a scramble in the box from a corner, and they continued to press managing to get four more goals to ensure passage to the next round. 3-5 L

29th v Sheffield United Community Seconds (h Krukowski Cup 1) - The weather threatened to win this one a force ten gale ensured the corner flags were nearly horizontal and the ball wouldn't do what the players wanted it to, but Staveley used it to their advantage to go two up early on after Anya Taylors earlier shot had been saved Billie Gordon skipped past her marker with ease before trying to burst through several defenders who only succeeded in clearing the ball as far as Sam Kirk who lobbed the United keeper from the edge of the area.

and then Leanne Millingtons outside of the right boot wind assisted cross was caught by a back peddling goalie before Billie Gordon made full use of a great advantage played by the referee for a clip on Staveleys midfielder and her ball over the top to Sam Kirk eventually made its way to Lauren Hardy who rocketed a lob over the keeper.

but even at two down third Division United were far from beaten and looked dangerous going forward and a minute after Georgia Lowe had blocked a goal bound effort they pulled one back when Kirtsty Woolley was not helped by the wind as her crunching challenge resulted in the ball “popping up” rather than travelling forward like it would have done on any other day and fell invitingly for Kelsey Hallam to volley home.

The conditions were so bad that abandonment was raised but as the "'keepers could clear the area" play continued ( Lorna Wakem said that up and down the pitch was fine-ish it was side to side was the problem) “at least it wasn’t raining” and right on cue the heavens opened and things got worse for the home side. Anya Taylor didn’t get the luck her meaty last ditch challenge deserved and the ball fell kindly to Rebecca Cork who unmarked and 6 yards from goal couldn’t miss.

Staveley battled to regain parity but despite chances for Lauren Hardy who shot wide after a run and cutback from the byline by Billie Gordon who also hit a fierce strike over the bar they couldn’t manage to force extra time, but nobody wanted that anyway...2-3 L


January

24th v Dronfield Town (h)- December was a complete write off due to the weather and with all of the games scheduled being postponed to a later date the Ladies were struggling with not having played for ages and as many of the girls have to put in holidays or swap shifts at work to play, they were struggling with player availability (booking days off for eventual postponed games leaves less scope to be available when they do finally get played)and an out of practice, depleted Staveley lost 0-7.

SHWCFL: Division One at 25th January 2016

P W D L F A PTS GD
1 Dinnington Town 7 3 2 2 21 12 11 9
2 Beighton Magpies 6 3 2 1 15 12 11 3
3 Sheffield Rangers  5 3 0 2 14 9 9 5
4 Dronfield Town 4 2 2 0 12 3 8 9
5 Staveley Miners Welfare 5 1 1 3 9 19 4 -10
6 Sheffield Wednesday Reserves 1 1 0 0 3 2 3 1
7 Chesterfield  6 0 1 5 9 26 1 -17

February 

14th v Dinnington Town (a)- The home side did not resemble a second placed side as Staveleys defence dealt with everything that was thrown at them in the early stages who began to get a foothold in foothold in the game with Karla Burton threatening down the left before being fouled and then Leanne Millington fed Carly Rowlands who dinked a ball over the top of the defence for Lauren Hardy to chase but Hannah Jasper in goal for the home side came out to claim.

Dinningtons main threat Dawn Cripps showed exactly why she is up at the top of the scoring charts this season after being thwarted by a covering Kirsty Woolley she volleyed over the onrushing Lorna Wakem who had no option but to come out and narrow the angle after Cripps was free following an unassisted offside decision. 

Staveley went back on the attack and  Laura Poole found Lauren Hardy with her back to goal, she turned and knocked a through ball to Carly Rowlands who unfortunately found herself the wrong side of the defender who got in front of her and the ball and was able to shield it back to Hannah Jasper in goal. After Wakem had smothered another Cripps effort, Carly Rowlands had a shout for a penalty when she was collected by Hannah Jasper after sidestepping the ‘keeper following a through ball from Karla Burton.

Dinnington extended their lead when a shot from an impossible angle on the byline hit the outside of the post and landed kindly for Gemma Garbett to lash home and just before halftime Carly Rowlands had a golden opportunity to reduce the arrears after being sent one on one with the ‘keeper by a ball over the top from Leanne Millington. Rowlands however perhaps had too much time to think about where she was going to put it and blazed over – she has been top scorer though for the past few seasons so we’ll allow her that one. 

an extra bit of "stardust" was added to the Staveley line as Sasha Lowe made her first appearance of the season and she seemed to lift the whole team straight away she slipped past the left back but her cross was cut out by the centre back, then after Lauren Hardy flicked a ball into her path she strode into the box and fired a shot across goal which was well saved by Hannah Jasper.

