The Wellie girls were back in action for the first time in 6 weeks after a combination of pitch conditions and Christmas break kept the blues out of action. Today Welfare hosted the league leaders Adwick who have won all thirteen of their league games this season, making this no doubt the toughest possible test to get back in the swing. Despite the long break the home team came into the game with several injuries and were missing Freya through an ankle injury. Slight change in the line up for the hosts as Emma was playing up front instead of her usual wing. And Neve was asked to man mark the Adwick top scorer. The game started quite competitive without many chances being created Neve doing well initially to keep the APR forward quiet. The visitors then pushed down the right side and found some space in the box, Neve had to leave her player to try and stop the attack and the ball fell to the striker who found the inside of the far post for the ball to go in. It felt like the home team were hanging on a bit then. Until the 22nd minute when Leah found some space on the right and played a fantastic ball behind the defence for Emma Kendall- Lovell to calmly finish to bring the game level. The first half finished all square. The second half was a battle the away team were on top and they muscled there way through the middle and they got the goal to put them in front. Armthorpe then we’re pushing for an equaliser most of they joy came down the right had side through Clara Brown who put some great balls into danger area but despite getting into some good areas the hosts couldn’t create and clear chances. The game finished 1-2 and the league leaders extended there surly unassailable lead in the table, Armthorpe suffered thier fourth loss of the season and next up is a string of away games for the blues. a tough result for the girls today but a great contest to get back upto speed and they certainly didn't shy away form the challenge.
Armthorpe travelled to Retford in the quarter final of the cup. It’s always a close game between these 2 teams in the past. After a week off with the bad weather it was Armthorpe who looked a bit rusty at the start, after many strong starts this season it was the hosts with an early goal after 4 minutes, when they overloaded the Welfare defence and found space in the box to poke home. After strong recent defensive performances the visitors switched off briefly to concede. The game was quite even then for majority of the first half, as the first period progressed the team in Turqoise was getting more and more of the ball, a couple of excellent through balls from midfield maestro and captain for the day Leah Simpson Holland threatened the Retford back line, one of which found Clara Brown who shot was saved by the excellent on the day Home keeper. Emma Kendall Lovell was also putting some great balls in the box but no one was getting on the end of them. Half time came and the message was to win more 50/50’s and that was the case as Armthorpe started the second half much better and as they looked for a equaliser. And it came about 15 minutes into the half when Leah played the ball to the feet of Emma Kendall Lovell who got her powerful shot away the keeper couldn’t hold on to it and the game was level. Then the game turned into a battle all over the pitch, and with five minutes to go there was what resembled a battle royal in the Armthorpe box involving 4 or 5 players from both teams. In which the referee saw what he believed was enough contact to give a penalty to the home side, which they scored. That last five minutes was wave after wave of attack from the Wellie, mainly coming from several long throws from Emma. Libbie was pushing forward and almost scored with a long range effort only for the keeper to save. And there were also chances for Clara and Leah but it wasn’t to be as Retford got their first win against Armthorpe in a very competitive game. Definitely areas to work on for Armthorpe Welfare and no doubt they will come back stronger from this game. Next up back to league action against Epworth Town.
In other results in the cup all were close games. Edenthorpe with shock penalty win to knock out favourites Adwick, and Askern beating strong Epworth. And Denaby progress to the semi finals after beating Rossington, despite no points in the league that’s 2 wins on the bounce in the cup.
