Impetus editor Ben Gilby spent #WomensFootballWeekend at Kingsmeadow where Barclays FA Women’s Super League leaders hosted newly promoted Manchester United. Here’s his story of the match in words and photos.
Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United
Chelsea stayed top of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League with a hard fought victory over a stubborn Manchester United side at a sold out Kingsmeadow, which recorded the highest ever crowd for a women’s match not played at a parent men’s club stadium.
The match, settled by a penalty from Maren Mjelde, twenty minutes into the second half, proved to be a lesson for United on what happens if you don’t convert the chances you make. Failure to do so makes it nigh on impossible to compete with the very best in the WSL.
On a sunny afternoon which was slightly milder than recent days, it was Chelsea who earned the first opportunity which saw Magdalena Eriksson fire a shot high wide and not so handsome. Despite this, it was United who had much of the possession and territory. Lauren James was particularly prominent in this period with her speed and strength on the ball proving a read headache for the Chelsea defence. The fact that James only turned eighteen in September is absolutely frightening. She has a huge future ahead of her, and should be a Lioness regular before long.
Also impressive for United was Leah Galton who also did her international hopes no harm. She was put in by Jackie Groenen but Eriksson blocked the chance. Groenen was denied by Ann-Katrin Berger shortly afterwards. Another opportunity for the Red Devils went begging when James closed in on goal, but Berger came out bravely to dive at the United star’s feet, receiving a knock to the head in the process. This was the key part of the game which would come back to haunt Casey Stoney’s side. Had they converted just one of these chances, the game could well have run a different course. As it was, the teams went in at half-time goalless.
After the break, Chelsea slowly forced their way into the game. The first opportunity fell to Erin Cuthbert, who was unusually quiet. The Scottish star hit a half-volley which failed to bother Mary Earps in the United goal.
The introduction of Fran Kirby sparked the home side further. Played through, her attempt to reach the ball was curtailed by Millie Turner’s tackle. The large body of travelling supporters felt that Turner took the ball before the player and, indeed a number of officials would have signalled a corner, but referee Jack Packman had other ideas and pointed to the spot. Up stepped Maren Mjelde and she fired her effort to Earps’ right. The England international goalkeeper managed to get a hand to it, but Mjelde’s shot had sufficient power to creep in.
Kirby’s influence saw Beth England become more prominent, and the striker, who scored the Lionesses’ first goal in snow bound Ceske Budejovice the previous Tuesday will consider herself unlucky not to have added to Chelsea’s lead on two occasions when her efforts were blocked.
The visitors conjured up one final chance, and how they contrived to miss it must still haunt them over twenty-four hours later. Jess Sigsworth’s cross found Abi Toone, and her volley looked destined to go in, only for Berger to tip it onto the bar. The drama wasn’t over though – as the ball rebounded off of the bar, it hit Berger and had to be desperately cleared by Millie Bright when it could so easily have gone in.
Chelsea held on in the closing period with a thoroughly professional run of play. Emma Hayes’ team showed determination and that bit of extra quality when it was needed. Manchester United will learn lessons from this game and, long term will be all the better for it.
TEAMS:
CHELSEA: Ann-Katrin Berger, Maren Mjelde, Millie Bright, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson, Erin Cuthbert, Sophie Ingle, Ji So-Yun, Ramona Bachmann, Beth England, Guro Reiten. Subs: Carly Telford (GK), Hannah Blundell, Deanna Cooper, Jess Carter (for Ji), Drew Spence (for Bachmann), Fran Kirby (for Reiten).
Scorer Mjelde (pen) 65
MANCHESTER UNITED: Mary Earps, Amy Turner, Abbie McManus, Millie Turner, Martha Harris, Hayley Ladd, Katie Zelem Jackie Groenen, Kirsty Hanson, Lauren James, Leah Galton. Substitutes: Mikalsen, Okvist, Arnot, Smith, Ella Toone (for Zelem), Jane Ross (for James), Jess Sigsworth (for Galton).
Referee: Jack Packman
Attendance: 4,790
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