Impetus‘ comprehensive coverage of the 2020/21 Westfield W League season is drawing large numbers of readers throughout the UK, Australia, USA, Scandinavia and France! We’re proud that, thanks to our Australian based contributors Kris Goman and Kieran Yap, and UK based Ben Gilby we have been in a position to offer reports on every game played so far and share with you exclusive photos from Sydney based matches.
Our ‘Sunday Dub’ articles each week will continue to feature all the reports, action, views and news. Look out for our Midweek Dub interviews and previews in addition.
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Above: Fran Kirby celebrates one of her four strikes at the Madejski Stadium this afternoon. Photo: @BarclaysFAWSL
Chelsea took advantage of all other FA Women’s Super League teams being on the side-lines to close the gap on Manchester United at the top of the table to three points in addition to holding a game in hand and having superior goal difference over United after a comfortable win over Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
Emma Hayes’ side went into the game with Guro Reiten back in her influential midfield spot with Beth England, Ji and Pernille Harder forming part of an astonishingly strong bench with, perhaps an eye on next Sunday’s showdown with Manchester United.
Reading had plenty of possession in the earliest of the initial exchanges before Fran Kirby began to spark the visitors into attack.
With five minutes played, Melanie Leupolz stole possession from Angharad James and played in Kirby who in turn fed Sam Kerr. The Matildas superstar could have had a shot, but laid a ball off for Kirby which the hosts cleared for a corner.
Four minutes later, Kirby showed her influence again down the left and once more found Kerr, but the Australian’s shot was not powerful enough and easily blocked.
There was a glimmer of hope for Reading just before the quarter hour mark after Reiten gave away a free kick centrally outside the box, but Fara Williams’ weak effort went well wide.
Shortly afterwards, Reading were punished after a superb solo finish from Fran Kirby. A long ball through was flicked on beautifully by Kerr into the path of Kirby who was in acres of space. The former Royal rounded Grace Moloney and hit the ball into the net with ease. It was a deserved goal for a player in dominant form.
Kirby’s magic start to the game almost led to a second goal on twenty-two minutes. Jonna Andersson charged down the left and found Kirby in acres of space but the effort came back off of the woodwork.
Seconds later there was no stopping the Chelsea hot shot. She easily won a battle against Emma Mitchell and held off the former Arsenal defender to hit a shot across Moloney for her second of the afternoon.
Just before the half-hour mark, Reading came close when James played in Tash Harding who saw Ann-Katrin Berger off her line and lofted a great effort only to see it bounce narrowly wide.
The Royals did a good job in taking the sting out of Chelsea by trying to maintain a patient passing game around the half hour mark, but the home side’s downfall was an inability to maintain that possession in an attacking sense.
An example of poor control of the ball in an attacking position by Reading almost let in Chelsea for a third goal on thirty-six minutes as Kerr broke free and looked to be in a great position to shoot, but squared for Kirby which allowed the Royals to clear.
Above: Niamh Charles had an impressive afternoon for Chelsea. Photo: @ReadingFCWomen
As the half entered its closing stages, Chelsea pressed. Andersson was found by Reiten on the left and played in a glorious curling cross towards Niamh Charles which Moloney dealt with.
Then, a glorious inch perfect ball from Sophie Ingle found Charles on the right. The former Liverpool player beat Lily Woodham and laid a pass back for Kirby in the box, but Jess Fishlock cleared.
Right on the half-time whistle, Kirby grabbed her hat-trick goal which she so richly deserved for an outstanding performance.
Fara Williams gave away a free-kick and received a yellow card for her pains. Erin Cuthbert floated the resulting set-piece to the back post to Kerr. The East Fremantle born striker lofted the ball back to Kirby who was unmarked in the six yard box and she nodded home with ease. Reading keeper Grace Moloney protested that the ball was out of play when Kerr played the cross in and received a yellow card as a result.
Fran Kirby was in on goal within three minutes of the re-start and was denied by a sensational tackle from Jess Fishlock. Moments later, Sam Kerr was agonisingly close when Erin Cuthbert found Kirby who played a lovely ball in but the Australian put her header just wide of the left hand post.
Chelsea earned a corner on fifty-two minutes after a quick counter attack. Originally, a poor clearance from Ann-Katrin Berger fell straight to Lauren Bruton, but the visitors regained possession and drove up the left wing. Kerr got in behind and earned a corner. The flag kick was met with another thumping header from Kirby for hers and Chelsea’s fourth with questionable marking once more from Reading.
Just past the hour mark, there was a flurry of danger from Reading when Angharad James pulled a decent ball back into the box but Millie Bright was able to clear. Shortly afterwards, Bruton found Tash Harding who raced through and was just denied by Berger before the assistant lifted an offside flag.
Chelsea rang the changes and two of the new arrivals were involved in their next chance with ten minutes left. Ji played in Pernille Harder who raced in but was denied by Moloney.
With six minutes to go, the visitors earned a free kick when Beth England was fouled by Deanna Cooper centrally just outside the box. Ji fired in a free-kick which Moloney seemed happy to let go wide – but it was far closer than she may have thought.
Less than a minute later, Ji had better luck with a glorious finish. Blundell played in a high ball which Jessie Fleming played towards the South Korean who let it bounce before unleashing a great shot into the far corner of the net.
Fran Kirby will quite rightly take all the headlines from a sensational individual performance. There does need to be major questions asked of Reading’s defensive structure which allowed their former star so much space amid some catastrophic marking. Chelsea will also point to a really positive performance from 21 year-old midfielder Niamh Charles who hasn’t started many games this season, but put in a great shift this afternoon.
It makes their showdown with Manchester United at Kingsmeadow next weekend even more mouth-watering. If Chelsea were to win that, it would mark a potentially decisive shift in the championship race.
Above: Amy Jackson jumps for joy after scoring for Melbourne Victory. Photo: @victorywleague.
