FA WSL 1 match
14:00, Sunday 12 July 2015
Academy Stadium
Team: Becky Spencer, Meghan Sergeant, Jess Carter, Aoife Mannion, Kerys Harrop, Freda Ayisi (Jo Potter, 71), Remi Allen, Kirsty Linnet (Emily Westwood, 85), Jade Moore (C), Melissa Lawley, Coral Haines (Karen Carney, 45)
Subs not used: Emily Simpkins, Cheryl Edwards, Alex Windell, Cristina Torkildsen
Attendance: 2,102
(The above information is courtesy of the official Birmingham City Ladies site.)
Having not won a single game in 2015 and only picking up 3 points in their last 6 matches, the Blues’ Ladies found themselves dangerously close to the foot of the Women’s Super League.
The opposition for their first game back was Manchester City; a quality team filled with ambition to win the league title this year. Due to the increased coverage of women’s football by the recent World Cup, Manchester City had a collection of household names in their squad.
Steph Houghton, the England Captain, Lucy Bronze, Jill Scott and Toni Duggan were the standout performers at the World Cup and these were in the starting 11 to face Birmingham City; not an easy task for the young Blues’ side.
Spencer, the Birmingham City goalkeeper, had a busy afternoon as was always going to be the case. Her concentration was paramount throughout as she smothered a Harding shot after 2 minutes and then going on to save from Parris, 2 minutes from the end.
During the game, Jill Scott had a header cleared off the line before the deadlock was broken. On 55 minutes, Toni Duggan blasting a shot past the helpless Spencer to make the scoreline 1-0. It was the least that the home side deserved.
The pressure continued to mount on the Blues’ backline, and the scoreline could have been a lot greater if the Manchester City players had brought their shooting boots.
Despite this, the character that is instilled within any Birmingham City team became apparent. They dug deep and forced a couple of saves from the England goalkeeper, Karen Bardsley.
Linnet and Lawley were proving to be bright sparks; constantly triggering attacking motions, but wayward shots prevented much panic from the hosts.
The confidence has not diminished for the Birmingham City players despite such poor results recently; Karen Carney fresh from her England antics tried a lob from 30 yards which unfortunately narrowly missed.
Having such a big turnout for the games after such a positive World Cup will certainly help Women’s football in the coming months and years, and I’m sure it will have been greet with delight from the players seeing such a big crowd.
The story for the Blues’ is the same as before the World Cup, however. 1-0 defeats seem to be the story of the season which is a shame considering the attacking prowess that Birmingham City possess.
Next week the Blues’ face Arsenal; a formidable test but one that will be met head on by Birmingham Ladies. KO is 6pm at the Blues’ home ground; Solihull Moors FC next Sunday.
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