The Wellie welcomed old rivals Edenthorpe to Shaw Wood for their first meeting since finals day final when the yellows took the win and the trophy. Armthorpe looking to continue thier perfect home record this season. The home team started with a more defensive line up with the aim to use wingers Mille Ann Petch and Ava Spivey to to break down the wings and create chances. And the early part of the game was quiet even with both team seeing plenty of the ball but not creating any clear chances. The hosts started to dominate the game as the half went on and there were some half chances that fell to Millie Ann and Leah Simpson-Holland but they couldn’t convert. Then a couple minutes beforethe break, a quick counter attack down the right hand side meant the visitors were outnumbered and a great cross from Freya Foulston reached Leah Simpson-Holland who swivelled on the ball and finished in the bottom corner. The second half was mainly played in the Edenthorpe half, and it resulted in chance after chance for the blues and only some great goalkeeping kept the gap at 1 for most of the the half. Libbie started to step out from the back and had couple of long range efforts that were both close. It was a difficult day for Clara Brown as the opposition were focused on the defending so she rarely had time on the ball. But she kept going and eventually Emma Kendall-Lovell picked Clara out in a bit of rare space in the box for her to kill the game off and reward her for all the hard work. Ava Spivey almost made it thee in the closing stages but again only denied by a great save. Evie Woodward came on for the last five minutes which was great news as she has not played for 2 months with a broken toe, great to have Evie back in the fold. Back to back clean sheets for Armthorpe in what was another great defensive performance especially from Olivia Sayles who again unexpectedly had to step into CB due to injuries but didn’t put a foot wrong.
Armthorpe we’re looking to bounce back this week after a narrow defeat last week. AFC Bentley came to Shaw Wood, Bentley are a new team this season but have already racked up a couple of wins in a great start to the season. The game started in a very competitive way with both teams having chances early on. Once the game settled the hosts started to impose themselves on the opposition and only some great defending and goalkeeping kept the game goalless in the first half. The best chance came from a indirect free kick when the Bentley goalkeeper picked up a back pass. Leah Simpson-Holland rolled the ball the Emma Kendall-Lovell who smashed the ball just wide. Despite many chances the first half somehow ended all level. The message at half time was to keep up the pressure and concentrate on shooting in the corners as it was the only way they were going to beat the solid goalkeeper. The second half started much the same as the first ended, and all the pressure from the home team was finally staring to make the visitors tire. Then 8 minutes into the half there was a scramble in the box for Clara Brown to poke the ball across the goal for Freya Foulston to arrive on the back post to score the opener with help from the defender. The pattern of play just started to intensify with attack after attack for the hosts manly coming down the right hand side giving half time substitute Ava Spivey lots of action running backwards and forwards constantly, she managed to put some great balls into the box. It’s was only a matter of time before the second goal came and it did after Clara Brown found Leah Simpson-Holland to hit a fantastic strike into the top corner. Armthorpe made a few changes for the last 15 mins to bring on some fresh legs to close out the game and it worked. First a great ball down the left hand side from Olivia Sayles found Millie Ann Petch to fire home. And then just a minute before the final whistle Neve Amos picked up the ball outside the area and played the ball into the feet of Clara Brown near the penalty spot, she then turned and held off the defender and fired home the fourth. Great performance from the Wellie girls to break down the opposition in the first half and then finish them off excellently in the second half. Also massive shout out to all the defenders who were all excellent again and earned the blues their first clean sheet of the season. Clean sheets are quite rare in grassroots football so it cannot be underestimated how well the back line including the goalkeeper played.
Next up the girls welcome old rivals Edenthorpe to Shaw Wood. Armthorpe looking for revenge after losing in the cup final on finals day last season to the then.
It was third versus fourth today when Armthorpe traveled to Askern. Meetings last season were always close with the 2 teams and always were very physical. Today was no different, as the game started in a very competitive way. In a very tight first half there wasn’t many chances but the best one fell to the hosts when they struck the post. It was end to end but both teams were defending extremely well especially Welfares left back Tillyanna Jackson who let nothing past her. In the second half the game started to get stretched as tiredness was starting to kick in. The visitors best chance fell to Leah Simpson-Holland who headed the ball around the defender just inside the area, and on the half volley guided the ball towards the top corner, only for the goalkeeper who was outstanding today to pull of a great save to deny Leah. Arskern was starting to find gaps down the wings and on more than one occasion centre back Libbie Latibeaudiere had to rescue the team in turquoise. Having just returned from injury Libbie was solid at the back. And then in the dying minutes the home team won a free kick on the left had side about 20 yards out. They put a great strike toward the goal, Wellie keeper Emily Mcallister made good save to deny her but unfortunately the ball dropped to the striker to score the winner.
It was another late goal that cost Armthorpe Welfare girls against one of their main rivals but all in all a great game of proper football, that needed everyone to dig deep and battle hard. It shows how close it is at the top and although it’s now 3 defeats against the top 3 for the Wellie they will be out for revenge when they all have to come to shaw wood.