Under a beaming summer sun and in front of a vocal and ecstatic crowd, Melbourne Victory delivered a football lesson to Melbourne City and sent out a warning to the rest of the league. After a stuttering and at time frustrating opening game, they look to have hit their stride.
The navy blue fans had plenty to cheer in the first half, they started aggressively, snapping into tackles and pressing their opposition at every opportunity. It was almost undone after a sequence of errors presented City striker Harriet Withers with an open goal, but her shot under pressure from 16 yards bobbled wide.
Despite this scare, Victory had the best of the opening exchanges and on 15 minutes they made it one-nil, the busy and tireless De Vanna received the ball from Zimmerman and threaded a perfect pass into the path of Annalie Longo, the New Zealand playmaker did not have to break stride and was able to side foot it past Micah in the City goal with a well placed first time shot.
De Vanna remained a constant threat and combined with Cooney-Cross to flash a cross just out the reach of Zimmerman in the middle and minutes later tried to lob Micah after another City turnover but hit her shot high and wide.
The second goal eventually came after Angie Beard intercepted a pass into the City midfield. The Victory captain fed De Vanna out wide and continued her run to receive the return ball hitting a shot from close range that Micah did well to save. Unfortunately for City she could not hold the ball, Melina Ayres was on the spot to tap home the rebound and she wheeled away to celebrate with the fans behind the goal.
Harriet Withers was the most dangerous player for Melbourne City, she provided them with an attacking focal point not obvious in previous games and although City had trouble maintaining possession her tenacity, pace and willingness to shoot meant that Victory could not lose focus at the back.
She provided City’s best clear chance in the first half after running onto a long ball on the right wing, driving with purpose into the box and cutting the ball back to Japanese International Kira. The shot was well saved by Garton when a goal looked certain and after some short-lived panic, Victory managed to clear.
The half ended after two more chances for Victory, Kyra Cooney-Cross and De Vanna linked up to send a dangerous ball into the box towards Zimmerman and Ayres but again Micah was well positioned to deny them. In the dying minutes before the break, De Vanna tackled and flicked a pass to the unopposed Ayres who perhaps had too much time to think about the shot and in the end hit it over the bar.
The second half continued much the same as the first, the introduction of Rhali Dobson injected more pace up front for City but they struggled to maintain possession or create from midfield despite working hard to chase and press. Victory had no such problems and on the 60th minute Melina Ayres nearly doubled her tally after receiving a Cooney-Cross pass on the edge of the box and firing against the frame.
Above: Melbourne City’s Harriet Withers on the ball in what was a desperately disappointing game for them. Photo: @melbournecity
The returning Matilda, Alex Chidiac made an almost immediate impact after coming on for City, surging in familiar style towards goal before being bundled over by De Vanna, the resulting set piece ended in a spectacular point blank Garton save from Withers after McCormick headed across goal.
City looked to have some momentum finally after that moment and Dobson came close to scoring with a long run along the left flank and shot that flashed wide of the near post, but their momentary ascendancy was killed off in spectacular fashion.
Lisa De Vanna had the ball played out to her on the right wing, with the defender racing to reach her she let it run past both of them with a delightful step over and surged toward goal. With only Tory Tumeth ahead of her she sped past the young defender and fired across Micah into the far corner. It was vintage De Vanna and a spectacular goal, the calm finish capped off a run that began deep in her own half. After some near misses in the first game, she had hit full stride to punish City.
This goal opened the floodgates with midfieler Amy Jackson exchanging passes with Ayres to glide through the defense almost unopposed and make it 4-0. It was a great run and finish but Micah was left stranded by overwhelmed and fatigued defenders.
Victory had no intention of slowing down even in conditions that required drink-breaks every 15 minutes and as added time ticked over, Catherine Zimmerman scored her first W-League goal, emphatically blasting home into an open goal after a perfect Barbieri cross found her at the far post.
Spectators could be forgiven for thinking it was all over at 5-0 but Victory had one more goal left in them, Kyra Cooney-Cross ran onto a chipped Tiffany Eliadis pass and accelerated past her marker to finish well to make it 6-0 to Melbourne Victory.
Above: So much to celebrate for Melbourne Victory. Photo: @WLeague.
Six goals, from six scorers, all coming from different styles of attacks, Jeff Hopkins would have been pleased to see six different scorers and an attacking third of the pitch working in perfect harmony. The substitutes had an impact and Angela Beard continued her form from their first game with an excellent performance at left back.
City again showed glimpses and a fully match-fit Alex Chidiac will help link the midfield and the attack but today they were a long way off Victory who looked fluid, inventive and clinical in comparison. City will get a chance for redemption in six days, it will be an engaging encounter but one set of fans will be more excited than the other.
Adelaide United recorded their first W League win of the season at Marden Sports Complex when they saw off a Perth Glory side who put in a game effort in the first half of a game played in 34c heat.
Above: Adelaide United’ Emily Condon (left) who scored the only goal of the game from the spot, holds off Perth’s Elizabeth Anton. Photo: @WLeague.
It was the Western Australians’ first game of the campaign on a weekend when some clubs were playing their third match of the season. This actually may well have benefitted new head coach Alex Epakis and his players. Given the extremely late arrival of the vast majority of coaching staff and squad which meant that around Christmas, five were still in quarantine, it has meant than some full squad training sessions have been able to take place ahead of their opening game in Adelaide.
Perth conjured up their first chance of the game with just three minutes played as Gemma Craine cut in from down the left and let fly with an effort which came back off the post.
Everything dangerous from a Perth point of view came along that left flank in the first period with Craine at the heart of everything positive that her team were producing. With eight minutes gone she played in Marianna Tabain who put an effort wide of the left hand post.
Maria Jose Rojas was the star turn for Adelaide United in the opening exchanges and after being played in by Isabel Hodgson, the Chilean turned beautifully and found Fiona Worts before Glory tidied up.
