Super League Sunday

Impetus editor Ben Gilby reviews two of yesterday’s top Barclays FA Women’s Super League games.

Arsenal 4-0 Brighton and Hove Albion

Arsenal maintained their 100% start to their Barclays FA Women’s Super League defence with a comfortable win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Brighton with all behind the ball in opening period, with a very tight midfield line forcing Arsenal to play across them, but making it very difficult to make much of any time on the ball the Seagulls got. The first chance fell the home side’s way – Evans crossed the ball, but Miedema couldn’t make contact. A minute later, a delightful run by Jen Beattie found Vivianne Miedema. Her pinpoint perfect through ball found Kim Little who waited for Brighton keeper Megan Walsh to commit herself before firing the Gunners ahead after nine minutes. It was all Arsenal as Brighton struggled to keep hold of any possession that they did have. The reigning champions came close on the half hour mark when Little’s corner was met by a thumping Leah Williamson header, which went narrowly wide. Matilde Lundorf offered Brighton’s best threat from right-back with her glorious cross field ball to Kayleigh Green was adjudged to be offside. Shortly afterwards Green had Brighton’s first shot on target, which was comfortably held by Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. Arsenal doubled their advantage from a beautiful lay off from Jordan Nobbs, which found Vivianne Miedema who hit a powerful shot home after thirty-nine minutes from an acute angle. It remained 2-0 at the break.

Brighton had more to offer in the opening ten minutes of the second half, and thanks to two Arsenal errors, earned two rare appearances in the hosts penalty area, but indecisiveness allowed the Gunners to clear the danger. The Sussex side were made to pay for this profligacy on fifty-six minutes when the Dutch destroyer Miedema put through her international team-mate Danielle van de Donk to end the game as a contest. It became with twenty minutes left when Jordan Nobbs celebrated her return to the England squad by hitting a shot from the edge of the area which squirmed under Walsh. The Seagulls crafted another opportunity when Ellie Brazil’s cross found the excellent Lundorf Skovsen, but her shot trickled wide. There was one final chance for Arsenal to add to their tally when substitute Jordan Nobbs squared the ball to Beth Mead whose rasping shot from the edge of the area cannoned back off the bar.

Brighton & Hove Albion are due huge plaudits for their effort and work-rate, but it was the superior quality in depth and ability to make opportunities count that ensured that Arsenal gained the result.

TEAMS: ARSENAL: Peyraud-Magnin, Maier, Schnaderbeck, Beattie, McCabe, Williamson, Little, Nobbs, Evans, Miedema, van der Donk. Substitutes: Zinsberger (GK), Mitchell, Walti, Roord, Mead.

Scorers: Little 9, Miedema 39, van der Donk 56, Nobbs 70.

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION: Walsh, Simpkins, Whelan, Bowman, Gibbons, Williams, Lundorf Skovsen, Connolly, Brazil, Green, Whelan. Substitutes: Barton, Umotong, Nilden, Harris (GK), Kerkdijk, Le Tissier, Le Garrec

Attendance: 1,607.

West Ham United 0–2 Tottenham Hotspur

In front of the 24,790, the second highest crowd to watch a women’s club game in England, West Ham fell victim to an impressive backs-to-the-wall performance from newly promoted Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium.

Spurs started confidently and crucially controlled the midfield area. This momentum led to their first chance on the Hammers goal, when Rosanna Ayane was played in and her thumping drive from the edge of the area went narrowly over the bar. West Ham’s opening shot on goal didn’t come until the seventeenth minute when Kate Longhurst’s effort went straight into Spurs keeper Rebecca Spencer’s midriff. Longhurst had another opportunity shortly afterwards but, rather than attempting a shot from just outside the six yard box, her attempted ball back to Martha Thomas was easily dealt with by the Spurs defence. Into the second quarter of the encounter there was a notable shift in momentum, but any hope of West Ham making their possession count was impeded by the increased use of the referees whistle as the free kick tally for both sides mounted. Spurs who almost took the lead just after the half-hour mark when Rianna Dean narrowly failed to connect with Ayane’s fierce cross-shot. Shortly afterwards, the two combined again with a different outcome. Another superb cross from Rosanna Ayane saw Dean rise between two home defenders to send a magnificent header flying past Courtney Brosnan in the West Ham goal for Spurs to take the lead. Despite West Ham looking lively in the final stages of the half, it was Tottenham who went in 1-0 up at the break.