The Wellie we’re back at Shaw Wood this week for a 10am kick off against Mexborough Knights. A good start for the Knights this season with two wins already despite not winning any games last season. The home team were missing a few strong players from the middle of the pitch today meaning some players had to play in different positions to normal. The game started and was quite even in the early stages with the visitors arguably starting the game better, they got some space in the left side of the area for the striker to hit the post. This woke up the hosts who almost immediately went down the other end, and a fantastic through ball from Emma Kendall-Lovell set up Clara Brown to slot home. The game remained tight and both teams fought hard. Mexborough then won a free kick 18 yards out and the strong kicking defender struck the ball into the net. Half time came and Armthorpe made 3 changes bringing on Lexi Hirst to try fill big gaps in the midfield and also Millie-Ann Petch and Freya Foulston to give some other options in attack. But it was the away team that took the lead 10 minutes into the half when a driven corner was poked in by the striker. The hosts then turned up the heat and started putting Mexborough under pressure, most of the joy coming down the right side with Emma, and it was a ball from that side into the feet of striker Millie-Ann Petch who turned to strike but was kicked by the defender when she was about the strike, to earn a penalty. And as cool as you like top scorer Clara Brown stepped up and buried the penalty passed the keeper. Then only a few minutes later Lexi Hirst picked the ball up in the middle and fed Clara who made no mistake in getting her hat trick and putting the Armthorpe girls ahead. The final stages were quite nervy but Welfare held on to the win that moved them up to 4th in the table and only 3 points behind next weeks opponents Askern.
The welfare travelled to Rossington on a rainy Saturday morning to try and make it back to back wins for the first time this season. The home team had a difficult start to the season with no points from their opening 6 games. Quick starts have been a common occurrence for the travelling team and that continued with two goals in the first 6 minutes, first goal came from a fantastic finish from Emma Kendall-Lovell with Freya Foulston with the assist. Then only 1 minute later Freya made another assist this time with a throw in for Clara Brown to slot home. The third goal came via another throw in assist this time from Emma returning the favour to Freya to finish confidently. Rossington pulled one back after winning the ball high up the pitch, but the team from DN3 didn’t waste anytime in extending their lead back to 3 goals when Leah Simpson-Holland replied within a minute after intercepting in the opponents half and breaking free in the box. A couple of minutes later goalkeeper Emily Mcallister provided, with a long kick down the middle to find Clara Brown who then showed excellent technique to dribble around the defence and tuck the ball home to bag a brace. Rossington were denied another goal on the stroke of half time when the referee deemed the ball hadn’t crossed the line, Armthorpe May have been fortunate with the decision. The message at half time from the blues manager was to keep the pressure up and send a message to the rest of the league with a statement win. And within a minute of the restart Wellie had there 6th goal when Lexi Hirst kept calm at the back to play a great ball into the feet of Leah Simpson-Holland who used strength and skill to turn the defender and found herself 1v1 with the keeper, and she made no mistake. The next goal came from Rosso’s own goal kick which Ava Spivey was stalking like a tiger in the long grass and she pounced on the left back to steal the ball and as cool as you like struck the back of the net. Then the heavens opened and football felt like a second priority to just surviving in the match. Both teams battled through storm Miltons younger sibling and after 10 minutes it cleared up and the teams could start playing proper football again. And in the last 10 minutes Armthorpe got another 2 goals both from Freya Foulston the first was assisted by the excellent on the day Clara Brown and then after holding the front line extremely well in the second half Millie Ann Petch assisted Freya’s hat trick goal after a quick throw from Neve Amos down the right. All in all it was a devastating victory for the blues and a message to the rest of the league that they are here for the fight after a tricky start. The win was the biggest by any team this season. And with a very solid defensive performance, Libbie lead the back line really well and was like a Rolls Royce in the middle a performance very much likened to Virgil Van Dijk. That solid defence coupled with some clinical finishing that the girls have been working on lead to a great day for AWJFC girls.
