After spending my entire Saturday roaming the hills and valleys of Alton Towers (who wouldn't want to be there on the day that Nemesis Reborn opened?), I was looking forward to getting back to football on Sunday. However, when I saw the weather first thing, I was was seriously wandering if my chosen game. Milton United v Long Crendon, would be on. As the rain continued in North Oxfordshire, I was busy looking at alternatives when Long Crendon replied to my earlier post saying that the game was on. Excellent news. Not least because this was a massive game and would have a story attached whichever way it went.
Table-toppers Long Crendon were going to be playing their final league game of the season and, to spice things up, the only team who had even the slightest chance of catching them was Milton United. Starting the day in seventh spot, United still had a massive seven league games remaining and, as it happened, were exactly 21 points adrift of Long Crendon but with a vastly inferior goal difference. The upshot of it all was that Long Crendon just needed to avoid defeat to guarantee the Division One North title. Should it go against them, the story would then be that Milton could, feasibly, still catch them with a series of big wins. The reverse fixture at Chearsley Road back in November had been a tight affair, eventually decided in favour of Long Crendon by a single Brooke Burns goal.
Table-toppers Long Crendon were going to be playing their final league game of the season and, to spice things up, the only team who had even the slightest chance of catching them was Milton United. Starting the day in seventh spot, United still had a massive seven league games remaining and, as it happened, were exactly 21 points adrift of Long Crendon but with a vastly inferior goal difference. The upshot of it all was that Long Crendon just needed to avoid defeat to guarantee the Division One North title. Should it go against them, the story would then be that Milton could, feasibly, still catch them with a series of big wins. The reverse fixture at Chearsley Road back in November had been a tight affair, eventually decided in favour of Long Crendon by a single Brooke Burns goal.
Milton make it 2-0 If Milton had a plan to hit Long Crendon hard and early, it certainly paid dividends. Less than a minute was on the clock when April England set off on a mazy run from the halfway line. After fending off a couple of challenges, the ball was fed inside for Lily Black to smash past Amy Shale. 1-0. What a start from the home team!
April England was having a massive effect on the game in the opening minutes. Not content with setting up Black's goal, she was at it again in the third minute. Driving down the right again, she played in Kira Ranaxha, but this time Whale was able to make a good stop. The relief for Crendon was short-lived however. With only seven minutes played Milton forced a right-wing corner. When the ball was played into the area it caused mayhem, and there was Lily Black on the spot to stab the ball home from close range. 2-0
Long Crendon were reeling but, to their credit, they dug their heels in and began to steady the ship. A couple of minutes after going two down Fin Lennard got their first strike away. It didn't trouble Grace Beardsley but at least it was a sign of the visitor's intent and, in a breathless start, they did get close to pulling one back inside ten minutes. Emma Helmer's superb through ball split the home defence but Beardsley earned her corn with a fine save from Woodward. The league-leaders were now starting to get on top in terms of possession. Amber Cattell was next to have an opportunity, clean through on the right she could only drag her shot across the goal and wide of Beardsley's right-hand post. Five minutes later the same Crendon player tried her luck again, this time seeing her strike just clear the bar.
April England was having a massive effect on the game in the opening minutes. Not content with setting up Black's goal, she was at it again in the third minute. Driving down the right again, she played in Kira Ranaxha, but this time Whale was able to make a good stop. The relief for Crendon was short-lived however. With only seven minutes played Milton forced a right-wing corner. When the ball was played into the area it caused mayhem, and there was Lily Black on the spot to stab the ball home from close range. 2-0
Long Crendon were reeling but, to their credit, they dug their heels in and began to steady the ship. A couple of minutes after going two down Fin Lennard got their first strike away. It didn't trouble Grace Beardsley but at least it was a sign of the visitor's intent and, in a breathless start, they did get close to pulling one back inside ten minutes. Emma Helmer's superb through ball split the home defence but Beardsley earned her corn with a fine save from Woodward. The league-leaders were now starting to get on top in terms of possession. Amber Cattell was next to have an opportunity, clean through on the right she could only drag her shot across the goal and wide of Beardsley's right-hand post. Five minutes later the same Crendon player tried her luck again, this time seeing her strike just clear the bar.