Above: Perth Glory’s Malia Steinmetz can’t stop Adelaide United’s superstar Maria Jose Rojas (left). Photo: @PerthGloryFC
Perth replied with Kat Jukic winning a free kick on the edge of the box on twelve minutes after being robustly brought down by Matilda McNamara, who received a yellow card. Tabain’s curling free kick went narrowly wide of the left hand post as Glory continued to look good coming forward. Five minutes later, Craine ran onto a through ball which forced home keeper Sian Fryer-McLaren to race off her line quickly to grab the ball.
Lily Alfeld then kept Perth in the game when she pushed over a sensational strike from Emily Condon just ahead of the first drinks break.
Once more Craine was causing real problems for Adelaide. With twenty-six minutes gone, she drove her way up the left and eased her way into the box before Fryer-McLaren denied her again. Shortly afterwards Craine had United in knots again and a great pass found Deborah-Anne de la Harpe who forced Fryer-McLaren into another save.
With eight minutes of the half to go, the tempo eased due to the conditions, but Craine was still looking sharp in getting another shot away which Fryer-McLaren held.
Lily Alfeld was called into action shortly afterwards when Condon danced through the box and hit an effort which was saved as the two sides went in 0-0 at the break.
Above: Adelaide keeper Sian Fryer-McLaren made several superb saves in the first half. Photo: @AUFCWomen
Adelaide were the more organised side at the start of the second period as Perth found it more challenging to build possession, particularly in the final third. United’s build up found Dylan Holmes who drove in a glorious effort which came back off the bar to Mallory Weber who took too long to get her effort in.
Minutes later, Maria Jose Rojas took the ball past the entire Perth defence with ease, but her shot flew over the bar.
Adelaide conjured up another effort when Marianna Tabain fouled Mallory Weber on the edge of the box. Emily Condon’s free kick landed in Glory keeper Alfeld’s arms.
Perth’s inability to make patient, accurate passes when attacking just added to the amount of pressure that Adelaide were able to build. Whilst it was apparent that the large number of new players in the Glory side were still trying to settle in and work out how to play together, there was still an argument for changing the tactics slightly to shake things up. Gemma Craine got a rare second half effort away for Perth from the right hand side of the box which Sian Fryer-McLaren had to dive to save.
With ten minutes to go, a clever run from Rojas ended with a penalty when Natasha Rigby went in with her and looked to have taken the ball first but was adjudged by referee Georgia Ghirardello that the challenge was robust enough to warrant the spot kick. Emily Condon hit the penalty into the right hand side of the goal with the ball flying through a hole in the net and Adelaide were ahead.
Craine broke clean through for Perth with four minutes left and was brought down just outside the box by Sian McLaren who was yellow carded for her efforts. Tabain’s effort was well dealt with by a diving Fryer-McLaren and that was the last chance for the visitors.
Perth Glory will be delighted by the problems that Gemma Craine caused Adelaide plus some of the work of Lily Alfeld and Marianna Tabain. Despite this, with the season so short in 2021, the Western Australian side will need to hit the ground running from now on to avoid being left behind.
Above: Adelaide United celebrate their first win of the season. Photo: @AUFCWomen
After their great effort in defeat to Canberra in their opening game, Adelaide will be delighted to get the win. They are undoubtedly a good team with some super players in Maria Jose Rojas, Mallory Weber, Emily Condon and Chelsie Dawber – if they can win the tight games regularly then they can be a real danger this season.
Above: Sydney FC celebrate keeping their 100% start to the season intact. Photo: @SydneyWFC
Sydney made the trip north up the highway to McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle for this third round W League clash.
Sydney went into the game coming off a win against cross city rivals Western Sydney Wanderers and Newcastle came off a loss to the Wanderers, both having only played one match.
Sydney lined-up in a 4-3-3 formation compared to the home side’s 5-4-1 defensive formation.
Seven minutes in, Newcastle’s Taren King got a yellow for a tackle on Princess Ibini in the centre of the park. Teresa Polias took the free kick and Ally Green moved it down the left side and crossed to Cortnee Vine who controlled and shot harmlessly wide of the top left corner.
Soon after, Polias took a corner and curled it in. Claire Coelho punched it away but Natalie Tobin gathered it up and passed out to Ibini who took a shot but it was easily blocked.
Another bad clearance, which was Newcastle’s downfall against the Wanderers, is snatched by Remy Siemsen who had a crack but the effort was blocked again by Coelho. The resulting corner was safe in Coelho’s hands. Ibini takes another decent shot after bringing the ball to the top of the box from the sideline but it too goes wide to the left.
The Jets got out of their half with Sophie Harding taking the ball down the left unchallenged after a long ball in transition. For some unknown reason, she then almost stopped when she got into the box to eventually pass across to Rhianna Pollicina who shot low and Jada Mathysson-Whyman took the ball in.
Newcastle were not allowing Sydney too much time on the ball and thus the turnovers are frequent, despite the pressure. Sunny Franco had a shot which went high over the crossbar as Newcastle started to up their own pressure.
Back at the other end, Cassidy Davis fouled Ibini and once more Ibini is the target of a yellow grade tackle. It looked more like a rugby tackle and was quite late. The continued fouls on Ibini show that the Jets aren’t letting her get any space. Polias took it and went for goal but skied her effort over the crossbar.
With four minutes to go until the break, the Jets got a free kick near the sideline. Gema Simon took it and there was a lot of heading as the ball bounced around the box before it landed at the feet of Tara Andrews who popped it past Whyman for the first goal of the match. Newcastle ahead 1-0 and it stayed that way at half time.
The second half opened with Sydney dominant from the start. Within two minutes, Cortnee Vine sent a couple of balls into the box that bounced around but eventually got to Taylor Ray at the back of the box. The 19 year-old wound up her left foot, struck it beautifully and it flew into the bottom right corner for the equaliser.
