A minute's silence This Sunday I couldn't resist a return to Badshot Lea. I last visited the ground in August 2019 to see their men's team beat Ascot United 2-1 (Boom Boom!). However, today I was heading back to Wrecclesham to see Badshot Lea Ladies take on Reading Women in a massive game at the foot of the Southern Region Women's Premier Division. At the start of play, Badshot Lea sat ninth of ten, on 3 points from their 14 matches. Reading, having played two games fewer, were also 3 points better off. Both teams were trying to avoid bottom spot, currently occupied by Selsey, who had 2 points from 14 games. Consequently, Selsey, who were at home to Oxford City this afternoon, would also be keeping a keen eye on this result.
Neither Badshot Lea not Reading could claim to be prolific in front of goal this season. Before kick-off they had scored a grand total of 22 between them in 26 matches. The Baggies plight not being helped by the fact that their top scorer, Dot Usher with four goals, has not been available for a while. Reading top scorer before kick-off was their captain, Lucy Bolitho, also with four goals.
A big thank you to the match officials who shared the team sheets with me prior to kick-off.
Prior to the game the players, staff and supporters observed a minute's silence in respect of the tragic passing, last Wednesday, of 10 year-old footballer Poppy Atkinson, struck by a car whilst attending a training session in Kendal, Cumbria. An awful story that puts a mere relegation battle into perspective. Rest in Peace, Poppy.
Neither Badshot Lea not Reading could claim to be prolific in front of goal this season. Before kick-off they had scored a grand total of 22 between them in 26 matches. The Baggies plight not being helped by the fact that their top scorer, Dot Usher with four goals, has not been available for a while. Reading top scorer before kick-off was their captain, Lucy Bolitho, also with four goals.
A big thank you to the match officials who shared the team sheets with me prior to kick-off.
Prior to the game the players, staff and supporters observed a minute's silence in respect of the tragic passing, last Wednesday, of 10 year-old footballer Poppy Atkinson, struck by a car whilst attending a training session in Kendal, Cumbria. An awful story that puts a mere relegation battle into perspective. Rest in Peace, Poppy.
Baggies testing Amy Whale Reading started like a whirlwind, immediately from kick-off they found Mia Bradley out on the right, she drove forward before delivering a cross that was inches too far ahead of Zuzanna Gajzler.
Not to be outdone, Badshot Lea responded in kind, sending Gemma Luke through on goal. She lifted the ball over Amy Whale but also just over the bar. What a start. Both teams close to scoring in the opening three minutes.
The game settled a little after that. Possession was shared quite evenly, although the home team probably were edging it slightly. Reading, however, had pace aplenty right across their front line with Bradley and Maya Raghunandanan, making her debut, looking particularly lively. Having said that, The Baggies were not playing lie ma team who hadn't managed a single in in the league so far.
Reading took the lead in the 18th minute. Mollie Dench's cross from the right was allowed to bounce across the home goalmouth towards the back post where Zuzanna Gajzler was waiting to nod the ball past Ellie James. 0-1
What a difference a goal makes. Suddenly, Reading looked full of confidence and the spring had completely gone from the step of the Badshot Lea players.
Credit to the home side though. They wobbled for five minutes or so, but then began to play their way back into the game. Just before the half-hour mark they were almost presented with an opportunity to get back into the game. Whale's clearance didn't have enough on it, falling to Baggies captain Deanna Taylor some 30 yards out. However, he dipping strike, which was on target, didn't quite have enough power behind it, allowing Whale to recover her ground and make the save.
Reading's response to that close shave came through Raghunandanan, who weaved past two before making space for a low left-foot drive which was well held by James.
HT Badshot Lea 0 Reading 1. A fairly even and, for a neutral, entertaining half. Reading's pace up front meant that they posed the most threat. However, Badshot Lea certainly don't lack spirit, and the way they regrouped after going a goal down was a credit to them.
Not to be outdone, Badshot Lea responded in kind, sending Gemma Luke through on goal. She lifted the ball over Amy Whale but also just over the bar. What a start. Both teams close to scoring in the opening three minutes.
