Sheffield FC 0-0 Leafield Athletic
It was time to get back on the road once again and a trip up to Sheffield FC. After an early morning meet up and a mini bus full journey which Steve took us for, a massive thank you for making sure we all arrived safely and returned in the same manor. Although the same couldn’t be said for my camera, the pictures are simply just from the warm up as I managed to break something on camera, it fixed ready for Sunday though again. After the warm up’s were finished it was time for the game to start
The early exchanges of the game saw both teams looking to get themselves on the ball but saw each other cancelling each other out. The first real chance saw a ball hit from edge of box by Sheffield FC and a deflection put it straight into the path of Tilly Hallas-Potts but Colette Bell bravely come off her line to collect the ball at the players feet.
Not to be outdone her counterpart Brooke Smith thwarted Megan Jenkins running through on goal coming off her line to clear with her feet. Kathryn Pagan won the ball back and picked out Sarah Hazell who turned and played a beautiful ball into Leonie Joyce, whose first time shot agonisingly crept past the post as Brooke Smith could just watch in the Sheffield FC goal.
It was Sheffield FC who next caused issue as a cross into the box from out wide struck the outside of the Leafield Athletic post but was dealt with by Colette Bell on the rebound. Megan Jenkins ran at the defence and lifted the ball towards Sarah Hazell but the defenders header took it just to far away as Brooke Smith got a punch on it away from Sarah Hazell. Megan Jenkins played in a ball over the top and as it looked like Leonie Joyce had beat her defender for pace out came Brooke Smith to nick it off her feet and Sarah Hazell tried to hit it long range but couldn’t get any elevation onto it.
Sometimes you wonder how she does it, but she does it time after time but it was Colette Bell to the rescue when Sheffield FC late on in half hit an effort the edge of the box and it almost looked like the net was about to ripple but a fully stretched finger tip save by Colette Bell pushed the ball onto the post before being cleared.
The half time whistle went with both teams defending well and the keepers both protecting the clean sheet. A big 45 minutes ahead with all 3 results still a reality.
The second half got underway and our first shot on target came from Megan Jenkins when she won the ball back and ran at the defence and found her effort going into Brooke Smith’s arms. A great turn by Kathryn Pagan saw her in behind the defence and as she picked out Leonie Joyce in the middle her effort was saved once again by the outstretched boot of Brooke Smith. Which was followed up by Sarah Hazell but her effort was tipped onto the woodwork somehow by Brooke Smith. But a great start to the half by Leafield.
Sheffield FC looked to build and create chances but the Leafield defence and Colette Bell at the back was shutting down anything that began to be created. It looked as if Sheffield were going to have a big chance but Laura Broadbent’s last ditch defending nicked it off her and cleared it at a key time. Sarah Hazell once again picked out Leonie Joyce in the middle but as she applied the finish, who else but Brooke Smith was there to make the save again from the first time effort.
Sarah Hazell showed some fantastic footwork to turn in defenders inside out to make space for her shot but she couldn’t keep the effort down. Sheffield got in behind the Leafield defence but Colette Bell was off her line to make sure nothing could be created once again. Once again Sheffield FC had got in behind over the top but once again Colette Bell come running off her line to clear the ball, she was almost up in attack wanted a goal herself.
Next a moment of humor because nothing come from it, but the ball was kicked out by a Sheffield player to which the Ref awarded a corner with confidence, he even went over to talk with his linesman, which he over ruled anyways. Neive Fallon put Brooke Smith under pressure but she somehow found her way out with the ball and cleared it from danger. A fantastic ball in behind over the top from Kelcie Fallon saw Neive Fallon about to get onto the ball but once again Brooke Smith came rushing from her line to clear it with her feet.
Sheffield FC made a fantastic through ball which saw them through on goal but once again Colette Bell made an incredible save with her feet to protect her clean sheet. We was nearly in behind when a ball over the top saw Lucy Taylor running through on goal but once again Brooke Smith was off her line to stop the attack and protect her clean sheet. This was the last real chance of the game as the whistle went for the final time with the teams at a stalemate and a 0-0 scoreline.
In conclusion..
A point on the road, a clean sheet. It could of been 3 points for us it could of been 3 points for them. Both goalkeepers for me Player Of The Match for each team. Defiant until the final whistle, woodworks for both team’s rattled. Outstanding saves by both. But overall a much better performance as the team grow together and have a feeling once one goes in many more will follow. That bit of luck just isn’t going our way in front of goal at the moment. I go back to Notts County they was awarded one on line, It hard to tell but it looked in today we not given it. But Sheffield battled with us and it came out as a draw at the end of the game. We left it all out on the pitch which is all you can ask for from your players.
It’s always a team that proud to share matchdays with, fantastic people from the staff to players to the parents. We might not be a team throwing money at it to create but a bunch of people that share a love for the team and each other that come together to try and elevate those around them.
As I am writing this up, I’ve just seen that tonights game has been called off due to floodlight failure, which is a shame for the players ready to play, but on a selfish note I was having to miss tonight’s game due to work so I am happy to make the rearranged game. But away from that I am looking forward to the West Brom game on Sunday with the venue still to be confirmed yet.
We Are Leafield!