Newcastle finally got a bit of play when Sunny Franco took it down the right and crossed but Sophie Harding was ruled offside so it was all for nought.
Once more, a heavy tackle from behind by Franco on Ibini results in a free kick for Polias. She chipped it into the whirlpool but the ball was headed away safely by Newcastle. Sydney had another chance shortly afterwards when Vine brought it down the right and crosssed to Siemsen but the Jets defence stepped up and she’s offside.
Ally Green took a nice run down the left for Sydney, swerving past a few players but the cross went over Allira Toby’s head. It went back into general play around the box a number of times before landing at Rachel Lowe’s feet and she lobbed an effort over the players in front. It goes in the left side of the net past Claire Coelho’s forlorn look. 2-1 and Sydney take the lead at the 75 minute mark.
Newcastle had a chance to hit back after a bit of ping pong in the box which ended with handball by Mackenzie Hawkesby. Jets’ Gema Simon stepped up with Tara Andrews for the kick just outside the box and the chance to equalise. Andrews took it with some power towards the top left but it just skims the bar.
With four minutes stoppage time announced, Newcastle were applying all the pressure. A long ball went forward to Toby but she sent it over the crossbar before the final whistle blows.
Sydney ran out winners in what was, in the end, a pretty close match that could have gone either way. Sydney had the better possession and territory and probably the most telling statistic was balls into area which was 32 for Sydney and 12 for Newcastle.
Despite this, Sydney only had 10 Shots and Newcastle 8, and shots on target were only 3 for Sydney and 4 for Newcastle.
Newcastle certainly continue to be a threat and are no easy beats but Sydney’s class shone through in the end to take them into second place in the table with two matches in the round left to play. Cortnee Vine got player of the match.
Above: Olivia Chance brings the ball away on her Brisbane Roar debut against Canberra United. Photo: @brisbaneroar
The star studded Brisbane Roar against the in-form Canberra United had all the ingredients for a blockbuster encounter, both sides met on a windy Thursday night undefeated with Canberra on fire in front of goal and The Roar yet to concede despite their trouble finding the back of the net.
Katrina Gorry changed that unwelcome statistic when fans were still finding their seats, unleashing a rocket off one step in the third minute. She received the ball around 25 yards out and with the wind at her back, struck it into the top corner beyond the leaping Sally James in the Canberra goal.
There was very little the young goalkeeper could do to prevent it, it was perfectly hit, with very little warning or wind up. The Canberra defender closed her down but not quickly enough and there was no immediate danger until the ball left Gorry’s wand of a right boot.
With the goal in hand Brisbane looked to be in cruise control, the pressed Canberra to deny them space in the midfield and prevent them playing the ball easily out from the back. The away team responded with a few encouraging counter attacks, utilizing the pace of Paige Satchell and the craft of Michelle Heyman. Any easy scoring opportunities were denied by the experienced and miserly defence of Polkinghorne and Carroll, though Heyman did crash a shot off the woodwork with when she was able to run at the goal and was unlucky not the score.
With the wind in their back Brisbane seemed eager to test James from distance at every opportunity, Gielnik and Gorry trying their luck again and Isobel Dalton hitting the post late in the half with a shot on the turn from 20 yards.
If the first half had a pattern it was that Roar were largely playing the way they wanted and denying Canberra the chance to get into a rhythm, Gielnik looked determined to score and was only denied by confident keeping by James, once to save a well hit toe poke from the flank and again coming out to claim Mariel Hecher’s curling through ball before Gielnik could reach it.
Above: Emily Gielnik celebrated her hundredth game but couldn’t mark it with a goal. Photo: @TheRoarCorps
The second half followed much the same pattern, Brisbane dominated early possession with Gorry knitting the team together and making herself available for every possible pass. She is a delight to watch in full form, able to move her own team and the opposition around with clever movement and tight ball control. The Roar number 10 had was unlucky not to double her team’s tally with a low shot on the run denied by James.
Brisbane’s new signing, former Perth prodigy Leticia McKenna was the next to be frustrated, after an exchange of passes and decoy runs opened up some space for her, her shot was good but James was it’s equal.
Soon after, Michelle Heyman used a clever change of pace to beat Clare Polkinghorne on the right but the resulting strike from the edge of the box was well saved by Georgina Worth, the Brisbane goalkeeper had a busy night, mopping up the long balls and distributing from the back, but was rarely troubled, when her time came and Heyman hit the target, she met the challenge.
Katrina Gorry continued to torment the Canberra defence and she combined with Rosie Sutton to whip the ball across goal leaving James helpless and the defenders stranded, Emily Gielnik arrived at the far post, on cue in her 100th game and determined to score she met the ball at full pace but somehow managed to hit the cross bar from point blank range.
From the ridiculous to the sublime and from one moment of madness to another the game suddenly changed in a single moment. Grace Maher received the ball inside the centre circle, just inside her attacking half, she quickly spotted Worth off her line and with the wind in her back she hit the ball as sweetly as a ball can be hit, sailing it over the back peddling keeper and stunning the crowd, the opposition and her teammates with a probable contender for goal of the season.
Above: Grace Maher (right) celebrates her stunning equaliser for Canberra United. Photo: @WLeague.
As fatigue kicked in and the weather worsened with heavy rain joining the wind, the game opened up in the late stages with both teams trying to find the winner, Gorry had a shot saved again by Sally James after Gielnik galloped forward and played it back to her and Flannery attempted to replicate her heroics from the previous game and score a long range winner for United but the evening ended in another draw for Brisbane, another escape act by Canberra and another set of spectacular W-League highlights to start the round.
@DandalBs brings us all the news from the Swedish women’s football scene over the past weekas the weekly series moves to its regular slot of a Saturday.
First this week, we head back to reigning champions Kopparbergs/Göteborg where the club have confirmed their place in the Damallsvenskan for 2021 along with the exit of two players. First, Finnish international Emma Koivisto has left after “three wonderful years”. She has not announced a new club. Additionally, Annika Schmidt, who spent most of last season on loan to Sunnanå, has joined Houston Dash.