West Ham started the second half on the front foot and earned back to back corners. Martha Thomas had a shot which Spencer parried. A follow up shot went wide. Still the Hammers pressed and Alisha Lehmann’s pacy cross was met by Adriana Leon’s header which failed to hit the target. Spurs were penned back to the extent that it took twenty-seven minutes to get their first chance of the half, Hannah Godfrey’s header went wide. The East Londoners hit back when young Australian starlet Jacynta Galabadaarachchi played in Kenza Dali whose mazy run ended with a shot which failed to hit the target. Martha Thomas missed a guilt edged opportunity when, with a goal gaping, she managed to side foot Cecile Redisch Kvamme’s cross wide of the target when it appeared easier to score. Tottenham punished West Ham’s inability to turn dominance into goals when, with seven minutes left, they clinched victory with a second goal. A free-kick far out on the left was simply not dealt with by the home defence, and the ball found its way to Lucy Quinn who gleefully fired home. Thomas has one further chance for West Ham, when her header was held by Spencer

This was a huge result for Tottenham who will take so much from this victory. They were outplayed for the vast majority of the second half, but held their discipline, rode their luck and took the chances that came their way. For West Ham, this was agony and undoubtedly the one that got away.

TEAMS: WEST HAM UNITED: Brosnan, Redisch Kvamme, Flaherty, Vetterlein, Baunach, Middag, Cho, Longhurst, Leon, Thomas, Lehmann. Substitutes: Moorhouse (GK), Simon, Hendrix, Kiernan, Galabadaarachchi, Dali.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: Spencer, Percival, Godfrey, Filbey, Worm, Peplow, Green, Furness, Ayane, Dean, Graham. Substitutes: Morgan (GK), Mclean, Haines, Wynne, Addison, Quinn, Neville.

Scorers: Dean 36, Quinn 83.

Attendance: 24,790.

Ben Gilby is the editor of Impetus. He has over fifteen years experience in voluntary media officer roles within the sports of Football and Rugby Union, has appeared on BBC Radio Cornwall and BBC Radio Norfolk sports shows several times and published the book ‘The Game: Tales From A Season Travelling Around The Rugby Union Grounds of South-East England’.

In My View

by Ben Gilby based on the tweets of Daisy Wildsmith

This week, we review at the action of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League pair of Liverpool v Manchester clashes.

Manchester United v Liverpool

Why is Rinsola Babajide always on her own at the front? It was the same last season. I’d hoped she’d have been picked up by one of the top three in the transfer window, because with the right team, she will soar! All Babajide’s hard work just wasted by other players time & time again. Half of them can’t keep up with her, those who do don’t gel with her to make the most of the opportunities she creates.

During the first half yesterday, there simply seemed to be not enough co-ordination between the Liverpool players in front of goal, and no power on their shots. Consequently, it was only a matter of time before United scored.

The opening period of the second half saw Liverpool produce a really strong defensively performance allied with a couple of fantastic saves from Anke Preuss. Eventually though, United’s superior threat told. For United’s opening goal I think Lauren James was aided by the pitch. I suggest that Sophie Bradley-Auckland would have gotten to that if she weren’t playing on ice! The clincher came for the home side towards the end when Katie Zelem succeeded against Anke Preuss from the spot.

The result was inevitable really. Liverpool were strong in defence, but never posed a real threat on the attack. Rinsola Babajide the supernova sniper unsupported by her team mates which wasted the chances she created in the first half.

The allegations after the game of chants by Manchester United supporters directed to Liverpool about the Hillsborough disaster is a disgrace. If people know who was responsible, then rat them out. Don’t be complacent. They’ll bring the reputation of the squad and its fan base down. In my opinion, Casey Stoney as manager, should release a statement distancing herself and the club from this kind of behaviour. Even if the allegations are unfounded. Something about how they would never condone that behaviour and will co-operate  fully with the investigation and hope that they find such serious allegations to not be true. Otherwise, those responsible will get the message that crossing the line is accepted and condoned by the club and its management.

Everton v Manchester City

Another wet day at Haig Avenue, which caused the players having to be mindful of the small quagmire on the edge of the box at Everton’s end. Somebody really should have put some cones out! Everton had an early opportunity with a beautiful warning shot which, if lower would’ve gone in. The Merseysiders’ start confirmed my feeling that they look much stronger and organised than they did last season. Despite this, it was City who took the lead, with a typical Steph Houghton free kick from the edge of the box. The England stalwart didn’t have a monopoly on efforts from this range as Everton’s Chloe Kelly fired several long range rockets. If only there was better accuracy or team mates in the box to pass to it could be more promising still for Everton. City were definitely the stronger side in this first half though.

Another goal from City felt inevitable, but try as they might it just didn’t come. Everton had a further chance when, after Jill Scott felled Kelly. She picked herself up and aimed her free kick uncharacteristically straight at the feet of City’s defensive wall. Other entertainment came from the feed via the FA Player which, at times lurched from being all faded which make me feel like I was watching it in the 1970’s. This later shifted to a nice orange tinge – progressing the footage a decade further forward to the 1980’s.

Daisy Wildsmith is a regular contributor to Impetus and is a women’s football fan based in the West Midlands.

Exceptional Älvsjö: The Background to the Unlikliest of Champions

by Ben Gilby

In this two part feature, Impetus editor Ben Gilby tells the story of women’s football club from one of the tiniest towns imaginable, and how they became Swedish and European heavyweights. The opening piece sets the scene on the town and what the team achieved.