The game settled a little after that. Possession was shared quite evenly, although the home team probably were edging it slightly. Reading, however, had pace aplenty right across their front line with Bradley and Maya Raghunandanan, making her debut, looking particularly lively. Having said that, The Baggies were not playing lie ma team who hadn't managed a single in in the league so far.
Reading took the lead in the 18th minute. Mollie Dench's cross from the right was allowed to bounce across the home goalmouth towards the back post where Zuzanna Gajzler was waiting to nod the ball past Ellie James. 0-1
What a difference a goal makes. Suddenly, Reading looked full of confidence and the spring had completely gone from the step of the Badshot Lea players.
Credit to the home side though. They wobbled for five minutes or so, but then began to play their way back into the game. Just before the half-hour mark they were almost presented with an opportunity to get back into the game. Whale's clearance didn't have enough on it, falling to Baggies captain Deanna Taylor some 30 yards out. However, he dipping strike, which was on target, didn't quite have enough power behind it, allowing Whale to recover her ground and make the save.
Reading's response to that close shave came through Raghunandanan, who weaved past two before making space for a low left-foot drive which was well held by James.
HT Badshot Lea 0 Reading 1. A fairly even and, for a neutral, entertaining half. Reading's pace up front meant that they posed the most threat. However, Badshot Lea certainly don't lack spirit, and the way they regrouped after going a goal down was a credit to them.
Reading attacking The home side started the second half with a renewed vigour. Gemma Luke fired an early warning shot just over Whale's bar, but that was as close as Badshot got before Reading recovered their composure, closing down the home threat and beginning to push forward themselves. Lucy Bolitho came close in the 53rd minute, heading a left-wing corner down into the ground, only to see it bounce just over the bar. A minute later, Mollie Dench struck a 30-yard thunderbolt that struck the underside of the home bar before rebounding to safety. An inch lower and we would have been treated to goal of the season.
Just before the hour, Mia Bradley also clipped the top of the home bar with a slightly misjudged cross from the right. Reading were knocking on the door but, while the score remained 0-1 this game was far from over. Selsey, however, were still a goal down at home to Oxford City, meaning that a win here would take Reading seven points clear of the drop zone. It would also mean that defeat for Badshot Lea would not drop them to the foot of the table.
With ten minutes left to play, Badshot Lea took off goalkeeper Ellie James and brought on Christina Binyon between the sticks. James quickly threw on a shirt and came on up front to add extra height to the attack. It was all or nothing for the home team as they began to puh Reading back. Immediately after coming on up front a Badshot Lea corner was inches from being perfect for James at the far post. What an inspired substitution it would have been if she had equalised with her first touch.
The Baggies were throwing everything but the kitchen sink at their opponents now but, in doing so, were leaving themselves a little exposed at the back. With five minutes to go, Reading almost exploited this but as Lucy Bolitho was about to pull the trigger inside the box, Shannon Mather somehow managed to get across and make a superb last ditch tackle.
Despite their efforts, the home side could not find a goal. when the referee blew for full-time much to the joy of the Reading players and bench, many of the home players were flat out or on their knees, the pain of defeat there for all to see.
FT Badshot Lea 0 Reading 1. A crucial and very hard-earned three points for Reading, made even more so by Selsey's eventual 3-0 home defeat to Oxford City. Reading move seven points clear of the bottom and, with Selsey only having nine more points to play for, can relax a little. Badshot Lea remain one point above Selsey as the relegation battle looks to be reduced to one of two.
The Baggies are back at home next weekend when they welcome champions-elect Ascot United to The Operatix Ground. Reading don't play until the following Tuesday evening, when they take on high-flying Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park a ground that, for a while when they were still in the Premier League, they called home. In fact, BotP was there in December 2019 to see two goals from Vivienne Miedema and one from Kim Little give Arsenal a 3-0 victory (Quality When It Counts). Selsey have a tough run-in, including a last day trip to Ascot. However, United may already have taken the title by that point. Badshot Lea, after facing Ascot next weekend, have a home game with Winchester City Flyers and finish with the reverse of today's fixture, Reading away.