Vittsjö have signed Piteå’s 27 year-old Brazilian forward Fernanda da Silva on a deal for a minimum length of one season.
Above: Fernanda da Silva (right) just signed for Vittsjö. Photo: Bildbyrån via svenskalag.se
The club have also given new two year deals to Kajsa Lind and Paulina Nyström. The club have joined 20 year-old forward Beatrice Persson from Rosengård.
Guðbjörg Gunnarsdóttir, who just recently left Djurgården, has signed with Norwegian Toppserien club Arna-Bjørnar. Also leaving the club is defender Kim Sundlöv after having most of 2019 and 2020 destroyed by injuries. No new club has been announced as yet.
Rosengård have announced the signing of 24 year-old Olivia Welin, previously with Kristianstad, on a two year deal. Welin’s career has been hampered by injuries the last four years, but her new club believes in her talent.
Above: Olivia Welin (left) has left Kristianstad for Rosengård. Photo: Mathilda Ahlberg via Sydsvenskan.
They have also given a two year senior contract to U19s goal keeper Angel Mukasa gets a 2 year senior contract. Mukasa has been capped for Sweden at youth level.
NEWS IN BRIEF…
Svava Rós Gudmundsdóttir, who left Kristianstad in December has joined Girondins de Bordeaux, who are hot favourites to clinch the third French spot in next season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Jennie Nordin, the 27 year-old defender and captain of Växjö the last 3 seasons, has joined Piteå on a deal lasting for at least one season.
Örebro have signed 24 year-old American winger/forward Jessie Scarpa who spent last season at Washington Spirit where she played with recent Örebro signing Jenna Hellstrom. She had a short stint in Sweden’s D2 with Lidköping 2019.
Above: Jessie Scarpa has arrived at Örebro from Washington Spirit in the NWSL. Photo: Nerikes Allehanda.
Linköping have brought in 22 year-old Norwegian international Heidi Ellingsen has signed a two year deal with. She has spent the last two years with LSK Kvinner.
Hammarby have handed new contracts to Hanna Lundkvist and Frida Thörnqvist, Hammarby.
Impetus‘ Ben Gilby spoke to D-M Withers (D-M), Shahan Miah (SM) and Nat Brown (NB) from Bristol City Vixencast – the weekly podcast featuring all things Bristol City Women.
How did the podcast get started?
D-M: Last season (2019/20) I decided I wanted to try and make a podcast about Bristol City Women. This was back in the day when we could go to matches. Initially the podcast was called Oxtoby Revolution. For many years the atmosphere at Stoke Gifford Stadium was a bit unfriendly. I went to matches but never spoke to anyone. I thought if I had an audio recorder with me, I’d have an excuse to talk to people (in my professional life I am a life historian, and love listening to people’s stories). I was also curious about who the fans of Bristol City Women were—on some level I thought it might be helpful for the club to have a better understanding of who their audience was. So the first iteration of the podcast was composed of pitch side interviews with fans and documents our singing, and things like that. I made my partner Nat [Brown] join in and talk about football because she sounds authoritative and clever when talking about tactics (I also think she likes doing it). I am actually really pleased I captured the material, for obvious reasons: it turned out to be our last season at SGS; it also records that moment just before the pandemic disrupted life as we had known it. Football historians of the future – I accept your advance thanks (assuming these podcasts find themselves into an archive!) Through doing the podcast and general Bristol City fandom I met Shahan [Miah], who has become a dear friend and excellent collaborator. So when I decided to rebrand the podcast for the new season, he became more involved—indeed, he suggested the new name! So that’s the story of the podcast so far. My friend listened to it and said that it was a bit like a fanzine—that podcasts are like the fanzines of the present. I like that idea, as it captures that sense of making your own media, especially if you feel like your interests are not being properly represented by what’s on offer.
SM: Also, it turned out that I live relatively near D-M & Nat, so for this season, I was able to go to their house & record with them there, while maintaining social distancing. However with subsequent restrictions put in place, we now record remotely over Zoom.
Tell us a bit about all of yourselves in terms of your backgrounds – how did you all get into women’s football?
D-M: I’ve been a football fan since quite a young age, initially supporting men’s teams. I actually support Norwich City FC, the same as my Grandad. I have fond memories of going to Carrow Road with him, and to away games in and around London. I grew up near Reading and regularly went to Elm Park in my teens. I loved going to Elm Park but didn’t follow Reading when they moved to the Madejski. I started to support Bristol Academy in the first season of the Women’s Super League in 2011. It was a total revelation watching women’s football live and I’ve been hooked ever since.
NB: I’d always been a football fan, but I never had any particular club allegiance. My route into women’s football was through playing. I actually played in goal for Bristol City under 15s, 16s and a brief spell in the first team! I also started watching Bristol Academy in the first season of the Women’s Super League – I was excited to have a women’s football team I could support. I am now trying to get my coaching badges, working with a youth team in the local area.
SM: I grew up in Long Ashton, right near Ashton Gate Stadium, so I couldn’t get more local than that! I’ve been an occasional attendee for the better part of the last 15 years. My first ever women’s football match was at Ashton Gate; I saw Bristol Academy’s first UEFA Women’s Champions League game there in 2011, as me & my then-housemate were curious. Club legends Anne Heatherson & Jess Fishlock played in that game, however it was not until many years later I realised the significance that I got to see them play.
My second ever women’s football match was also at Ashton Gate, when in 2015, England played Bosnia & Herzegovina in a UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 qualifier. There were so many Lionesses past & present in that squad that I did not know of at the time. I had started to get aware of the team after hearing of how well they did in that summer’s Women’s World Cup.