Donny Belles traveled to Shaw Wood for the second time in 3 weeks, this time is was the first round of the cup. Armthorpe looking to put last weeks disappointment behind them. The game started very competitively from both teams and seemed to pick up where it left off 2 weeks ago with end to end football. Welfare had the best early chances when twice Freya Foulston found herself 1v1 with the keeper for the girl between the sticks to pull off great saves on both occasions. Then the visitors took the lead when there was a game of pinball in the box and the ball sneaked past Emily Mcallister in goal. It seemed to galvanise the hosts as they pushed on and some great desire down the right side from Ava Spivey won the ball back in a dangerous position for her then set up Freya to fire the blues level. Then pushing the visitors back the blues took the lead when again winning the ball back up the pitch it fell to Clara Brown to lob the keeper from 12 yards out. The game then seemed to steady down with both defences staying strong until half time. It was clear what the instructions were for the home team at half time, attack. With Doncaster getting pushed further and further back it was only a matter of time before the Wellie got a third and that came when half time substitute Millie-Ann won the ball high up and played in Leah Simpson-Holland to channel her inner Dennis Bergkamp and chip the out rushing keeper to put daylight between the 2 teams. AWJFC we’re getting a lot of joy down the right side with the excellent winger Emma Kendall-Lovell, and it was her fantastic run that broke away and had she not been tripped over would have surely had a chance to score. Emma brushed off the foul the step up and take the free kick, she shot low and hard and it found the back of the net. The game was tipped off with more great forward play from Centre forward Millie Ann Petch who set up Freya Foulston for her second of the day and the winners fifth and final goal. The hosts saw out the game on the front foot and progressed to the quarter final of the cup in style. The confidence and team spirit is growing week on week. Next up back in league action with an away game against Rossington.
These two old rivals met for the first time this season, almost a year on from their first league meeting. Each game since the score has got closer and closer culminating in a win for the Welfare on finals day back in May. Now looking to get their first league win against Adwick and with Adwick continuing their unbeaten run from last season into this so far, it was going to be a tough game for the visitors. Manager Brendan got the girls in turquoise fired up before the game, and the game started with his team on top in the early stages. The game was constantly being played in the hosts half and just before the 10 minute mark, the away team won a free kick on the left hand side. Ava Spivey put a fantastic ball into the box that was controlled by Millie-Ann Petch, and pulled back to Emma Kendall-Lovell who showed some neat footwork to make half a yard and fire home to give the Wellie the lead. As the half progressed they remained on top and created the best chances, although Adwick were slowly getting into the game and their best first half chance came from a free kick that went just over the bar. Half time came and went and the second half was more end to end with Armthorpe arguably the better team, they defended really well, despite APR scoring 23 goals in their first four games, they rarely broke the solid defensive line. That was until ten minuets from time when what can only be described as a hit and hope had Armthorpe keeper Emily Mcallister scrambling and she seemed to reach the ball before crossing the line, but to everyone’s surprise the referee adjudged it to have crossed the line and gave the equaliser. It was a devastating blow to the visitors and terribly unjust, it would have been highly likely to have not stood had the official waited 1 more second before blowing his whistle and pointing to the centre spot. The incident didn’t change the flow of the game with Welfare creating chance after chance, the home team were limited to sporadic counter attacks. A goal for the home team was ruled out for a tight offside, And two minutes from time it was one of those counter attacks that found the defence under pressure and probably the only mistake all day from the defenders handed victory to the hosts. Football can be cruel as the defeat leaves Welfare Girls 9 points off the lead after 2 wins and 2 losses in their first four games. Next up is a cup tie against Doncaster Belles.
Armthorpe Welfare Girls welcomed a new Doncaster Belles team to shaw wood as these two teams met for the first time. Belles have had a great start to season winning their first 3 games but this was their first game against one of top 4.
The game started well for both teams with Armthorpe being largely on top in the early stages, and they took advantage of them at by going ahead around ten minuets in when Freya Foulston showed great desire to win the ball high up the pitch and then kept her cool to slot home.
It stayed 1-0 for little under ten minutes when Belles won the ball at the edge of the area and found a striker in the box to draw level. Then the Wellie jumped into gear with attack after attack, eventually the ball popped up for Lilly Holmes around 12 yards out to hit a fantastic stoke to put the home team back in front. Then some great work from Emma Kendall-Lovell and Lilly Holmes on the right side won the ball back and passed through to Clara Brown whose first shot was denied but calmly slotted home her second attempt.
