Leafield Athletic 2-4 Sporting Khalsa

Goals – Jessica Lowe (2)

26/2/23 – 2pm – Dickens Heath

Midlands division One

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It was game time once again on a Sunday where the Sun was on show but it lied as the temperature was the complete opposite especially when the wind picked up. After a Thursday night to forget it would be a chance to put it right. We had Ellie-Mae Locke join us on an emergency loan while we was without a keeper for the second game in a row with Erica Turner being unable to join us as well. Daisy-Mai Clements had to sit out and could only watch as well. As always so welcomed by everyone and the friendly faces at Dickens Heath it is always such a joy to spend time in and around the Leafield bunch who all work so hard to make those in and around the club better.

The game got underway with the cold wind gusting through a Sunny day, It was a cagey start with both teams looking to find the early opening. Jess Lowe looking to break in behind as was Steph Weston for Khalsa. It was Sporting Khalsa who came close with the first real chance to open the scoring with an effort that sailed by the post after a great tackle by Tilly Chase around the 17th minute of the game. But it was a corner by Thea Clearkin that came back to her from Kathryn Pagan and as she lifted the ball into the box, Jess Lowe hit it goalwards but an incredible fingertip save onto the post by Natalie Hall and just about saving it on the line from the rebound saw the score remain 0-0.

In the middle of the wind even though Ellie-Mae Locke was a slight frame she was coming out to get her hand and save anything that came into the area on her debut. But Sporting Khalsa broke up the wing and a back heel by Steph Weston saw Izzy Austin-Shorts have her shot saved by Ellie but as the rebound fell to Olivia Woolston she tapped it into the back of the net to give Khalsa the 0-1 lead on the 27th minute. The game became very stop start with the official not deeming anything a foul and calling advantage for what wasn’t given with poor Sam Baker going through the wars. 

Ellie-Mae Locke pulled off a fantastic diving cat like save from a shot outside the box to deflect it away for a corner. Leafield were struggling to bring the ball down and spend any real time on the ball as you could see confidence felt like an issue. Sporting Khalsa always looked a threat on corners but Leafield were doing enough to defend them. The half ended with a flury for Sporting Khalsa though as they added two goals in injury first with Olivia Woolston picking out Steph Weston at the front post who drove it home to make it 0-2. It was 0-3 less than 2 minutes later when Steph Weston’s shot was well blocked but the ball sat up well for Molly Wright to finish on the volley giving Ellie-Mae Locke no chance in the Leafield goal. But two goals in injury time had seen a 0-1 game become a 0-3 and alot to do in the second half as the half time whistle went.

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In a game and a half Leafield had conceded 8 goals and hadn’t preformed the way they know they could. It would take real character and togetherness to even pull themselves back into the game at 0-3 down against a good team. Jess Lowe personifies this and within a minute of the restart it was 1-3, as Chloe Shirley split the defence with a through ball that saw Jess Lowe with one touch lob the ball over Natalie Hall into the back of the net.

Leafield came out ready to fight until the end and started the second half off with a bang pushing a succession of corners early on. Even though Leafield were on top at this point of the game another Sporting Khalsa goal would stop the momentum. On the 64th minute a goal straight from a corner that went in off the inside of the far post made the score 1-4 to Sporting Khalsa.

The worry would be if Leafield let heads drop but they certainty didn’t. Straight from kick off Malika Higgins was in behind but a fantastic last ditch tackle stopped her in her tracks. Straight from a corner Thea Clearkin picked out Chloe Shirley on the edge of the box who unleashed an inch perfect shot, but Natalie Hall somehow pulled off an incredible save once again pushing it onto the bar. Leafield were once again piling the pressure on the Khalsa defence.

On the 74th minute once again Chloe Shirley put in a teasing ball again for Jess Lowe to split the defence and slip the ball past the on rushing Natalie Hall to find the back of the net and make it 2-4 with 15 minutes left to play, we won’t mention about the treatment Malika Higgins received on trying to get the ball back, to be honest one thing will say is for a 16 year old, Malika handled herself very well throughout the game in hard situations at times. The second half once again was stop start with injuries again something I feel the referee could of put a stop too if was on top of the game from the start and that goes for both teams. I’m not going to drag anyone but if you was at that game you would understand the frustrations both teams must of felt. 

It was nearly a hatrick of assists for Chloe Shirley as once again she played in Jess Lowe and once again Natalie Hall came out but the effort rolled past the outside of the post as Leafield still tried to battle their way back into the game. The ball bounced up onto the defenders arm in the box and nothing was given but this isn’t the only time a penalty could of been awarded with the ball striking the hand in the box near the end of the game. Leafield battled till the end but couldn’t find the 3rd goal to push a tense ending in the game as it finished 2-4 to Sporting Khalsa.

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Once the game had finished the result won’t be one to look back upon nethier would the second half but after Northampton Town away in the week we needed to prove to ourselves what we are capable of. The first half we didn’t manage this and the two goals right at the end of the half made it really difficult to try and hit back. But whatever Aid Clements said at half time saw a different team emerge second half. Even with a 0-3 deficit we fought until the end of the game. Decisions against us with one stonewall and another maybe penalty, a worldie of a save, Jess coming close. We won the second half 2-1 but were the much better team but had almost played ourselves out of the game in the first half.

As always even after the Northampton Town game when we truly wasn’t at the best and everyone was down, I was still proud to be a Leafield fan and be apart of the journey and this was proven once again on Sunday. We don’t play this week now but next week we are at Dickens Heath once again against Long Eaton.

For those who are close to me and understand my headspace as of late will know just how important this collection of people actually are, an escape from the reality of everyday struggles. Every single time I go to see Leafield I leave with a massive smile and a great feeling because the people are so amazing invovled and that was once again cemented talking to Chloe Shirley after the game as well as many others too.