Archive for September, 2009

Rotherham United Ladies missed the opportunity to make it three wins in a row as they were held to a 2 -2 draw at home on Sunday. The Millers started with the same 11 as at TNS last week and were soon on the attack with Helen Lynskey picking the ball up in midfield and threading it through to put Hayley ayleyHWood away down the right. Wood crossed accurately to Natalie Mason, who saw her shot blocked. A few minutes later Wood again used her lightning pace to beat the defender and knock a dangerous cross into the box, with the Wolves keeper doing an excellent job of collecting it under pressure. Wolves eventually began to settle into a rhythm and were starting to make inroads to The Millers defence, firstly with a header wide from a free kick and then a shot just over the bar with the striker under pressure from Kerry Longstone. Wolves then opened the scoring after 20 minutes. A Wolves corner was caused panic in the home defence and the ball was eventually only half cleared to the edge of the box where the Wolves midfielder hit a first time shot that flew into the top right hand corner, giving Millers keeper Charlie Whiteley no chance. Rotherham kicked off and immediately attacked the Wolves goal winning a free kick on the right from which Amy Pollock flighted to the back post. Lynskey was looking to get a header in when she was barged in the back by a Wolves defender and the referee had no hesitation in pointing at the penalty spot. Up stepped Millers captain Longstone to calmly place the ball into the left hand corner of the net.

Rotherham kept up the pressure with Kerry Jones sliding the ball through to put Wood through, forcing the Wolves keeper to show excellent anticipation to rush out and clear the danger. The home team then broke away from a Wolves corner with Wood and Pollock combining down the right and the latter shooting just wide. A couple of minutes later Rotherham broke again after Whiteley collected a Wolves free kick and released Pollock who played a pinpoint ball to put Lynskey through on the keeper, who pulled off a close range save. Lynskey collected the rebound but could only find the side netting from a tight angle. Rotherham were causing Wolves problems with the speed of their counter attacks and they produced the move of the half after 40 minutes. Longstone won the ball on the touchline deep in Rotherham’s half before laying it to Sarah Thickett who moved the ball out to Pollock, who in turn played a pass to Wood on the left hand side of the box. Wood beat her marker and crossed to Lynskey who was disappointed to see her header fall just wide. The referee blew for half time moments later with the score at 1 -1.

Rotherham manager Paul Durrands made his first substitution before the second half kicked off with Klare Osborne replacing Natalie Mason. The Millers kept up the momentum they had built up in the first half by going on the attack straight away. Lynskey played a ball over the top for Wood, again forcing the keeper to dash from her line and clear the ball. Five minutes later Pollock played a one-two with Wood and then hit a shot from 25 yards which the Wolves keeper did well to turn round the post for a corner. Wood was soon in the thick of the action again as she ran at the away defence only to get pulled down, with the defender receiving a deserved booking. Rachael Rutherford hit the resulting free kick firmly into the arms of the keeper. This was to be Rutherford’s last contribution as 5 minutes later she again injured her troublesome ankle making a tackle and had to receive lengthy treatment on the side of the pitch. Wolves took advantage of The Millers being a player down for 5 minutes and soon had Rotherham sitting deeper, eventually forcing a shot which Whiteley did well to save. Rutherford was then replaced by Leanne Corns on the hour mark. Right back Pollock rallied the home team again trying her luck from 25 yards, only to see it fly straight at the keeper.

The game was now an exciting end to end affair as both teams pushed forward at every opportunity. Lynskey was next to have a chance as she collected Longstone’s ball over the top, controlled it and took aim. Unluckily the ball flew just over the bar. Corns was next to have a run at the Wolves defence, eventually forcing a corner which Thickett headed just over. The Millers kept upping the pressure with Pollock hitting a ferocious first time shot that whistled just passed the top corner. The home team were rewarded after 80 minutes as Lynskey played a perfect through ball for Wood to run on to, hold off the defenders challenge and shoot past the advancing keeper. Hopes of victory were extinguished two minutes later though as The Millers conceded a needless free kick 25 yards from goal. The ball was knocked in at pace and Whiteley seemed to misjudge the flight on the ball, as she tried to clear with her legs, only to see the ball fly into the net. The last chance of the game fell to Rotherham after Corns was flattened by a defender. Longstone’s free kick into the box caused confusion with the ball eventually dropping to sub Osborne whose snap shot from 5 yards cleared the bar. The final whistle went seconds later.

Paul Durrands – Manager’s Comments:

After two really good wins against Stoke City and TNS (Wales) in the last two weeks, I have to say that I was disappointed in not gaining all three points in this home fixture.

Wolves are an excellent footballing side but we created enough chances to win this game comfortably and should not allow teams back into a game, like this when we know we have the ability to see these games “out”.

Our all-round concentration is getting better but certain individuals have to ensure that their contributions are also up to the standard of their team mates.

I have every confidence in my team and I know that we are still getting use to this new league, so we’ll work even harder in training to ensure our comradery will take us through anything this league “throws at us”.

Rotherham started the brighter of the two teams, on a hot and stick day, played on an “artificial pitch”, which saw the visitors dominate the play.

It felt that it was only a matter of time before Rotherham scored and they did through Helen Lynskey midway through the first half, after a mix up in the TNS defence saw Lynskey capitalise and calmly side footed into an empty net.

The visitors were in control of this game until the 30 minute when they lost their influential midfielder Rachael Rutherford with an ankle injury.

The next 10 minutes saw TNS take a grip on the game through Rotherham’s disarray from the substitution of Rutherford and equalised after good build up work.

Five minutes before half time, Sarah Thickett scored on the far post, with a bullet header after an in swinging corner from youngster Nat Mason.

Mason herself miss a good chance, set up by Thickett but the keeper made a good save from the 16 year old.

Just on the stroke of half time, Kerry Jones brushed the crossbar with a header from a pin point free kick from Kerry Longstone.

Rotherham went in at half time 2-1 up.

The second half saw TNS camped in the visitors half and with possession dominated by the homesters, Rotherham had to “dig in” and defend for long periods.

The home team “plugged” away at the Rotherham defence but with the whole back for being dominant, TNS found it very difficult to “breach” their dogged defending.

Lynskey received a superb 35 yard pass from Longstone and was through on the keeper but place her lob wide, this being Rotherham chance in the whole of the second half.

Rotherham did score 5 minutes from the end though courtesy of an own goal by a TNS defender who was pressurised by Hayley Wood on the edge of her own penalty area, but the defender clipped her back pass straight over the keepers head to deflate the rest of the TNS team.

Rotherham finished 3-1 winners and went home with all three points.

Manager (Paul Durrands) comments:

I was particularly pleased with our performance, as after a long journey, on an artificial pitch and being very hot and humid.

I knew this game was going to be tough and it was.

TNS have a big advantage to any visiting team, as they train each week and play regularly on this artificial surface, and sometimes it showed in their passing, which at time was exceptional.

We played good football early on but after loosing Rachael Rutherford, we struggled as she influences long periods of our games with her passing and vision.

The second half was difficult for us, as we were on the back foot for just about all of it.

My back four were “immense” and for the first time since I’ve been back, the whole team defended as a unit, and wanted to win and fight for each other.

This gave me lot of satisfaction, and also the girls  believe that they can now defend and more important they believe in themselves.

Our next home game is Wolverhampton Wonderers at home 27/9 K.O. 2pm.