It was in 2017 when I started to gain casual interest. A friend & I checked out the WSL Spring Series in 2017, where Bristol City Women (as they had become) lost all their home games. I watched all of Women’s Euro 2017 & the Women’s World Cup in 2019, and it was on the last game of the 2018/2019 WSL season that I was free to attend. Bristol City lost 2-1 to West Ham, however I had such a great time with the supporters singing & a welcoming atmosphere, that I felt encouraged to attend many more games in the subsequent season.
How do you feel links are between the men’s and women’s teams?
D-M: In Bristol? Tenuous at best. Sometimes they appear in the same marketing campaigns. More could certainly be done to foster a ‘one club’ ethos. I’m thinking shared training facilities and better investment.
Above: Ebony Salmon – another impressive set of performances for Bristol City this season. Photo: @bristolcitywfc
NB: Well, Bristol City Women is still a relatively new thing. It was Bristol Academy and maybe the connection between them is not yet as strong as could be.
SM: The team has been known as Bristol City Women for almost five years now, and owned by Bristol Sport (who run Bristol City men & Bristol Bears rugby teams), compared to Bristol Academy which for many years was independent.
I feel the links have improved, but there’s still plenty more to do. It’s great to see the women in the same media/photoshoots as the men’s team. The women have played at Ashton Gate several times, however in those games I felt the atmosphere wasn’t quite the same as it could be at Stoke Gifford, for example.
How would you sum up the podcast in terms of what an average episode is like – style, humour, regular features/catchphrases etc?
D-M: We try to keep the episodes to around thirty minutes and hopefully it’s fairly fast moving while having time for discussion. I think between us we create a nice balance between detail, humour and analysis. Occasionally there is singing, a sprinkle of surreal humour. I think the main point is we are making space to talk about Bristol City as we do get a bit overlooked in the mainstream women’s football media.
NB: Since Shahan has got on board, we’ve got a nice balance of detail and chat. He’s great at the research. D-M does an awesome job at the editing and I just say things about the football – easy!
SM: I’m inspired by other fan-based podcasts for the Bristol City men’s team, most notably One Stream in Bristol, who can combine analysis & humour. As games are still behind closed doors (at time of writing) I’m glad to have helped build the podcast, in terms of building audiences nationally (& internationally). One catchphrase we tend to use is the clip from manager Tanya Oxtoby, recorded in a training session from last season, filmed for Australia’s Optus Sport, where she yells to her team “Do you want to f*****g win on Sunday or not?”
Results wise, it’s been a tough start to the season. How have you all assessed things so far?
D-M: Oooooooooooh. There were positive signs. I am not feeling so positive now, writing after our 4-0 defeats to both Aston Villa and West Ham. Pass!
NB: I’m a positive wizard. I say something good and I see it! Gemma Evans has been doing her job fantastically. Baggers (Sophie Baggaley) is back on legendary form- I think it’s that rainbow/My Little Pony kit she now wears. We can score goals. Yana Daniels gets fouled for fun. We have a midfield this year. We get to wear the purple and lime. I could continue…
Above: Sophie Baggaley in the famous ‘My Little Pony’ goalkeeping kit. Photo: @bristolcitywfc
SM: Not gone according to plan! I was quite surprised when Tottenham & West Ham; teams above Bristol City in the table; have changed managers already this season, and yet the same set-up is still present at our club. I get the “We go again” & “It’s a marathon, not a sprint” comments made in media interviews, but there’s so many times they can be used as what feels like excuses before the club gets in real trouble.
What do you think about the move to Twerton Park – albeit not being able to have attended games there in person?
D-M: I felt really good about the move to Twerton Park when it was first announced. We have been to a few matches there, as we had media passes for the games against London Bees and Birmingham City. I really like it, as a stadium, and would be tempted to watch Bath City FC play too when it becomes possible to go to matches again. I look forward to the day when fans get to be there and get behind the team. Only then, I think, will we be able to assess whether the Twerton Park move is a success. SGS (the old Bristol stadium) was not a great place to watch football. It is out of the way and hard to get to. Twerton Park is nestled in a residential area; I feel very nostalgic about stadiums like that—it reminds me of Elm Park – Reading FC men’s old home ground I suppose. I hope the team will be able to pick up fans who live close by. Twerton Park is also near to the Bristol-Bath cycle path and, if you are so inclined, you could take in the Bath skyline walk before a match. Lovely.
NB: I’m really happy about it. The old stadium was our home, but it’s great to have the stands. Looking forward to filling the place and created some atmosphere when we can. As D-M said, we attended a couple of games- one of which was under the floodlights and a great win!
SM: I was surprised with the announcement, firstly because there was no obvious supporter consultation, and also because it would mean I’d have to travel to another city. Fans of other clubs may be used to that, but I always loved the fact that Bristol City actually played in a Bristol postcode! However, having attended with D-M & Nat with our media passes, Twerton Park feels like a nice ground, and I can’t wait to see it with fans! At time of writing, Bath is in Tier 2, however Bristol is in Tier 3, so this is why we couldn’t attend games.
Sophie Baggaley and Ebony Salmon get most of the headlines at the Vixens, but who else has been catching your eye and why?
D-M: Jemma Purfield had a really strong start to the season, offering the team much needed dynamism from the left wing-back. It’s been amazing to see Naomi Layzell break through into the first team, especially given that she’s only 16. Wow. I’ve enjoyed Emma Bissell’s performances and thought she took the goal at Reading superbly. Charlie Wellings seems to be enjoying her football this season. Yana Daniels always fights for the team. It’s great to have our Australian contingent too. The results have been disappointing, for sure, but the effort is there from all the players. Behind them all the way.
NB: Careful, or I might start on our Christmas anthem ‘The 12 days of Vixens’! The funny thing is, everyone’s been playing pretty well. I love Ella Mastrantonio and was really excited about her and Aimee Palmer playing in midfield together bringing a bit of class and muscle. Hopefully Palmer’s injury will get sorted and she can start playing again. Gemma Evans has been great, especially in the last few games. Bissell has been brilliant, as has Purfield.