Long Crendon pressing It began to look as if it was just a matter of time before Long Crendon got a goal back. However, they were almost undone just before the half-hour mark when a long ball from Beardsley seemed to catch out the green's defence, allowing April England a run on goal. As she was about to pull the trigger, Helmer got in a well-timed last ditch tackle to fend off the danger. Great defending.
Tara Woodward then brought the best out of Beardsley who had to go full length to make a one-handed save. However, the home keeper was left stranded five minutes before the break when Sarah Harrison's free-kick beat the wall but was also just the wrong side of the post from a Long Crendon perspective.
With the coaches readying themselves for their respective half-time chats, two minutes into added time, an off the ball incident involving Ellie Lovelock and Amy Loveridge saw the referee issue both players with a red card. Clearly no love lost between them.
HT Milton United 2 Long Crendon 0. A blistering start from the hosts. Scoring after less than a minute always helps and being two up inside 7 minutes was an unexpected bonus for them. Long Crendon recovered their composure but the recovery never quite managed to produce the goal they so needed. The double sending off, whilst keeping the numbers even, was a big blow to Long Crendon. Losing their top scorer when they needed to score twice was not an ideal situation.
Tara Woodward then brought the best out of Beardsley who had to go full length to make a one-handed save. However, the home keeper was left stranded five minutes before the break when Sarah Harrison's free-kick beat the wall but was also just the wrong side of the post from a Long Crendon perspective.
With the coaches readying themselves for their respective half-time chats, two minutes into added time, an off the ball incident involving Ellie Lovelock and Amy Loveridge saw the referee issue both players with a red card. Clearly no love lost between them.
HT Milton United 2 Long Crendon 0. A blistering start from the hosts. Scoring after less than a minute always helps and being two up inside 7 minutes was an unexpected bonus for them. Long Crendon recovered their composure but the recovery never quite managed to produce the goal they so needed. The double sending off, whilst keeping the numbers even, was a big blow to Long Crendon. Losing their top scorer when they needed to score twice was not an ideal situation.
Milton defended brilliantly The Long Crendon coaching staff kept their players out on the pitch during the break, whilst Milton retired to the changing room. It was hard to see what else Long Crendon could do apart from keep pushing as they had done for over half of the first 45 minutes, whilst being vigilant for the counter-attack.
Sure enough, the second half very quickly started to take the same shape as the latter parts of the first half. Long Crendon pushing their hosts back but Milton seemingly happy to soak up everything that was thrown at them. In fact it was three minutes before the hour before Long Crendon managed a meaningful attempt. Even then Megan Brockwell's long-range effort didn't cause too much stress for Beardsley as it scuttled wide of her right-hand post. Then, a few minutes later Milton reminded Crendon of their attacking potential when a good through ball almost got April England in again. Once more only quick reflexes from the visitor's defence ensured that they closed ranks quick enough to smother the chance. The Milton counter-attack was becoming a thing of rarity as Long Crendon continued to keep the ball inside the home half, without really putting too much strain on the Milton back-line. Emma Brockwell, pushing forward from left-back, did get another long-range effort off on 64 minutes but, once more, Beardsley was happy to watch it go wide. Then on 79 minutes the best chance of the second period fell to Amber Cattell who found herself with the ball at her feet inside the penalty area. She had to take it quickly, hoisting the shot over Beardsley's bar, but should really have at least worked the keeper. Entering the final five minutes or so, a Tara Woodward cross that was slightly mis-cued, caused Beardsley to rapidly adjust her position and tip the ball over the bar. However, that was as close as Long Crendon came to getting a goal back.
