Newbury Ladies FC vs Woodley United Ladies FC
Pre-Season Friendly Fixture
Sunday 12th August 2018
RESULT: 0 – 2
Last Sunday, Newbury Ladies FC hosted Woodley United Ladies in a pre-season friendly fixture. Both teams will be opponents this coming season in the Southern Region Women’s Premier League, so it would prove to be a good test for both clubs.
Woodley United kicked off the match and went straight onto the attack. They worked an opportunity for an early shot, but it was well wide. Then some strong play by Newbury in midfield, saw them progress down the right and earn the game’s first corner, but sadly they were not able to make the most of it. After that promising start, Newbury seemed to lose their way and the next passage of play, saw Woodley United really assert themselves, winning every midfield battle. Newbury’s players were looking rushed and unsettled, whereas Woodley’s team looked comfortable and very much in control.
Newbury were carved open when a Woodley attacker wriggled free on the left, but her low shot came back off the far post and Newbury’s goalkeeper, Kat Brown was then able to gather the loose ball to much relief. But it was no real surprise when Woodley did take the lead in the 13th minute, from a similar move and shot. This time from closer range, the ball hit the right hand post and went into the back of the net this time for one nil to the visitors.
Even after the re-start, Newbury were being pulled all over by Woodley United’s fluid movement and interchange of passes. A long diagonal ball to the right, found a player in a space and another low shot sailed into the far corner to give Woodley a two nil after just 14 minutes. Newbury’s supporters now feared the worst, with further successive corners coming Woodley’s way and the home defence under real pressure. But with Newbury’s goalkeeper claiming the ball, she launched a long punt down-field that Alex Kovacsova did well to latch onto. Her pace taking her in-behind the Woodley defence. From the edge of the area, she attempted a long, looping shot that had the keeper beaten, but the ball just fell narrowly the wrong side of the far post.
When a Woodley player required some on-field treatment, it gave Newbury a chance to hold a short team meeting in front of the technical area and following play being re-started, the home side were a little more assured and less rushed in possession. The final ten minutes of the first half, were Newbury’s best spell, resulting in a shot from Ellie Reed and then a good team move, that gave Shelley Forster a shooting opportunity from the edge of the area. Her effort tested the Woodley keeper, but she was able to make the required save.
Finding themselves two nil down at half time, Newbury made one substitution at the start of the second half, with Kovacsova being replaced by Ayala Truelove. A further change was made just eleven minutes later, with Forster withdrawn after taking a knock, to be replaced by Bec Walker. Both changes gave Newbury a little more impetus in attack and not long after the hour mark, they worked their best opening. A Jo Walsh-Perks interception, then saw her play a lovely ball down the line, where Molly Baker had ventured forward. She cut in from the left and her cross-shot clipped the base of the far post but rebounded away to safety. That was the closest that Newbury had come to getting on the score sheet, but it showed there had been an improvement in their play after falling behind early on.
With plenty of the match left to play, Newbury still needed to be alert in their defensive work, but when a Woodley forward broke free in the 66th minute, Newbury had Kat Brown to thank for keeping them in it. She dived well to her left to make a first save, but then reacted superbly to get up and smother again at the feet on the on-rushing attacker to keep Woodley at bay. It was a stand-out double save that drew applause from both sets of supporters.
As the match entered the final 20 minutes, both teams were still looking to attack and it was a more even contest, with Newbury showing improvement from their first half performance. Newbury Captain, Ellie Reed, had two further goal-bound efforts, but defender, Nicky Isted. Was also called upon to head off her own line following a Woodley corner,
Sadly, despite Newbury’s work rate, they were unable to grab a goal, but on a positive note, they did keep Woodley out at the other end. So the match ended two nil to the visitors, with Woodley United feeling more satisfied with their team’s display, whereas Newbury know they still have work to do during this pre-season campaign.
Newbury’s next opponents will be Barton Rovers on Sunday 19 August, which is an away game and will be played at the Reading IBIS Centre, 2.00pm kick off.
Player of the Match for Newbury Ladies FC was goalkeeper, Kat Brown.
Newbury Ladies Squad vs Woodley United Ladies:
Kat Brown, Nicky
Shelley Forster, Ellie Reed (Capt), Molly Baker, Alex Kovacsova, Jo Walsh-Perks,
Tracey Beales, Ayala Truelove, Bec Walker, Maria Rodrigues.
Newbury Ladies FC Player of the Match: Kat Brown
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Newbury Ladies FC – Upcoming fixture schedule:
- 19 August – Pre-Season Friendly Away game – Barton Rovers Ladies vs Newbury Ladies, 2.00pm kick off
- 26 August – Pre-Season Friendly Home game – Newbury Ladies vs Kingsclere Ladies, 2.00pm kick off at Ecchinswell
- 2 Sept – Away game – Sandhurst Town Ladies vs Newbury Ladies in the SSE FA Women’s Cup First Qualifying Round
