Lincoln City 4-2 Leafield Athletic
Thea Clearkin, Leonie Joyce
8/1/23 – 2pm – Moorlands Railway FC
Midland Division One
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After being allowed to venture up to Lincoln and back with the team on the mini bus (more on that to come later but first to the game) arriving we had the warm up on a cold and windy but dry day until it was time for kick off and the heavens opened and it was raining elephants and giraffes because cats and dogs wouldn’t of quite cut it. The game somehow continued on with the pitch looking like it had been chewed up and layed in mud. But it was time for the game to kick off and the teams come out.
Leafield kicked off and was first to head towards goal with Leonie Joyce getting up the wing and a ball from Kathryn Pagan saw her have the first shot early doors but it was straight at the keeper. Daisy Mai Clements was an ever threat on the wing as she kept driving forward even on the surface getting the ball into the box.
The first goal came early on when a shot by Leonie Joyce was half blocked as it fell to Thea Clearkin who made no mistake on smashing the ball into the back of the net for her first Leafield goal on the 6th minute making it 0-1 to Leafield. It was nearly 0-2 straight after when Daisy Mai Clements ran up the wing and put it across the box to Leonie Joyce whose effort went just wide of the post. It would of been the perfect start for Leafield leaving Lincoln alot to do.
Like so many times in football the cardinal sin is if you don’t take your chances they opposition will punish you. And on the 9th minute the score was 1-1 as Lincoln put a corner into the box and as Colette Bell’s path was blocked a well taken header by Rachel Howes saw The Imps level.
It wasn’t long though before Leafield were 1-2 up on the 13th minute, Leonie Joyce ran at the Lincoln defence and took it past the two to slot it past the on rushing goalkeeper to give Leafield the lead again. Lincoln worked the ball well across the box and as it fell to the striker she hit it but Beth Cull made not one, but two fantastic blocks on the line before Colette Bell was fouled to make sure the lead was still intact. A great move again by Daisy Mai Clements was nearly perfect to link up with Leonie Joyce but Lincoln last line of defence got a foot to the ball to stop the move.
The game saw both teams looking for the all important next goal while both defences were working hard to make sure the opposition couldn’t create anything of matter. It was nearly 2-2 when a defensive slip saw Lincoln in behind but Colette Bell pulled off a fantastic save with her feet to keep the score at 1-2 and only concede the corner. The score was pulled back to 2-2 when Maddi Green made a good run up the wing and pulled it across the box and a defensive lapse saw the ball rebound to Lucy Farrow as she slide in to make contact with the ball as it hit Colette’s foot and bobbled into the net to draw the game level. The wind seemed to be knocked out of Leafield’s sails with the equaliser but Colette was untroubled again but Maddi Green was a constant threat for Lincoln as the half time whistle was blown with the scores 2-2 after Leafield had led twice.
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Leafield came out straight from the off in the second half and was Daisy Mai Clements who had the first shot of the half but it lacked the vigar to trouble the Lincoln keeper. Substitutes can change a game and its far to say every one that Lincoln made was perfect for the game and created a positive moment. It’s fair to say now at this point too the game was a little stop-start with the pitch taking it’s toll as the ball no longer liked to bounce much.
Chloe Shirley picked out Grace Murphy with a fantastic pass and she drove at the defence and put it across the box but unfortunately it was just ahead of Leonie Joyce but was going goalwise as the defender read it well. This was followed by Chloe Shirley finding Thea Clearkin who turned well on the ball and looked to play Leonie Joyce in but an out stretched foot by the Lincoln defender saw the move stopped at the last second.
I mentioned Maddi Green a few times but with watching her she reminded me of Jess Lowe who we missed alot again, just full of running and always looking to drive her team forward. Leafield struggled second half to get the ball down and as mentioned the substitutes for Lincoln played a part in that changing the game. On the 62nd minute Lincoln worked the ball well some a well picked out cross that saw Chantelle Robinson to convert the cross on the volley to make it 3-2 to Lincoln as they took the lead for the first time in the game.
Lincoln now were on top in the game and had a shot that Alex Buck did well to block before drawing the foul. Daisy Mai Clements was still running the channels but it just wasn’t free flowing for Leafield at the point in the game as Lincoln looked most likely to add a 4th goal. But it was nearly a free kick that picked out Daisy Mai Clements that saw her get in behind momentarily but the defender and captain, Tilly Fantom did just enough to put Daisy off as her shot went wide of the goal.
Lincoln were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position that the wall did well to see behind, but moments before that a ball had flashed across the box from a corner as Lincoln were piling on some pressure. Maddi Green once again was in the action making Colette Bell pull off the save in the Leafield goal.
It was Colette Bell again making the save from a dangerous free kick by Lincoln as the game ticked on with it really looking like a 4th goal would be coming for Lincoln and not an equaliser for Leafield. An effort late on swirled and dipped in the weather as Colette Bell diverted it away for a corner. It was Lincoln who added a 4th goal to seal the game in the 96th minute. A corner wasn’t dealt with well and as the ball came out to near the edge of the box a fantastic hit by the Lincoln player saw Colette Bell push the ball onto the bar (I believe) and Lucy Farrow was first to react to put the ball into the back of the net making it 4-2 to Lincoln at full time.
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I did say I’d talk more about the day, the journey, the experience. So meeting up with the Leafield team and travelling with them was certainty a great experience. Naturally I was first about to make sure I wasn’t late, Darren Wilkie was first to get there so I knew I was in right place (unless he had turned up at wrong place too haha) but as people got on the Mini Bus everyone said Hello and made feel welcome. Aid’s driving was on the limit, well the limit he said the Bus could go anyways. It wasn’t a bad journey up after a stop it was time for the team to get ready and warm up. I mentioned the warm up’s stayed dry but then it unleashed the heavens throughout the game.
The result wasn’t one the team had wished and wanted and you could tell after the game, but in the room afterwards with getting food everyone included me again and made me feel welcome after Kathryn Pagan was on toast, Leonie battled with the Ketchup it was time to journey back. I watched the Villa game (We won’t mention that) but after a stop on the way back it was time too depart and after a long day and a trip to Lincoln, it was worth it as a whole for sure. And hopefully next away day can tag along for the ride again.
Leafield does really feel like home and a place truly can love and enjoy the football on and off the pitch with some fantastic people that truly care and want to push each other to be better. A special place and a special team.