FT Milton United 2 Long Crendon 0. A tremendous, hard-earned, battling three points for Milton who spent a long time chasing the ball in this game, especially in the second half, when Long Crendon had them penned inside their own half for much of the time. In all fairness, they still have a massive amount to do should they manage to haul back the lead at the top. Even the slightest slip-up will see Long Crendon take the championship. To sum it up. Milton need to win their remaining six matches. Not only do they need to win all six but they must also overcome a 26-goal margin to better Crendon's goal difference.
Long Crendon will be able to take their minds off the title race a little next week as they face Woking in the semi-final of the Chairman's Cup. Meanwhile, Milton take on Wycombe in the first of their six games in hand.
Milton United: 1.Beardsley, 7.Barnes, 15.Taylor(c), 8.England, 12.Evans, 17.Dyer, 16.Dennis, 5.Bostock, 4.Ranaxha, 20.Loveridge, 18.Black. Subs: Wiseman, 10.Exell, 11.Stock, 14.Welch
Long Crendon: 1.Whale, 12.Finleyson, 15.Jacobs(c), 3.Helmer, 17.Lennard, 18.Harrison, 4.E.Brockwell, 2.M.Brockwell, 7.Cattell, 8.Lovelock, 9.Woodward. Subs: 5.Burden
Ground Number: Re-Visit
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Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
Sure enough, the second half very quickly started to take the same shape as the latter parts of the first half. Long Crendon pushing their hosts back but Milton seemingly happy to soak up everything that was thrown at them. In fact it was three minutes before the hour before Long Crendon managed a meaningful attempt. Even then Megan Brockwell's long-range effort didn't cause too much stress for Beardsley as it scuttled wide of her right-hand post. Then, a few minutes later Milton reminded Crendon of their attacking potential when a good through ball almost got April England in again. Once more only quick reflexes from the visitor's defence ensured that they closed ranks quick enough to smother the chance. The Milton counter-attack was becoming a thing of rarity as Long Crendon continued to keep the ball inside the home half, without really putting too much strain on the Milton back-line. Emma Brockwell, pushing forward from left-back, did get another long-range effort off on 64 minutes but, once more, Beardsley was happy to watch it go wide. Then on 79 minutes the best chance of the second period fell to Amber Cattell who found herself with the ball at her feet inside the penalty area. She had to take it quickly, hoisting the shot over Beardsley's bar, but should really have at least worked the keeper. Entering the final five minutes or so, a Tara Woodward cross that was slightly mis-cued, caused Beardsley to rapidly adjust her position and tip the ball over the bar. However, that was as close as Long Crendon came to getting a goal back.
FT Milton United 2 Long Crendon 0. A tremendous, hard-earned, battling three points for Milton who spent a long time chasing the ball in this game, especially in the second half, when Long Crendon had them penned inside their own half for much of the time. In all fairness, they still have a massive amount to do should they manage to haul back the lead at the top. Even the slightest slip-up will see Long Crendon take the championship. To sum it up. Milton need to win their remaining six matches. Not only do they need to win all six but they must also overcome a 26-goal margin to better Crendon's goal difference.
Long Crendon will be able to take their minds off the title race a little next week as they face Woking in the semi-final of the Chairman's Cup. Meanwhile, Milton take on Wycombe in the first of their six games in hand.
Milton United: 1.Beardsley, 7.Barnes, 15.Taylor(c), 8.England, 12.Evans, 17.Dyer, 16.Dennis, 5.Bostock, 4.Ranaxha, 20.Loveridge, 18.Black. Subs: Wiseman, 10.Exell, 11.Stock, 14.Welch
Long Crendon: 1.Whale, 12.Finleyson, 15.Jacobs(c), 3.Helmer, 17.Lennard, 18.Harrison, 4.E.Brockwell, 2.M.Brockwell, 7.Cattell, 8.Lovelock, 9.Woodward. Subs: 5.Burden
Ground Number: Re-Visit
Att:
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A
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