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Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
Rotherham United Ladies returned to league action with a long journey to the West Midlands looking to play the same flowing football that was a feature of last Sundays Cup Final. The Millers attacked from the start with Helen Lynskey playing a ball over the top for Zuzzie Pramukova to run onto and shoot just wide from the edge of the box. Rotherham had the next chance a couple of minutes later when Amy Pollock’s corner was headed off target by Lynskey. The Millers had a scare when a mix up in defence allowed a ball to be played to the unmarked Leafield striker. Fortunately the linesman was alert and flagged for offside as she looked to shoot. Rotherham went back on the offensive with left winger Jaydene Venus controlling a difficult ball on the edge of the box before laying a pass into the path of Lynskey, who could only shoot wide from 20 yards. Pramukova then played a pass to put Hayley Wood away and it took a great sliding tackle to stop her getting a shot at goal. Rotherham kept up the bombardment with long range shots from Lynskey and Pollock, although neither troubled the home ‘keeper.
Leafield finally managed to break away down the left, but could only shoot past the post. A minute later another breakaway was stopped by Klare Osbourne’s foul on the edge of the box. The free kick was curled over the visitors wall but Charlie Whiteley showed excellent positioning and comfortably caught the ball. The Millers responded with Venus showing a neat piece of footwork to beat the full back before playing a pin point cross which was headed tamely wide by Lynskey. Osbourne and Wood were linking up well down The Millers right and created chances which were again knocked off target.
Just as it looked like Rotherham might reach the break without a goal that their play had deserved they stung the home team with two goals in two minutes. Firstly Lynskey collected the ball and ran 20 yards to the edge of the box before beating the ‘keeper at her near post with a fierce shot. The lead was doubled on the 40 minute mark as Rotherham won the ball and worked it to Venus who played a dangerous cross into the box for Pramukova to stretch out a leg and flick a shot over the ‘keeper and into the empty goal. The visitors kept up the pressure with a shot that the home goalie saved well. Rotherham were then stung by a Leafield goal scored right at the death of the first half. As a ball was played towards the penalty box Bridget Booth tussled with the home striker before making a rash challenge which the referee deemed to be just inside the area. Whiteley guessed the right way for the resulting penalty but could only watch the shot squirm under her to half the deficit. The referee blew for half time as soon as Rotherham restarted the game.
The visitors lead did not last long with Leafield drawing level only 9 minutes into the second half. A hopeful ball was played into the box where a static defence could only stand and watch as the home striker lashed the ball home to equalise. Unfortunately this was only the start of a miserable 11 minute spell which saw Leafield not only take the lead but also extend it. After 60 minutes a Leafield cross into the box caused more panic amongst the visiting defence with the ball bouncing about without being cleared, leading to Leafield taking advantage, shooting into the lead with a low shot. Within 5 minutes the lead was doubled! The home team won a free kick on the left and floated in a ball that caught Whiteley in two minds resulting in a goal as the ball took a slight touch from a Leafield player and bounced over the stranded ‘keeper into the net. The Millers looked shell shocked and Leafield took advantage by passing the ball confidently, although they could not create another chance which might seal the game in their favour. To their credit Rotherham started to drag themselves more into the game as Lynskey was unfortunate to see her defence splitting pass have just too much weight on it for Wood to catch. Pollock also tried her best to reduce the deficit with firstly a shot that went just wide, before unleashing a trademark pile driver that the home ‘keeper could only push past the post for a corner. This proved to be the last chance of the game for either side.
Final score – 4-2
Team:
1. C. Whiteley
21. C. Spencer
22. S. Saxon
13. B. Booth
19. J. Venus
7. A. Pollock
4. Z. Pramukova
8. H. Lynskey (C)
9. H. Wood
10. R. Rutherford
18. K. Osbourne
Sub – N.Mason
