ENFIELD TOWN LADIES F.C.
SOUTH EAST COMBINATION
SUNDAY 25/04/2010
ENFIELD TOWN 3 IPSWICH TOWN 2
Enfield Town Ladies ended their league campaign with a 3-2 home victory from behind over Ipswich Town. Amy Howlett in the first half and Rebecca Hawkins after the break put Ipswich 2-0 before Sara Sinclair, Emma Thomas levelled the scores and Fran Boggi scored the winner in added time. Enfield Town manager John Abbott said “It wasn’t our best performance of the season and we struggled to get going which made it difficult for us but we dug in and battled back and with the luck finally going in our direction we came out on top.” Enfield are second in the table with Norwich needing to win their last two games to deny Enfield the runners up position.
Enfield were almost gifted the lead in the very first minute as an Emma Thomas corner kick caused confusion on the near post before the ball was hacked clear with Kerrie Marlborough trying to ram it home. A huge clearance by visiting keeper Laura Bird was allowed to bounce by the Enfield defence and Amy Howlett raced through to take advantage and slot the ball past the oncoming Jo Ayre. 0-1 (4 min)
Bird did well to snatch a near post corner off the head of Beth Lovell as Enfield tried to force a quick equaliser. Howlett sprinted away down the right and with two other Ipswich players in attendance she decided to cut in and shoot but her effort was straight to Ayre. Thomas put in a diagonal cross that looked to be heading for Bird but a defender took the ball away from her and allowed Sara Sinclair a snap shot that went wide of the unguarded net. Sasha Diston saw plenty of space in front of her but hesitated before freeing Danielle Bitten who wasted the opportunity with a poor pass to Ayre. Thomas tried her luck from long range but Bird was able to just watch it go wide. Melissa De La Fuente cut out a pass in defence and passed to Thomas who threaded a pass through the visiting defence into the path of Sinclair but Bird was quick off her line to smother the ball.
Ipswich again almost gifted Enfield a goal in the opening minute of the second half with a poor clearance to Sinclair who lifted the ball over the keeper and although it looked like it was going to bounce into the net Nicola Carty helped it in but was correctly flagged off side. Fran Boggi came alive after the break and a burst into the area was followed with a cross too close to Bird. Amanda Everett took the ball into the home area but a superb tackle by Sheree Oliver won the ball cleanly. Rebecca Laporte sent Thomas in but Thomas shot narrowly past the far post. Everett made the line and pulled the ball back and with it being missed by Forwards and defenders it arrived with Rebecca Hawkins at the far post who kept her cool and slotted home. 0-2 (55 min)
A Thomas cross was dropped by Bird but Beth Lovell couldn’t react in time and conceded a goal kick. Boggi received a pass out wide and knocked the ball in to Sinclair who took aim and let fly leaving Bird rooted to her line as the ball flew in. 1-2 (64 min)
Boggi again reached the line and cut the ball back only for a great interception by Rebecca Vaughan to concede a corner as players lined up in the middle for it. Marlborough and Lovell both managed to head a Thomas corner as it went across the area without being able to put it on target. Enfield were awarded a free kick to the left of the area and Thomas struck it towards the far post through a congested penalty area and although Marlborough tried to get her head to it, it went directly in. 2-2 (67 min)
Alisha Pugh almost got Howlett free in the area but Enfield sub Beth Demery did well to just force the forward away from goal. A powerful defensive header by Sheree Oliver dropped to Laporte who turned and shot wide. Howlett looked to have got in but Oliver managed to get across in front of her to let the ball run to Ayre. A free kick by Ipswich went just over the bar but Enfield were furious when the referee awarded a corner but kept their composer long enough to clear it. Howlett was in an offside position but had the intelligence to let the ball go and a team mate race on to it but Everett wasted it by shooting weakly to Jo Ayre.
Enfield were now throwing everything forward and Laporte laid a glorious chance on a plate for Carty but Carty failed to keep her shot down and it cleared the bar. Boggi set up Thomas and although her shot was going well wide Bird still touched it to give away a corner. A Thomas cross was coolly headed back to her own keeper by Lindsey Smith and then time seemed to be running out before a poor clearance dropped to Boggi on the edge of the area and Boggi fired it through the crowded area past Lovell who was in an off side position but Lovell never moved for it and it nestled in side the far post. 3-2 (90 min).
Enfield Town M.O.M. was Sheree Oliver who was having a good game in midfield before stepping back and player very well in defence.
Enfield Town Team; Ayre, Oliver, De La Fuente (Demery), Hughes, Marlborough © (Mabey), Boggi, Thomas, Lovell, Carty (McNeil), Laporte, Sinclair. Unused Sub; Panayiotou.
Ipswich Town Team; Bird (Davies), Diston, Turner, Bitten, Smith, Pugh, Vaughan, Rex (Stephens), Hawkins, Howlett, Everett.
Enfield Town have their final game of the season which is the Isthmian Women’s Cup final against Eastbourne Town at the home of Tonbridbe Angels F.C. on May 5th with a 7.30 kick off. Eastbourne Town play in the South East Counties Woman’s Football League Division 1 West and are 3rd in the table.
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