London City Lionesses 1-1 Reading
Report by Liberty Simons and photography by Mariella Prew at Princess Park.
Above: New Zealand international Paige Satchell on her debut for London City Lionesses yesterday. Photo: Mariella Prew for Impetus.
In what was an overall dominant display from the home side, the 1-1 draw between London City Lionesses and Reading at Princes Park was a true demonstration of the talent on display in the Barclay’s Women’s Championship.
In a contest between the newbies to the league and last season’s top dogs who fell just short of promotion, the new head coaches from both sides were able to bring the best out of their players in what is the third game of the season.
Both sides named their strongest starting XIs, with new recruits to both teams. It was a debut start from kick-off for London City’s Kiwi forward Paige Satchell, in a frontline that also contained the versatile experienced Danielle Carter and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah as well.
Likewise, Reading had strength and summer singings across the pitch, including Emily Orman between the sticks. From kick-off, London City’s aim was clear, dominate the ball and push the Royals’ defence as much as possible. They did this consistently, with Reading forced to make strong blocks and quick decisions to keep Orman untested.
Whilst in the first 10 minutes or so, the game was slightly erratic and uncontrolled, the home side were able to find their rhythm and control the game, with consistent possession of the ball. The link-up play between Satchell and her new teammates was building nicely as she gained more confidence within the team and started to test the Reading full-backs more. Any time the home side did lose possession, Reading were quick and precise in their counterattacks, bouncing on the somewhat limited opportunities they were given.
In a game of tricky and tactical midfield areas, London City relied too much upon allowing their forward line to drop back to help build up play. Whilst this sometimes paid off, other times it meant players like Carter were passing into the space she would have been operating in, and the effort was useless.
In the first half, Connie Schofield was instrumental in midfield for the home side. Involved in every phase of play and movement, she was the driving force from midfield. Whilst this did switch to Lois Joel in the second half, London City Lionesses’ ability to control the midfield and force Reading to over the top to create was their strength.
As the game progressed, Reading were called in to make key stops and blocks from across the field, which they did with ease. In the end, neither ‘keeper was overly tested, with defence from both sides keeping the ball away. Whilst in shape and solid across the pitch, Reading were disorganised and erratic in the build-up to the goal from Boye-Hlorkah. Whilst the corner itself was dealt with, the inability to clear effectively and a lack of communication meant the ball was pinned around the box by the home side before the winger slotted it home just before halftime.
In many ways, London City were incredibly dominant in the first half and nothing showed that more than Satchell’s growth throughout the game. In her 60 minutes of play, the number 13 was pushing forwards, as well as tracking back. She was creating danger down the wings and linking up with her new teammates with the ease of a player who had been at the club for more than a couple weeks.
The Football Fern was creating play from seemingly nowhere, never stopping and always forward-thinking. Likewise, for the visitors, another player who grew into the game was defender Easther Mayi Kith. Whilst she made some great blocks and kept the experienced Carter at bay, her confidence to pull ahead from her marker with the ball and contribute to building play was clear throughout, as well as her sensational balls over the midfield.
After half-time, Reading came out with a hunger that unsettled London City. Reading were pushing from the restart for the equaliser, and whilst it wouldn’t come until the dying minutes, it did highlight some of the home side’s weaknesses. In these moments, London City were left out of shape and open, with Reading able to exploit and push their opponents like they weren’t able to in the first half.
However, whilst this stayed for around 10 minutes the case, the visitors weren’t able to capitalise on London City’s disorganisation. Once the home side settled, they were fighting for a second, which they got before it was ruled offside. In a testament to Reading’s superb defensive solidity, the home side were unable to capitalise on the many attacking moments they had in the second half.
Schofield was less prominent in the second half, Captain Joel grew. Her determination and control of the midfield grew into the game, as did her skipper role. Like the first half, any Reading counterattack was snuffed out quite easily by London City. In many ways, it seemed the home side were going to be the most likely to score the second goal of the game so when Reading scored the equalising in the 90+6th minute, it was a surprise to pretty much everyone.
It was Lauren Wade with the late drama, after a quiet game. But as they say, big players will provide big moments. And nothing is quite as big as a last minute of extra time equalise to continue your unbeaten streak in a new league.
London City Lionesses will walk away from the match upset that they couldn’t hold onto the 1-0 lead in the dying minutes in a pretty uneven game. In a match where they should have pushed Orman in goal more, in relation to their dominance in the rest of the game, the home side will take the hurt into their next fixture to right wrongs.
However, the strengths of the Reading defence were the ones to stop the sustained attack of the home side and showed Reading’s intent to not just survive in their new league but to push back up again.
Teams: LONDON CITY LIONESSES: Moloney, Neville, Brougham, Joel, Schofield, Satchell, Fitzgerald, Carter, Wilde, Littlejohn, Boye-Hlorkah. Substitutes: TBC.
Scorer: Boye-Hlorkah 45’.
READING: Orman, Dugdale, Houssein, Cooper, Wade, Hendrix, Mayi Kith, Estcourt, Longhurst, Woodham, Roberts. Substitutes: TBC.
Scorer: Wade 90+6.
Referee: TBC.
Attendance: TBC.
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