Just after the hour Lauren Hardy hit a hopeful looking long range effort on goal which Hannah Jasper juggled and nearly dropped right at the feet of Sasha Lowe but she was able to hang on… just. but she couldn't do anything about Karla Burtons sublime left footed freekick from wide right which looped high and over her, dropping nicely in at the far post.

Staveley piled forward and they were denied a "stonewall" penalty when Hannah Jasper came out to claim a through ball to Karla Burton from Carly Rowlands, flattening Burton in the process, and despite numerous other chances it wasn't to be. 2-1L

March 

6th v Beighton Magpies (a) Every week it seems as though Staveley were playing "top of the league" and this was no exception, things did not look good when only ten players took the start of the game but they made a reasonable start staying compact, frustrating and limiting the home side to pot shots from range, that is until Ellen Smith rose to head home a corner from the left after 17 minutes.

The floodgates did not open however in fact it was Staveley who pressed more with Billie Gordon Laura Pool and Georgia Lowe bossing midfield. Gordon beat three players just past halfway and slipped a neat pass through the defence for Carly Rowlands whose shot low across the goal was pushed out by the ‘keeper but Gordon couldn’t get her shot from the rebound on target. Then
Rowlands beat her marker down the left hand side but her cut back was cleared and on the stroke of half time she cut in again from the left but her shot was saved.

Cheryl Smith joined the party in the second half to make it 11 v 11 and she got on the end of a Carly Rowlands cross from the right but was distracted slightly by Billie Gordon who also went for the same ball, and the chance was lost, and Sam Kirk was unlucky  when she hit a Georgia Lowe throw-in towards goal only to see the ball hit the ‘keeper then the post and back into the grateful arms of the aforementioned ‘keeper who knew absolutely nothing about the miraculous saved she had just made.

Danielle Taylor used her pace to great effect snuffing out most of what The Magpies could muster with a covering interception or three but they almost scored from what looked like a cross from their right but thankfully it just dropped past the far post.

With twenty minutes remaining Georgia Lowe, Billie Gordon and Sam Kirk worked the ball out of defence and out to Carly Rowlands who just managed to get the ball before it went out for a goal kick but couldn’t wrap her foot around it enough and her cross hit the side netting and Rowlands would have been through with very little defensive cover, had the ball not bounced high off the pitch and hit her hand.

Staveley kept plugging away but Beighton are not top of the league for nothing and as the Trojans dropped deeper and deeper Rachel Charles got in round the back and smashed the ball high into the roof of the net and unfortunately Staveley got nothing when they deserved a heck of a lot more.

13th v Sheffield Rangers (a) - Central defender Kirsty Woolley went in goal for this one as despite having a full compliment this week none of those available were recognised goalkeepers. The confusing Oughtibridge road layout meant that the majority of spectators wouldn't arrive until twenty minutes into the first half  having apparently "not missed very much" and were just in time to see Sasha Lowe break down the left for Karla Burton to swing in a cross which just went out of the reach of Carly Rowlands.

for future reference - the route to Sheffield Rangers!

the second half started well with Karla Burton breaking down the left but with there was no one in the box to finish her cross and Sasha Lowe fell victim to another offside decision that would require several replays to prove.

Rangers broke through the middle only to be thwarted by an onrushing Kirsty Woolley who got down well to smother the through ball, then Woolley superbly tipped a shot over the bar for a corner and was on hand again just a few minutes later to flick a free kick from outside the box onto the bar and was fouled in follow up.


Not long after, Carly Rowlands turned on halfway to ping a ball over the top of the defence which just skipped off the surface and into the arms of the home sides ‘keeper as Gina Benjamin was about to pounce. Anya Taylor's introduction gave the rest of midfield licence to get forward and Benjamin did just that clipping and an inch perfect ball over the top for Carly Rowlands who got to it before the onrushing ‘keeper who was left stranded. Rowlands though still had a lot to do as covering defenders blocked her path to goal and her shot cannoned off one of those defenders but fell nicely to Karla Burton who made no mistake from six yards out…Rowlands was put through once more by Benjamin following a carry out of defence from Ele Johnson and she stabbed Staveley into a two goal lead, with the ‘keeper routed to the spot.