In the second half the Wellie huffed and puffed creating chance after chance coming closest first through Leah Simpson-Holland striking the post and then Clara Brown through on goal after a long throw from Emma Kendall-Lovell brought out a great save from the Doncaster Belles keeper. The visitors weathered the storm and then started to push to get back in the game. They got one back directly from a corner kick ten minutes from time. The Blues had to dig deep to keep the lead the closest the Belles came was a free kick that went over the bar and Welfare saw out a nervy ending to take the points and inflict the first defeat of the season on their opponents.
Excellent performance from the girls today noticeably from Girl of the match Freya Foulston, defender Libbie Latibeaudiere and Lilly Holmes.
Armthorpe got their first points of the season against a much-improved Denaby Main team. In what turned out to be a comfortable win in the end was far from that for much of the game. In a repeat from last week Armthorpe started the game strong and like the opening game got an early goal for their efforts. It came from Millie-Anne Petch who started the game as striker overpowered the visitors defenders and then smashed the ball home after an assist coming from Emma Kendall-Lovell.
This seemed to wake up the team in red as they came back fighting, it was a very competitive first half and the away team had a weapon with a massive kick from the goalkeeper. They used that to their advantage to get an equalizer midway into the half.
The hosts were creating chances, but more often than not it was ending up in the keeper’s arms which posed its own problem with having to deal with the big kick, which they did better and better each time with some great concentration from all 4 defenders during the half. The first half finished all level. The visitors were probably more happy with this score given the pressure they were under. The Welfare new they needed to keep up the pressure and take some of the chances.
Changes at half time saw last seasons leading goal scorer Clara Brown enter the field along with midfielder Lexi Hirst with the aim to get more winners in the centre of the pitch and add some pace to the attack. It worked as the second half kicked off and Armthorpe were straight on the front foot. They continued to wear down the opposition, A second goal came from the left side with an assist from Millie-Ann Petch, for Clara Brown to slot home with a cool finish.
Then came a key point in the game, Denaby Main found themselves behind the lines and one on one with goalkeeper Emily Mcallister who pulled off an unbelievably important save and then got back to her feet quickly to make an immediate second save. This seemed to knock the stuffing out of Main who then offered very little going forward after that.
A third goal came when Armthorpe unlocked their own weapon a long throw down the right side from Emma Kendall-Lovell found Leah Simpson-Holland in the box, she still had a lot to do but managed to find half a yard and get a shot away and give the blues some breathing space.
The Wellie were now playing with confidence, pinging the ball around with ease. Some great passes coming from midfield (especially Lexi Hirst and Leah Simpson-Holland) to unlock space behind the defence, and on another day the home team could have scored 3 or 4 more.
It was a another great pass forward this time from full back Tillyanna Jackson down the right side that set Clara Brown on her way, she dribbled fantastically into the box and slotted it past the out rushing keeper to get her second of the game.
In the end it was a game the hosts should have won and they did, even though maybe not as comfortable as it should have been. Next up is a internal friendly against the U12 boys team at Shaw Wood next week.
Armthorpe kicked off their season with a tough away fixture against league newcomers Epworth Town Colts. The hosts recently moved from the Lincolnshire league and come to the league with expectations to be up near the top. These teams have met twice in non competitive action recently, with each team coming away with a win. Armthorpe have been working hard to improve the tempo at the start of games and that paid off as the visitors started off the better team creating 3 good chances early doors before a great strike from Leah Simpson-Holland put the blues ahead. Armthorpe would rue those early missed chances when Epworth equalised midway through the half, and then made it 2-1 before half time. Both teams came out fighting in the second half with chances at both ends. The game started to get stretched and Epworth took full advantage with 3 goals in a 10 minute spell of which knocked the confidence out of the girls in blue. The Wellie did pull a goal back with a great play of football which fell to Libbie to provide the assist for Clara Brown to slot home. It was too little too late as Epworth added a final goal close to the whistle and the game finished with victory for the home team.
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