Leafield Athletic 0-0 Sporting Khalsa
21/4/22 – 7.45pm – Highgate United FC
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Leafield – Tash Weldon, Holly Briggs, Grace Godwin, laura Broadbent, Tilly Chase, chloe shirley, daisy-mai clements, Samantha baker, georgia harris, kathryn pagan (Grace harris 85), grace gregory (Chloe Barker-Duthie 85).
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A new venue for the game against Sporting Khalsa saw a visit to Highgate United FC in Shirley. First off have to say all the staff there seemed very nice and friendly in the bar area which is always a good thing when you leave a first impression. But a game in hand for Leafield Athletic as they played their 20th game in the Midlands Division One, and a look towards getting closer to safety this season.
Samantha Baker was in the action early on in the game picking up an early booking but also having the first effort of the game as well within 7 minutes of the start. Both teams were looking for the important opening goal as it would of been so key to the flow of the game. As always it’s such a joy to see Chloe Shirley in the middle of the pitch, she isn’t the tallest but always makes a huge impact in the games.
Kathryn Pagan was in the thick of the action getting Leafield up the pitch and Daisy-Mai Clements on the other wing also pushed back the Sporting Khalsa defence. But Sporting Khalsa always tried to move up the pitch and it felt like a counter attack kind of game. Laura Broadbent was everywhere through the game ready to stop the opposition trying to get forward. Nethier team could find the opening goal in the first half with a big 45 minutes coming up in the second half with the game fully in the balance.
The second half Leafield came out with a point to prove it felt and really took the game to Khalsa while pushing the team backwards. You felt as if the goal was going to come with Daisy-Mai Clements and Grace Gregory being key to the attacks. On the 59th minute just as was about to celebrate Holly Briggs opening the scoring, a beautiful ball into the box by Chloe Shirley saw Holly open in front of goal but she couldn’t get the connection she needed.
This was followed by a fantastic double save by Stacey Garnham on the 61st minute keeping out Kathryn Pagan’s effort as the ball spun back towards the goal and somehow Garnham managed to get a fingertip to push it round the post to keep the score at 0-0, Leafield couldn’t make the pressure count in their opening dominance.
But after the pressure it seemed as if Sporting Khalsa’s manager made alot of changes and found a way to ride the Leafield storm and were now looking to punish them. Khalsa were on top and pushing forward but Tash Weldon was equal to the efforts, including a fantastic save in the second half late on.
Nethier team could find the goal that would of won them the match. On the play of the game and the stats it was quite even with both teams having moments of dominance but couldn’t turn it into goals. Leafield will be happy with the point as they move one more point closer to safety with two games remaining in the season. On Sunday Leafield host the league winners Boldmere at Dickens Heath Sports Club before Sunday 1st May at the same place they host Burton Albion.
You can see the photos from the game on the link below as well via Flickr..