SM: I’ve been really impressed with Emma Bissell since she joined over the summer. Not sure if it’s to prove what she could have done at her former club Manchester City, but I’m loving it! Nice to see more of Chloe Logarzo, as she only played a couple of games last season before last season abruptly ended. She seems to be the first choice penalty taker now, and she’s successful at it!
Above: Emma Bissell in action for Bristol City. Photo: @bristolcitywfc
Bristol have had a really strong presence in the top tier of the women’s game for a number of years – over the short-term what are the Vixens’ aims on and off the pitch do you think?
D-M: To be honest, I really don’t know what the strategy is for the team, in the short or the long term. I’d love to know. I think we all felt encouraged by the appointment of [head of women’s football] Lee Billiard in the summer and we had hoped it could be the start of a bit more dialogue and exchange between the club and its fans—we haven’t had that for a long time. That hasn’t exactly happened, but there are reasons for that, not least a global pandemic! I am confident we can build some good relations in the future. I am weary of the refrain that “we don’t have as much as other clubs, we’re run on a developmental basis, etc etc” even if that’s true. What this means is practice is we will lose, or it’s always an uphill struggle, with the incline getting fiercer all the time. In the past few years it’s obvious that we are being left behind when compared with the business strategies pursued by most teams at the top level of the women’s game (big up to Lewes FC for doing things differently!) It would help if the Lansdown family [owners of Bristol Sport] could spread their risk a bit more in our direction. We might then be able to make a short – or even, gasp—a long term plan.
NB: Surely we need to thinking more than ‘let’s not get relegated’
SM: To invest more in the right quality of players & coaching, have all our injured players come back when ready, and to get on a winning run. Come on you Vixens!
We recommend giving Bristol City Vixencast a listen. All the links you need are below:
@DandalBs brings us all the news from the Swedish women’s football scene over the past week, starting with the incredible goings on at reigning Damallsvenskan champions Kopparbergs/Göteborg.
Above: It has been a dramatic week for Kopparbergs/Göteborg – shown here celebrating their Damallsvenskan triumph at the end of the 2020 season. Photo: @goteborgsfc
The big news in Sweden over the past week has been the shocking goings on in Göteborg where, at the start of last week, reigning Damallsvenskan champions Kopparbergs/Göteborg were closed down with immediate effect – only for the decision to be reversed two days later after news came in of potential new investment under a new banner.
The original decision to close the club down appears to have been taken by the board after their defeat by Manchester City in the last thirty-two of the UEFA Women’s Champions League on 17th December with the players and coaching staff not informed until 29th December.
Kopparbergs/Göteborg chairman Peter Bronsman believed that without more money it is unrealistic for Swedish club sides to compete in Europe again.
Since the club were first formed in 2003, the large men’s teams in the city of Göteborg – IFK Göteborg, GAIS and BK Häcken have all formed women’s sides and there are pointers that the people behind Kopparbergs/Göteborg believe that BK Häcken could take up the baton seriously within the city now. Bronsman told Sport Bladet “You need to give women the same facilities and staff as the men. It cannot be done in a women’s (only) club. We’re moving out of the way for the women’s teams that are developing in the big Göteborg men’s clubs.”
Major club sponsor Prioritet Finans’s CEO Nils Wiberg who had put almost 4,000,000 kroner into the club announced his real “shock” at the original news. “I have no idea what was behind the decision,” he told Fotboll Skanalen, “I am as choked and surprised as everyone else. We really needed this team. This (news) is just embarrassing”.
Above: Kopparbergs/Göteborg hope to have more to celebrate in 2021 now – although the name of the club may potentially change. Photo: @goteborgsfc
The players were told to find new clubs. Elin Rubensson a Kopparbergs/Göteborg star who has sixty-nine caps for Sweden showed her shock at the news by telling Göteborgs-Posten: “Right now, we’re just choked and sad. I hope someone can step in to save the club.” In the meantime though, Göteborg coaches, Jörgen Ericson and Mats Gren have pledged to keep going with training sessions throughout January.
Carl Fhager, the lawyer with the job to liquidate Kopparbergs/Göteborg’s senior team, sees two ways to go about that job; find new clubs for the players or find someone who is willing to take over the team.
It appears that a potential link up with BK Häcken may behind news on New Year’s Eve that the club’s senior team is set to be saved and take their place in the Damsallsvenskan in 2021 after all.
The Expressen first broke the news by suggesting that coach Mats Gren had contacted players to tell them “it will be alright”.
Then came the club’s announcement that they “did not expect the big, overwhelming and positive interest from individuals, businesses and football clubs.” Additionally, Göteborgs-Posten reported on New Year’s Eve that the club “will stay in Damallsvenskan in close co-operation with an established club” – and that established club is hotly rumoured to be BK Häcken.
Whatever banner the senior team plays under if 2021, at the present time, it appears that the Kopparbergs/Goteborg name will stay in existence via its U17 and U19 teams in existence.
IN OTHER NEWS…
Örebro have signed experienced 27 year-old defender Sanna Kullberg from relegated Umeå on a one year deal. Sanna’s elder sister Emma played for Örebro 2019, before she moved to Göteborg. Also at Örebro, the club have handed 16 year-old Emilia Pelgander a two year contract with the first team.
Above: Shannon Woeller, newly signed by Växjö. Photo: svensklag.se
Växjö have signed Canadian international defender Shannon Woeller. She most recently played for Valencia in the Spanish league. Woeller has previously played Damallsvenskan football for Eskilstuna in 2018-19. The 30 year-old has signed a one year contract with an option for a second. The club have also given a new two year contract to goalkeeper Katie Fraine, one of the keys to their successful 2020 season.
It has been a case of one in and one out at Umeå. First, Fanny Hjelm Rönnlund, a key player in the last few seasons has left for Hammarby where the 29 year-old midfielder has signed a two year contract. Coming into the club in her place is Piteå’s teenage talent Vilma Koivisto The midfielder had 18 appearances 2020, but mostly as a substitute, and wants more playing time.
