Notts County 2-1 Leafield Athletic
We were back on the road for another away day, this time a trip to Hucknall against Notts County. After travelling up on the Mini Bus we arrived ready for the warm up and the game. The warms up were well underway and the teams were set for a 2pm kick off.
The game got underway with a decent start as Leafield started to move the ball around with some good passing as tried to build into the game. Early on Leonie Joyce was causing them all kinds of troubles, as she cut inside but her shot was at the Phillipa Davies followed by some great pressure by Leonie on the defence as well.
Notts County nearly caught out our defence on the counter but couldn’t direct the ball goalwards. It was Tilly Jones who was next to force Phillipa Davies into a save that she palmed behind from Tilly’s header from the corner. This was followed by a sequences of corners which ended up with the ball falling to Grace Godwin but she couldn’t get it from under her feet and Phillipa Davies scrambled to get the ball safe.
Notts County broke into the Leafield box but Colette Bell as always was there to come off her line and mixed with Mia Evans saw the ball cleared. But after an unlucky bounce after an ariel challenge the ball broke kindly for Notts County and a great ball in behind the defence saw Takiah Burnett cut inside and what looked like a shot that deflected off Grace Godwin’s block left Colette no chance in the goal as Notts County took the lead on the 14th minute.
On the 19th minute, Notts County hit another counter attack that the officials judged to go over the line to make it 2-0 after a scramble in the box saw the ball bounce around and was given in off Elle Rowson. Leafield had it all to do to get back in the game after a good start but had concede twice in 5 minutes.
Leafield were trying to play themselves back into the game but couldn’t quite find the pass or shot to unlock the Notts County defence. Some waylaid passes at key times meant we couldn’t create key chances. But also lead to Notts County getting in behind but Colette Bell rushed off her line to rush the attacker into blazing her effort wide and high of the goal.
It was nearly 2-1 when a great through ball by Leonie Joyce saw Sarah Hazell run in behind the defence but her shot was saved by Phillipa Davies and Kathryn Pagan’s effort was blocked before the referee stopped the play for Annie Taylor needing treatment.
Leafield were trying to build up via the passing routes still towards the end of the half but couldn’t find that killer pass still or final piece of the puzzle, while Notts County were still dangerous on the counter attack but the Leafield defence dealt with them well.
Grace Godwin conceded a foul, but her will and determination to be first to the ball saw her create an assist off a Notts County free kick. Grace played in Kathryn Pagan who unleashed a rip snorter of an effort that only KP can, as she lobbed the keeper with a cracking long range effort to make it 2-1 as we entered injury time in the first half.
Right on the half time whistle Leonie Joyce hit Notts County on the counter and as she drove at goal saw her shot saved once again by Phillipa Davies, who had been in the thick of the action throughout the first half. Which also was the last action of the half as the referee blew the whistle for half time with the score at 2-1 to Notts County.
Even though at the time we had 15 minutes to rest before the second half, I had a great chat with Notts County’s #16’s Dad before second half started. Before I restart the Veo to carry on the report time for a breather as sitting through it first time was stressful enough.
The whistle went for the second 45 minutes. A long range effort for Notts County saw Colette Bell easily take the ball but fell award leading to a corner, but this also lead to Seanna McCann-Lloyd having to come off due to injury which hopefully won’t be anything too serious. Leafield stepped up starting with Grace Godwin running the wing and putting in a dangerous ball but Notts County just about dealt with it, followed by Phillipa Davies having to come out off her line to stop Leonie Joyce getting in behind the defence.
An additional picture and post is the Notts County player mistaking Kathryn Pagan for a climbing frame or that she was offering free piggy backs during the game. Thankfully KP is made of steel and got back up if not a little sore.
The free kick led to a corner which was knocked on by Kathryn Pagan and as it hit the Notts County defender it looped up and struck the inside of the post and the bounce came straight back to Phillipa Davies. How’s your luck? But could we make this pressure count.
Kathryn Pagan went on one of her runs taking on the defence and cutting inside as she cut in and hit her shot it went wide of the target. But it was all one way now as we chased down an equaliser. But even so Notts County would always be dangerous on the counter attack. As they showed once again but Colette Bell come out and collected the ball before the attacker, including an effort that rolled across the floor into Colette’s arms. Leonie Joyce ran at the goal and Phillipa Davies came out to beat her to the ball seeing her pick up a yellow card. In my opinion Notts best player was Phillipa Davies who won’t get the credit she deserved.
The Notts County box was now packed everytime we attacked as Kathryn Pagan pulled the ball across the box it was defended well again to clear it. Sam Baker put a fantastic ball through to Leonie Joyce but she couldn’t quite get it under control as it rolled through to the keeper. We spent alot of time in Notts County’s half chasing the equaliser it would of been interesting to see the pitch map stats.
With 10 players in their own half Leafield pushed on to try and find the 2nd goal to draw level but like Sarah Hazell’s shot was blocked it seemed something was always in our way. It was alot of good build up play and as Sarah Hazell played in Neive Fallon she hit a shot which struck the Notts County defender on the arm in a unnatural position but of course we wasn’t given the decision.
Lucy Taylor kept up the good work Leafield was creating as she worked hard on the wing to get the ball across the box to Leonie Joyce but her first time finish curled just over the bar. Megan Jenkins put in a teasing cross that fell back post to Neive Fallon but she couldn’t get her volley on target as it went wide of the post. A melee finished the game when Megan Jenkins put in another dangerous ball into the box and as the defender cleared it, Leonie Joyce hit the effort goal wise and another save by Phillipa Davies just before the whistle as the game ended 2-1 to Notts County.
With Switch Sport you can hear Darren’s feelings on the game via this link
In conclusion.. 
After the whistle has gone and you can feel the that moment that you know every player left it all on the pitch in a second half where we did everything but somehow didn’t score. Notts County had to defend well for long spells and Phillipa Davies seemed to be there when we least needed her to be. The 5 minute period of the game where we conceded 2 goals would end up being too much to turn it around. But you truly can’t deny the effort and performance around this.
A Notts County fan I spoke to was relieved to come away with the win somehow and also said that even at 2-0 down he was impressed that Leafield continued to try and play football. This is a team still in transition looking for their identity but each game it comes closer.
I am always so proud to be apart of this team, no matter the result a bunch of fantastic people and players that have each others back on and off the pitch. Of course can’t help but feel for them that we came away with nothing from the game but nothing but a smile and memories when leave the car park as we get off the mini bus to go home. And look forward already to Sunday when we go again at Highgate United FC against Loughborough Lightning with a 2pm kick off.
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The one final thing is a massive shoutout and congratulations to our Leafield Lynx’s who won 10-1 in their first League win. Captain Chloe Duthie netted 4 goals, Vice Captain Felicity Barnes got 2 and Tyler Green, Laura Broadbent, Daniella MacDougall and Lily Huckerby all got on the scoresheet. They take on their first away game this Sunday. A game away to Tipton Town Ladies with a 2pm kick off. Good luck Lynx’s.
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We Are Leafield!