One thing's for sure though, I still don't think a team nicknamed The Baggies should be playing in claret & blue.
Badshot Lea: 1.James, 6.Burrows, 5.Benton, 16.Chambers, 9.Luke, 7.Mather, 4.Montgomery, 10.Taylor(c), 19.White, 14.O'Donnell, 12.Bush. Subs: 3.Lowther, 2.Binyan
Reading: 13.Whale, 4.Poole, 5.Levy, 6.Lloyd, 7.Gajzler, 11.Morl, 12.Bradley, 14.Raghunandanan, 19.Airey, 20.Bolitho(c), 21.Dench. Subs: 3.Brooke-Cousins, 8.Kekere-Ekum, 9.Fatri, 17.Herbert, 18.Giles
Ground Number: Re-Visit
Att: N/A
Entrance: £3.00
Programme: N/A
Just before the hour, Mia Bradley also clipped the top of the home bar with a slightly misjudged cross from the right. Reading were knocking on the door but, while the score remained 0-1 this game was far from over. Selsey, however, were still a goal down at home to Oxford City, meaning that a win here would take Reading seven points clear of the drop zone. It would also mean that defeat for Badshot Lea would not drop them to the foot of the table.
With ten minutes left to play, Badshot Lea took off goalkeeper Ellie James and brought on Christina Binyon between the sticks. James quickly threw on a shirt and came on up front to add extra height to the attack. It was all or nothing for the home team as they began to puh Reading back. Immediately after coming on up front a Badshot Lea corner was inches from being perfect for James at the far post. What an inspired substitution it would have been if she had equalised with her first touch.
The Baggies were throwing everything but the kitchen sink at their opponents now but, in doing so, were leaving themselves a little exposed at the back. With five minutes to go, Reading almost exploited this but as Lucy Bolitho was about to pull the trigger inside the box, Shannon Mather somehow managed to get across and make a superb last ditch tackle.
Despite their efforts, the home side could not find a goal. when the referee blew for full-time much to the joy of the Reading players and bench, many of the home players were flat out or on their knees, the pain of defeat there for all to see.
FT Badshot Lea 0 Reading 1. A crucial and very hard-earned three points for Reading, made even more so by Selsey's eventual 3-0 home defeat to Oxford City. Reading move seven points clear of the bottom and, with Selsey only having nine more points to play for, can relax a little. Badshot Lea remain one point above Selsey as the relegation battle looks to be reduced to one of two.
The Baggies are back at home next weekend when they welcome champions-elect Ascot United to The Operatix Ground. Reading don't play until the following Tuesday evening, when they take on high-flying Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park a ground that, for a while when they were still in the Premier League, they called home. In fact, BotP was there in December 2019 to see two goals from Vivienne Miedema and one from Kim Little give Arsenal a 3-0 victory (Quality When It Counts). Selsey have a tough run-in, including a last day trip to Ascot. However, United may already have taken the title by that point. Badshot Lea, after facing Ascot next weekend, have a home game with Winchester City Flyers and finish with the reverse of today's fixture, Reading away.
One thing's for sure though, I still don't think a team nicknamed The Baggies should be playing in claret & blue.
Badshot Lea: 1.James, 6.Burrows, 5.Benton, 16.Chambers, 9.Luke, 7.Mather, 4.Montgomery, 10.Taylor(c), 19.White, 14.O'Donnell, 12.Bush. Subs: 3.Lowther, 2.Binyan
Reading: 13.Whale, 4.Poole, 5.Levy, 6.Lloyd, 7.Gajzler, 11.Morl, 12.Bradley, 14.Raghunandanan, 19.Airey, 20.Bolitho(c), 21.Dench. Subs: 3.Brooke-Cousins, 8.Kekere-Ekum, 9.Fatri, 17.Herbert, 18.Giles
Ground Number: Re-Visit
Att: N/A
Entrance: £3.00
Programme: N/A
Baggies lining up for a corner
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