Stoke City 4-3 Middlesborough Women
18/10/2020 – Community Drive – FAWNL NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE
gOALS – Steele (3), Kivel – Brown, McQuade, Maxwell
Game day back at Community Drive saw Middlesborough women journey up to play against Stoke City for game six in the northern premier league. It’s no secret was looking forward to seeing Middlesborough play as well so it was going to be a class game even before it started. Jasmine McQuade, Katie Wilson and Graham Falk faces that would be great to finally see. The teams warmed up on the pitch and it was game time but before the game could start. Stoke City Women were presented with an acknowledgement to their place in the FAWNL final that was meant to take place against Sunderland, that didn’t happen because of Covid-19. It was great to see Beth Roberts at the game even though she couldn’t play but that meant that Ellie Bohannan would come in for her first start for Stoke this season.
The game got underway and Stoke were first on the front foot trying to stake a claim in the game and the first effort from Abby Hunt to keep the Boro keeper honest. But it was Boro that caused Hollie Gibson to show her class at left back early on as her last ditch tackle saw Tyler Dobbs run stopped for a corner. The opening minutes set the pace for the game as both teams tried to get on the front foot. Both defences were on top as the teams tried to attack. But it took the 18th minute and a fantastic block by Ellie Bohannan from Tyler Dobbs that kept the score at 0-0. The first attack with sting from Stoke came with a long range effort from Nic Hudson who connected well but straight into the goalkeepers hands. But on the 22nd minute the deadlock was broken as a corner came into the box and as Ali Hall headed it towards the goal the Boro defence dealt with it. But the clearance was prodded towards the goal by Ellie Bohannan and Lizzie Steele slotted the ball home to make it 1-0 to Stoke.
Stoke nearly doubled the lead within 10 minutes as Lizzie Steele burst up the wing and found Abby Hunt but her effort went wide of the goal. Middlesborough were trying to fight there way back into it as Jasmine McQuade tried to drive them forward but Stoke and Ellie Bohannan were defiant in defence. On the 34th minute the words turning defence into attack came true as Daniella Kosinska turned savior to creator as she lifted the ball towards Lizzie Steele who got in behind the Boro defender and perfectly placed the ball into the corner making it 2-0 to Stoke on the 34th minute.
Even though Middlesborough had gone 2-0 down they didn’t let their heads drop and on the 45th minute their persistence paid off as they piled on the pressure in the final minutes. A scramble in the goal area saw Ellie Bohannan get the block in and a save from Daniella Kosinska the ball on the third chance fell to Danielle Brown who slotted the ball home to make it 2-1. But Middlesborough wasn’t done by pulling one back as Jasmine McQuade hit the back of the net as she got in behind to make it 2-2 in the 49th minute of the half. Graham asked me if i celebrated Jasmine’s goal, all I could say is that I was glad had my mask on. The half time whistle went with the score at 2-2 and Stoke had gone from being in a comfortable 2-0 lead to a 2-2 half time score.
The second half kicked off with all to play for in the game, as the game went on their seemed to be alot of stoppages for players receiving treatment but it wasn’t a dirty game. But a blow to the head for Ali Hall on the 55th minute was a worry, but Ali Hall being the warrior she is carried on when maybe should of been replaced with a blow to the head, especially when the ball struck her in the head again not too long after. Tyler Dodds was proving a real handful as her effort on the 57th minute cannoned off the crossbar and landed well for Stoke. Olivia Dixon replaced Elysia Boddy on the 58th minute and Stoke brought Ella Pemberton on for Kelsey Richardson. Both teams at this point were going for it as they put the pressure on each other trying to get the 5th goal in the game.
Roisin Kivel replaced AMy Hughes on the 63rd minute. After an effort by Amy Hughes and Tyler Dodds the score remained at 2 a piece, but on the 67th minute it was Stoke City that retook the lead as Nic Hudson lofted a ball deep into the box and Roisin Kivel got into at the far post to head the ball into the back of the net to give Stoke a 3-2 lead. Ali Hall took a knee and was thankfully brought off, we love Ali and know she will give everything and continue through a war but she wasn’t herself and needed to come off as she was replaced by one of our favorites from the Reserves, Jessica Smith came on to make her debut. And the Middlesborough player who had come on had to be replaced as Armani Maxwell replaced Olivia Dixon on the 79th minute.
Less than 10 minutes on the pitch and a ball over the top saw Armani Maxwell in behind the Stoke defence and a cool and collected finish left Daniella Kosinska nothing in the Stoke goal and the visitors pulled level at 3-3 with 5 minutes left to play. The Middlesborough goalkeeper must of thought that she had saved a point for them when she pulled off an incredible save from a cracking effort for Roisin Kivel that looked goalbound. From the corner though it was Lizzie Steele that bagged her hatrick and her 5th goal in 2 games as she put the ball in at the far post to give Stoke the 4-3 lead and surely the 3 points. But Middlesborough wouldn’t go away as in the 94th minute a cracking long range effort by Danielle Brown saw it go over Daniella Kosinska and once again cannon off the crossbar. The final whistle went and it was time to breath as the game ended 4-3 to Stoke City.
After the game it was so good as always to get to chat to the players of Stoke but also having a chat with a few of the Boro players throughout the game and afterwards getting to meet and have a chat with Jasmine McQuade and Katie Wilson. I know I write these from Stoke perspective alot, but just wanted to give these two a shout out, not only for their efforts on the pitch. Jasmine McQuade for her goal and her constant running and pressure on Nic Hudson and Katie Wilson for her hard work in the middle of the pitch including showing she a true warrior when the ball struck her in the head and she wanted to jump straight back up. But both of these were a true pleasure to chat too and gave their time even after a loss and I know can’t wait for chance to go give them some support again in the season.
The game itself could of easily gone ethier way and a draw seemed a fair result as both teams attacked and played some good football while showing off their attacking flair. Stoke City came away with the 3 points but I am sure that Middlesborough will be up for the return game when Stoke travel up to them.
Stoke City WOmen
Middlesborough Women