If it wasn’t over by then It certainly was five minutes from the end when Anya Taylor sent Carly Rowlands through again with the same ball but this time she slotted it under the ‘keeper. 0-3 W

20th v Beighton Magpies (h) the good performances continued as Karla Burton found space down the left and crossed for Leanne Millington but her strike towards goal unfortunately went wide.

Carly Rowlands was next to try her luck when she pounced on a moment of hesitation in the Magpies defence following Leanne Millingtons flick on from Cheryl Smiths throw-in. Rowlands half volley across goal had the goalkeeper beaten all ends up but it just crept wide of the far post however, it was Beighton who scored the opening goal when Samantha Hale headed home from a corner. 

Chance for Carly Rowlands

Undeterred Staveley went on the attack with a bit of magic from Billie Gordon, who nipped between two defenders before moving the ball away from the third with her right foot and then past with her left all in the same movement only for the  fourth defender to smash the ball clear as far as Karla Burton on the left wing. She returned it with interest but her cross was cleared off the line before Anya Taylor could apply the touch it needed.

Chance? for Anya

However Taylor did get the required touch to a corner won, after a break and shot from Sasha Lowe and scored with a header planted into the top corner, just seconds before the half time whistle.

Anya Taylor scores!!


Unfortunately Staveley had to come from behind a second time when Beighton fired a freekick towards Lorna Wakem who dealt with the initial strike but couldn’t prevent Samantha Hale scoring her second of the game from the rebound.Hale had been injured in scoring that goal but strangely was left on the field despite substitutes being available and she and the rest of the defence struggled to contain Staveley who refused to give in, with Carly Rowlands a constant threat. After she hit the post with a shot from a Billie Gordon cross and Gordon herself had had a penalty claim waved away, Shannon Briggs was on hand to apply the finishing touch. 2-2 D

Shannon Briggs Equalises


SHWCFL: Division One at 21st March 2016


P W D L F A PTS GD
1 Beighton Magpies 10 5 3 2 29 23 18 6
2 Dronfield Town 7 4 3 0 26 8 15 18
3 Sheffield Wednesday Reserves 5 5 0 0 25 9 15 16
4 Dinnington Town 9 4 2 3 23 16 14 7
5 Sheffield Rangers  8 4 0 4 21 19 12 2
6 Staveley Miners Welfare 8 2 1 5 13 23 7 -10
7 Chesterfield  11 0 1 10 17 56 1 -39


April

10th v Sheffield Wednesday Reserves (H)- The Owls were closing in on top spot and started the better as Staveley struggled to get out of their half but remained solid and compact and frustrated their opponents who after ten minutes seemed to run out of ideas and  Carly Rowlands tried to send Sasha Lowe through on goal but the alert Wednesday goalkeeper came out to collect. 

Georgia Lowe and Ele Johnson combined on the edge of the area resulting in a looping volley which bounced in front of a hesitant goalkeeper who should’ve caught it effort but instead was mightily relieved to see it bounce over the crossbar and onto the netting.

Staveley survived a three on one break when some woeful finishing saw the ball bounce around the “kop” stand but after Karla Burton and Carly Rowlands to set up a Sasha Lowe strike on goal which was well saved… The Owls finally found their shooting boots and hit Staveley on the break, slotting the ball between the sticks after half an hour.

Staveley tried to get back on level terms early in the second half with Sasha Lowe trying her best to help Carly Rowlands and her cross was just cut out before reaching her strike partner, but it was defender Carly Charlesworth who came closest to restoring parity in the 53rd minute, but she couldn’t quite get her left peg to a Karla Burton corner and unfortunately the Owls broke and the through ball they had been trying all day finally paid off.

A tiring Staveley who had probably put too much into the first half just couldn't keep up and the Owls romped to a rather flattering 0-5 victory.

17th v Dinnington Town (h) - Staveley dominated from start to finish and seconds after Gina benjamin had set up Sasha Lowe with a cheeky backheel for a shot wide, Lowe made no mistake with a ball over the top from Carly Rowlands and her shot across goal flew into the bottom left hand corner.

if it had been 10 -  at halftime it wouldn't have flattered a rampant Staveley with Carly Rowlands, taking the ball round the 'keeper but not being able to get a shot away as the angle tightened. Billie Gordon crossed for Sasha Lowe to head against the post, Karla Burton shot over the bar and Lowe again, following a Sam Kirk throw in, put another header wide. Sasha Lowe crossed for an unmarked Carly Rowlands to volley goalwards only to see the ‘keepers right hand tip the ball onto the post and over and this followed a Billie Gordon freekick that crashed off the crossbar.

