She DeMaineAccrington Girls & Ladies Vs Blackpool FC Girls & Ladies

Venue: Hall Gate ParkKick Off: 2.00pmReferee: N/ADate: 21/03/2016

Squad:

Lucy Chadwick Amy Barrett Heidi RobertsJaymi McDonald (<-)Beth HarrisonJean DarbyJo Duckworth Caroline MallenKerry Bamford Leah EmbleyLauren Walker

Subs:

Natasha De-Maine (->)

Following the previous weeks success of back to back victories in the double header against Birkenhead (for those who didn’t make it; Accrington won 4-3 and a much more comfortable 5-1). This week, hoping to start the Spring season with a good run of results, they faced a trip to Blackpool FC Girls and Ladies; a side that sat 3 places below Accrington with 9 points less. The pitch, home of Wyre Villa, looked set to cause both teams problem with flat land being a rarity; this seemed to benefit Blackpool in the first half, since they had adopted the direct style of attacking and dominated the majority of the first 45 minutes.Neither side looked particularly impressive in the first half, but the route one approach from Blackpool was causing havoc to the Accrington, but the game remained a stalemate thanks to several great saves from the Accrington number 1, Lucy Chadwick. It remained that way until midway through the first half when Blackpool found themselves in acres of space inside the Accrington area after a combination of silky dribbling and flat footed defending left Gabriella May enough time to find the inside of the near post and gave Blackpool a deserved lead. Accrington struggled to create any real chances, while Blackpool continued to pose a threat of doubling their lead. A couple of half-chances came to Kerry Bamford after Jean Darby set up her for a strike, followed by Lauren Walker; but both shots failed to find the target. Accrington’s best chance came towards the end of the half when a through ball found Leah Embley

on the right wing, who in turn played the ball deep into the box for Lauren Walker; one accidentally dummied a shot later, and the Blackpool defence were fooled, leaving Jean Darby in space to snatch an equaliser, but the keeper managed to get enough of her foot to the bal to ensure Blackpool remained in the lead. With half-time looming and a below par performance, Accrington would have been happy to finish the half with a one nil deficit. This wasn’t to be. A goal kick from Blackpool was helped on by a miscued volley from Kerry Bamford, and the ball snuck through the Accrington defence for Lauren Oatley to run onto. Lucy Chadwick almost stopped the attack in its tracks but Lauren Oatley had done just enough to round the keeper and put the ball in the back of the net: 2-0 to Blackpool, and just in time for the half time whistle.

So far not so good for Accrington and time for some wise words from Manager Nick Cooney; in hope they can salvage a result. The teams were back out and Accrington seemed to be somewhat reenergised. It was a second half performance that could have made the spectators question if they were watching the same Accrington team from the first half. Accrington managed to get a grip on the game, looking far more threatening with a few goals in them. Although, Blackpool almost put an immediate end to Accrington’s fight-back early in the second half when they had snuck in behind the Accrington back line, raced into the area and placed the ball pass the keeper, surely 3-0 and Accrington out of the game. But there was a twist in the tale, when left back Beth Harrison arrived in time to buy her team a lifeline and produced an excellent block on the line; it was just another positive to add to her already outstanding performance. And that was the closest Blackpool would come to scoring for the rest of the game. Soon after, Accrington turned the tempo and the breakthrough finally happened. Jo Duckworth’s through ball picked out Kerry Bamford on the right wing, and she set off on a brief run when she provided a perfect cross to find Leah Embley at the front stick, who managed to slot the ball home inside the near post: 2-1 to Blackpool. Lauren Walker missed a great opportunity to equalise when the ball fell down to her in the six yard box, but the balls cruel bounce meant she had to strike it on the up, resulting in the ball continuing to go up and over the bar. It was possible the game changing moment had happened in the first half, although no-one could have predicted it. Centre-back Jaymi McDonald tracked back well to put in a solid last ditch tackle, but paid the price with an injury she couldn’t shake off. She had made to the sixty minute mark but could go no further; it was time to call in Natasha De Maine. Once the team were reorganised (Kerry Bamford dropping into centre back allowing Natasha De Maine to slot in as striker) Accrington were ready to go. The cracks were beginning to show in the Blackpool defence, and it looked like they were soon going to yield; and they did. Six minutes after her introduction, Natasha De Maine found herself just inside the area after beating her man; she then laid it off to Jean Darby whose miskick had turned the move into a nice 1-2, allowing De Maine to finesse her shot into the top corner: 2-2 Accrington now looking the stronger side. With the scores tied, Blackpool looked to regain the lead, bitterly disappointed they had thrown away a 2 goal advantage, but there attacks, which lacked creativity, came to no avail. The back four of Accrington were tracking back well and proved too difficult to beat; the midfield was now under firm Accrington control, and their attacking threat was looking better as the seconds ticked by. Caroline Mallen whipped in a ferocious cross from a free kick on the left hand side but the ball soared teasingly across the face of the goal. Not so long after, another Caroline Mallen free kick was put deep into the mixer and found the head of Jo Duckworth, who flicked it on to Lauren Walker.

