Wednesday 23rd September 2009, Milton Road, Kick-Off 7:45pm, East Anglian Counties Women’s Championship.
A single Nicola Carty strike early in the second half was enough to see Essex clinch a perfect start to the new East Anglian Women’s Championship campaign with victory over Cambridgeshire at Cambridge City FC.
“I’m as pleased as ever with the girls’ performance tonight,” declared Essex boss Kim Coster after the game, continuing: “There were a few girls playing with each other for the first time and they did really well. We played some lovely football, the great pitch helped that, and created a number of opportunities. We could have won by a greater margin that one-goal, but it was a deserved win and a good start. Hopefully we can carry it on!”
An eventually very open game started tightly, though, with much of the play in the Essex half. But the visiting County defended solidly and, as they began to open the game up, created the first real opportunity with 27 minutes played, Kayleigh Xidhas bringing a terrific save out of home ‘keeper Verity Crook, the custodian tipping a scorching effort over the top. Moments later, Crook was left stranded as debutant forward Lisa Silverton wriggled her way past the stopper, but dragged her low effort inches wide.
Dagenham & Redbridge striker Carty also saw an 18-yard volley whiz over the top before Cambridgeshire could have taken the lead on the stroke of half-time, Kayleigh Currie’s dipping shot bouncing to safety via the top of the crossbar.
It was after the break that Essex really began to make the running and duly grabbed what proved to be the winner on 53 minutes, Antonia Vassallo finding Carty with a neat pass and the Essex front-runner calmly turned and fired home inside the near post.
Essex went on to enjoy the best of the second period, but the hosts were not without their opportunities and Currie first curled an effort marginally too high before the same player latched onto a tidy Jade Bell pass before seeing her low drive well blocked by Vanessa Wilson.
Diminutive midfielder Charlotte Twydell could have doubled the Essex lead, side-footing just past the post after good work by Liane Prior, before the last real opening of the clash saw Prior herself fire over the top before her side successfully held on for an opening game victory.
Essex: Hollie Dimambro (Billericay), Antonia Vassallo (Harwich & Parkeston), Kayleigh Xidhas (West Ham United), Nicole Manning (Dagenham & Redbridge), Claire Pavett (Chelmsford City), Vanessa Wilson (Billericay), Nicola Carty (Dagenham & Redbridge), Lisa Silverton (Billericay), Charlotte Twydell (Colchester United), Laken Duchar-Clark (Colchester United), Liane Prior (Barking). Substitutes (repeated): Emma Ridings (Chelmsford City), Jamie Newstead (West Bergholt), Kiran Hare (Billericay), Leanne Topper (Chelmsford City).
Cambridgeshire: Verity Crook (Cambridge Women), Gemma Clare (Unattached), Kayleigh-Ann Burt (Cambridge United), Anna Faux (OOH Lincoln Ladies), Vicky Neal (Cambridge Women), Nicola Geoghan (Cambridge Women), Natasha Collins (Cambridge Women), Emily Ingle (Cambridge Women), Kayleigh Currie (Cambridge Women), Sophie Thompson (Cambridge Women), Jade Bell (Unattached). Substitutes (repeated): Natalie Richardson (Cambridge Women), Liz Pamplin (Cambridge Women), Lucy Du Plooy (Cambridge Women).
Referee: Mandy Hollick (Cambridge).
Assistant Referees: Gordon Millar (Fulbourn) & Jordan Marin (Bar Hill).