Dawn Cripps, identified as the visitors main threat was kept largely at bay by Kirsty Woolley who was never more than five yards away from the talented number ten all afternoon but the one time she did get away...she scored.

more chances came and went in the second half but so did the goals. After Gina Benjamin had twice been foiled, Carly Rowlands broke into the box from the left and fired a right footed drive high over the ‘keeper into the roof of the net. Gina Benjamin then converted a Karla Burton cross from the left and Billie Gordon turned on a sixpence on the edge of the area which took her past three defenders and shaped a curling shot into the roof of the net to complete a 4-1 victory.

24th v Dronfield Town (a) - Despite not losing a game all season the home side had to settle for second place in the league as even though they were the only side to beat Sheffield Wednesday Reserves all season too many draws put paid to their title challenge. Staveley had chances early on but couldn't make the all important breakthrough and eventually fell to a 2-0 defeat - against the side that  probably should have been champions.

Final League Table

SHCWFL: Division One 2015/ 2016

P W D L F A PTS GD
1 Sheffield Wednesday Reserves 12 11 0 1 47 17 33 30
2 Dronfield Town 12 7 4 1 33 12 25 21
3 Beighton Magpies 12 5 4 3 32 28 19 4
4 Sheffield Rangers  12 5 1 6 27 27 16 0
5 Dinnington Town 12 4 2 6 25 24 14 1
6 Staveley Miners Welfare  12 3 2 7 19 33 11 -14
7 Chesterfield  12 0 1 11 20 62 1 -42

Results in Full (with full reports)

Date Competition Opponent Result 
02/8/2015 PSF Worksop Town(H) 3-2 W
16/8/2015 PSF Sheffield Wednesday U18s 3-1 W
23/8/2015 PSF Dronfield(H) 4-2 W
6/9/2015 PSF Mansfield Town Development (H) 3-2W
20/9/2015 SHWCSL 1 Chesterfield(A) 3-4 W
27/9/2015 SHWCSL 1 Sheffield Rangers(H) 1-4 L
11/10/2015 SHWCSL 1 Sheffield Wednesday Reserves (A) 3-2 L
25/10/2015 SHWCSL 1 Chesterfield (H) 2-2 D
22/11/2015County Cup Hepworth United (H) 3-5 L
29/11/2015Krukowski Cup Sheffield United Community (seconds) 2-3 L
24/1/2016SHWCSL 1 Dronfield Town(H) 0-7 L
14/2/2016SHWCSL 1 Dinnington Town (A) 2-1 L
6/3/2016SHWCSL 1 Beighton Magpies(A) 2-0 L
13/3/2016SHWCSL 1 Sheffield Rangers (A) 0-3 W
20/3/2016SHWCSL 1Beighton Magpies(H)2-2 D
10/4/2016SHWCSL 1 Sheffield Wednesday Reserves(H) 0-5 L
17/04/2016SHWCSL 1Dinnington Town (H) 4-1 W
24/04/2016SHWCSL 1 Dronfield Town (A) 2-0 L

Appearances

Numbers in (Brackets) = goals scored

LeagueCups
Starts As Sub Starts As Sub
Anya Taylor 4(2) 1
Bethan Wilson 1 1
Billie Gordon 5(3) 1 2
Carly Charlesworth 6 3 1
Carly Rowlands 11(3) 2(3)
Cheryl Smith 6.5* 3 1
Coran Wright 2 1
Danielle Taylor 8 2
Elle Johnson 5 5 1
Georgia Lowe 8 3 1 1
Gina Benjamin 7(3)
Karla Burton 9(2) 1 2
Kirsty Woolley 8 1 2
Laura Poole 4 6
Lauren Hardy 5(3) 1 2(1)
Laurie Summers 3
Leanne Millington 10 1 2
Lorna Wakem 9 2
Samantha Kirk 8(1) 1 2(1)
Sasha Lowe 4(1) 2
Shannon Briggs 1(1) 1
Teresa Oliver 11 2


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