Her first touch was great and her finish even better: cool and calm as she drilled the ball into the back of the net. But the flag was up, and the goal disallowed. It didn’t take long for Accrington to find the back of the net, and this time it was legitimate. Lauren Walker now turning provider, played the ball over the top of the Blackpool defence into the path of the super sub Natasha De Maine. The keeper hopelessly left the comfort of her goals to chasse the ball down, but De Maine was there with enough of time to simply place the ball over the Blackpool’s shot stopper and the ball bobbled over the line: 3-2 to Accrington; Natasha De Maine’s second goal and showing why she’s fighting for a starting position. With the comeback complete, Accrington’s task was to hang on for the final 20 minutes; which they did with relative ease. Blackpool had struggled to create any chances, and any attacks they did have were quickly and efficiently quelled. The hearts of the Accrington supporters were momentarily in their mouths when Blackpool had managed to get clean through on one occasion, but Lucy had closed the attacker down quick enough to force their shot wide.Accrington continued to look dangerous and looked to add more goals to their tally; they should have done too. First came Lauren Walkers half chance; the keeper was rushing to get back on her line when the ball finally made it to Lauren, 40 yards from goals, but her shot had to be rushed and it trickled off wide. The following chances should have sealed the game, however: Lauren Walker involved again after Leah Embley dribbled her way passed a couple of defenders and into the Blackpool area; Embley drilled the ball across the six yard box to the back post, but Lauren Walker couldn’t direct it into the back of the net, and instead the ball whistled wide.This was proceeded by another big miss when Natasha De Maine’s shot caused the keeper to fumble the ball; Jean Darby was there to pounce on it; a few yards from goal but the keeper pulled off a great save to deflect the ball wide. The ref however, felt no sympathy for Jean Darby and awarded a goal kick making a good save look more like a terrible miss. With Accrington struggling to finish the game off, it came down to Jo Duckworth to play down the clock, as she took the ball to the corner flag and got somewhat well acquainted with the Blackpool defenders. Once the final (minute-and-a-half) 45 seconds were up, the full time whistle was blown and Accrington’s deserved victory was sealed.It’s now 3 wins in the last 3 games with a chance to make it 4 on the trot, when they face bottom of the league Nortwich Vixen next Sunday.

Final Score: Blackpool FC Girls & Ladies 2 – 3 Accrington Girls & LadiesGoal-Scorers: Gabriella May, Lauren Oatley, Leah Embley, Natasha De Maine (2)

Accrington Man of the Match: Beth Harrison

The next game is a Home fixture at Accrington Amateurs Football Ground on 27 th March; kick off is at 2pm considering the second team have removed the Ambulance by then.

Nicholas Black

21/03/2016