Vittsjö‘s midfield talent Michelle De Jongh has moved to Fleury, a midtable French team, on a five month loan. De Jongh has extensive experience from Sweden youth teams but remains to be capped for the full national team. Coming into the club is 18 year-old talent Moa Karlsson from Halmstad BK, a D3 team. The promising midfielder has played five matches for Sweden’s U17 side.
Above: Michelle De Jongh leaving Vittsjö for Fleury in D1 Arkema. Photo: Stefan Sandström/Norra Skåne.
Djurgården have announced the departure of two players depart in the past week. First, Icelandic international goalkeeper Gudbjörg Gunnarsdottir announced on New Year’s Eve that she is looking for a new club after nine seasons. Also leaving the club is 24 year-old Frida Boriero who has signed for Brommapojkarna, an Elitettan (D2) side.
NEWS IN BRIEF…
Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir has joined Kristianstad on a one year loan from VfL Wolfsburg.
Promising 18 year-old midfielder Felicia Saving leaves Hammarby for EskilstunaUnited. Saving has been capped for Sweden at youth level.
Above: New Eskilstuna United signing Felicia Saving. Photo: @EskilstunUnited
Zecira Musovic, who has moved to Chelsea has been replaced at Rosengard by Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé who comes in from North Carolina Courage in the NWSL but has also played in the Damallsvenskan previously.
Former Piteå defender Sejde Abrahamsson has signed with the Spanish premier side Seville, where Piteå teammate Julia Karlernäs joined a couple of weeks ago.
Brisbane Roar’s visit to Melbourne Victory had much to excite fans and neutrals alike. The Queensland side boasted the most concentrated group of Matildas in the league, in Gorry, Yallop, Gielnik and Polkinghorne while Melbourne’s fans were excited by the returns of Lisa De Vanna and Kyra Cooney-Cross with Angie Beard captaining the side for the first time.
Above: It was a tight battle at CB Reserve between Victory and the Roar. Photo: @VictoryWLeague
The match at CB Smith Reserve began at a fast pace, De Vanna almost immediately raced at the Brisbane defence and Victory launched a wave of three early attacks for no reward, Melina Ayres had the clearest opportunity but her cleanly hit strike from the edge of the box did not trouble Georgina Worth in the Brisbane goal.
Both sides had seemingly set out to press each other and deny time on the ball, both chances became scarce but Mariel Hecher managed to forge herself an opportunity, skillfully creating space for herself only to shoot over the bar.
Temka Yallop, Isobel Dalton and Katrina Gorry all had shots on goal but Gabriella Garton was well positioned to deny each of them. The new Victory keeper has big boots to fill this season, her predecessor Casey Dumont was a fan favorite and a huge part of Melbourne’s success, but based on this match, Garton looks comfortably up to the task.
The biggest event of the first half was not one to celebrate, twenty-five minutes in, on her Victory debut Natalie Tathem crumpled to the turf under no physical contact and the versatile and experienced recruit was stretchered off in obvious pain, hopefully she can recover as speedily as possible.
The physicality continued after the injury break with both sides trying to force each other into errors, Kyra Cooney-Cross embarked on a long run through the middle of the park, launching a counter attack that ended with her shooting just wide after the ball bounced back to her 20 yards from goal.
Victory’s and perhaps the game’s best opportunity up until half time came when Lisa De Vanna latched onto a long ball and found herself one-on-one against Worth, the Matilda’s all time leading scorer would have expected have made it 1-0 from that position but her left footed toe poke was under hit and directed straight at the keeper.
The second half continued in much the same fashion as the first, neither midfield could find their forwards in space and the early stages of the half presented another chance for Ayres but her shot was under pressure and Worth saved comfortably.
The game began to open up after the 70th minute, Victory substitute Annalie Longo made an immediate impact, her experience, control and movement helping the side find cohesiveness that it had struggled for up until that point and Matildas attacker Emily Gielnik drove into the penalty area and struck well only for Garton to tip the ball onto the cross bar with the faintest of reflex touches.
Above: Brisbane Roar’s Isobel Dalton (right) in a battle for possession. Photo: @VictoryWLeague.
Angie Beard surged down the left flank after incepting a Roar attack and found Longo in the penalty area with the goal at her mercy but the New Zealand international blazed over to her own frustration. Moments later Gielnik ran again into the area from the flank and her hard low shot flashed wide at the near post.
Katrina Gorry’s well struck shot looked dangerous off the boot but sailed wide and Victory’s best late chances game from corner kicks, Cooney-Cross’s attempted Olympico challenged Worth but did not beat her, it would have made a spectacular goal.
Worth had the last meaningful contribution of the game when she stood under a dangerous looking high corner kick and held onto it at the second attempt, seconds later the final whistle blew and the afternoon had ended in stalemate.
Given the names on the team sheets it is surprising that nobody could find the back of the net, but the defending on display was excellent throughout and any chances came under pressure or were thwarted by excellent keeping.
Roar have now gone two games without scoring but are creating plenty of opportunities and it is only a matter of time before the score lines reflect their ability. Victory had to replace Laura Brock, Casey Dumont, Jenna McCormick and Natasha Dowie in the off-season. This massive task appears to have been accomplished and they seem to have forged a strong new squad.
The new signings seemed to gel well even thought some sharpness was lacking, De Vanna looked in good touch especially for somebody who has not played for much of 2020, the familiar change of pace and ball control has not diminished and new attacker Catherine Zimmerman looked comfortable stepping up from Calder United in the NPLW.
In the end a draw seemed a fair result, a late winner was possible for both teams but neither defense deserved to concede. Both sets of fans have much to be excited about the rest of the season and for most the disappointment will not come from the result but for Natalie Tathem, we all look forward to seeing her on the field again.
