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Birmingham Ladies 1-1 Sunderland Ladies

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On Sunday 23rd August, Birmingham Ladies hosted Sunderland Ladies at Solihull Moors FC. Birmingham are dangerously close to the drop zone where as Sunderland are pushing for the title.


Birmingham City Ladies:
Alexandra Windell
Emily Westwood
Freda Ayisi
Aoife Mannion
Remi Allen
Melissa Lawley
Kerys Harrop
Karen Carney
Rebecca Spencer
Kirsty Linnett
Jessica Carter


Sunderland AFC Ladies
1. Rachael Laws
17. Abbey Joice
19. Brooke Chaplen
2. Abby Holmes
21. Victoria Williams
3. Victoria Greenwell
4. Rachel Furness
5. Stephanie Bannon
7. Keira Ramshaw
8. Kelly McDougall
9. Beth Mead



Birmingham City Ladies Substitutes
Josanne Potter
Charlie Wellings


Sunderland AFC Ladies Substitutes
10. Stephanie Roche
15. Sarah McFadden


The above information has been taken from the official Birmingham Ladies website: Source: http://www.birminghamcityladiesfc.co.uk/matchesTeamsheet/birmingham_city_ladies_v_sunderland_afc_ladies_23_august_2015_report.html#OirRP3I0MFQ7dJAr.99

As expected, the game started with Sunderland bossing proceedings. If it wasn’t for a last ditch tackle from Mannion, who has been solid all season long, then the away side would have been in front within 5 minutes.

Spencer, who was also a key figure in the Birmingham side, has been very busy this season. This game was no different. She made two superb stops in the opening twenty minutes. The first effort, she parried after the Sunderland midfielder shot from 20 yards.

She then got a touch to the header from the resulting corner. A very good goalkeeper who was keeping the Blues’ in it.

Birmingham were beginning to get a foothold into the game. Carney was really pulling the strings in the centre of midfield and her vocals were spurring the team on.

Several chances occurred around the half an hour mark. A Carney free kick fizzed across the six yard box with no definitive touch and then moments later, Carney sprayed the ball to Lawley. The usually reliable winger could only force a weak shot though.

On the 40 minute mark, the deadlock was broken. Carney was the creator. On the wing she left the fullback as though she wasn’t there and then whipped in a low cross. This was put home by Ayisi. 1-0 to the home side!

After the half time team talk, the game kicked off as it had begun. Sunderland were on top and their pressure paid. A lapse in defence led to a very simple goal for the visitors.

Joice with a simple header at the back post after an unchallenged cross found her. 1-1 after 53 minutes.

This gave the visitors the ammunition to push on. Mead, their striker, was looking very lively and could have scored a couple were it not for the brave defending of Harrop. The striker was clean through on the 70th minute mark but she missed the target completely, Let off the home side.

Spencer was having to keep alert. Despite a couple of Blues’ attacks, Sunderland were dominating. Holmes this time forced Rebecca into a save.

The Blues’ Ladies had a few chances as the final whistle approached. Carney with a dipping effort from distance was comfortably saved before a couple of last ditch tackles denied Birmingham all 3 points.

The final score was 1-1 and this leaves the Blues’ 2 points above Bristol with 3 games left to play. One of these is against Bristol which looks like it could be crucial.

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