When it comes to women’s football teams punching above their apparent weight, arguably none have done it more successfully than Älvsjö AIK FF Dam.

Based in a small suburban town with a population of just 1,530 people, Älvsjö (pronounced Elves-Her) is situated 8.5 miles south-west of Stockholm and, other than its incredible women’s football team, it is famous for being the location of Stockholmsmässan (The Stockholm International Fair), northern Europe’s biggest trade fair facility, which hosted the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest, the first to be held in Sweden due to ABBA’s famous win the previous year thanks to their song ‘Waterloo’.

Above: The main square in Älvsjö. Photo: Ben Gilby

Despite these heady achievements, and the presence of a large railway station on the main commuter line network which links central Stockholm with the historic university city of Uppsala almost fifty miles away, Älvsjö remains a very quiet, peaceful and unassuming little town. The modern central square is surrounded by small, local shops, a fountain and a café which serves as a venue to promote the Swedish lifestyle choice of fika. Fika is a state of mind which encapsulates the Swedish way of living whereby work/life balance is at the centre of everything the country’s inhabitants do. Even the busiest office stops and makes time for fika – the part of day where plenty of time is devoted to coffee and a bite to eat (usually cake or kanelbullar – Swedish style Cinnamon Buns) and a chat with friends or colleagues.  Except in Älvsjö it’s not just coffee and kanelbullar that the tiny local population made sure they fit in, it’s getting out, playing football and honing their skill with such dedication that they became the nation’s top team.

For five seasons in a row – from 1995-1999 (football in Sweden is played generally between March and October in one calendar year to avoid playing during the harsh winters), Älvsjö AIK FF Dam, based at the Älvsjö Idrottsparken (Älvsjö athletics ground) took the Swedish Damallvenskan top flight by storm and won the title each year in this period. That a side based in a tiny location with barely 1,500 inhabitants were dominating big city teams in a nation who have always been one of the strongest in the world of women’s football was just incredible.

Above: Älvsjö Idrottsparken – the club’s home ground. Photo: Älvsjö AIK FF

As the twenty-first century began, those at Älvsjö AIK FF Dam began to realise, as many small clubs with less than perfect facilities do, the situation was not going to be sustainable. Across in Stockholm, the women’s side of one of Sweden’s top men’s teams, Djurgården IF (DIF) wanted to further the progress of their own female team. The 1980s had seen Djurgården promoted to the Damallsvenskan for the first time only to be relegated in 1992. It took them four years to regain their place in the top division. With DIF still not quite established as a long term member of the highest league, and UEFA about to launch its first pan European club competition for the top women’s club sides, it was decided that Stockholm needed a strong presence in the women’s game. In a move that was seen to be in the best long term interests of both teams, Älvsjö AIK FF and Djurgården IF merged, with the two clubs owning 49% and 51% of the joined entity respectively.

The merger was a huge success on the pitch with Djurgården/Älvsjö, consisting from players taken from the squads of both the original standalone clubs, winning the Damallsvenskan in 2003 and 2004, the Swedish Cup in 2004 and 2005 and finishing as Damallsvenskan runners-up in both 2006 and 2007. Success in UEFA’s Women’s Cup (the forerunner of the UEFA Women’s Champions League) was also achieved in 2005. After coming through a group stage Djurgården/Älvsjö saw off fellow Swedish side Umeå in the quarter-Finals before a famous aggregate win over Arsenal Ladies in the semis. The final, played over two legs against the German outfit Turbine Potsdam ended in disappointment, but the achievement of a team who had such humble beginnings reaching a major European final was phenomenal.

However, the footballing story of the tiny town of Älvsjö has not ended since merging with Djurgården. In the second part of this feature, we will examine the re-establishment of a single senior women’s football team at the Älvsjö Idrottsparken, and how, once more they are beating teams from far bigger settlements and enjoying success as a consequence.

Ben Gilby is the editor of Impetus. He has over fifteen years experience in voluntary media officer roles within the sports of Football and Rugby Union, has appeared on BBC local radio several times and published the book ‘The Game: Tales From A Season Travelling Around The Rugby Union Grounds of South-East England’.

Canaries Soar To Vital Win

Norwich City Women 6-2 Kent Football United

FA Women’s National League Division One South-East

by Connor Wroe

Norwich City started off very quick early on getting a series of corners back to back. Despite gaining free headers each time, they failed to convert these chances.

Newly promoted Kent showed promise early on finding space in behind the back line, but failed to do anything with that room. Around the eight minute mark a Norwich corner finally produced joy – a real swinger of a ball was crossed in and went straight in at far post – Aimee Durant scoring direct from the corner.

Kent managed to equalise after 27 minutes despite a long period of Norwich pressure. It was a debate to whether to goal scorer was offside, but you don’t take that away from the finish – a lovely chip over home keeper Hope Armstrong. The goal seemingly woke Norwich up as they started to play more consistently successful attacking football – however they failed initially to take advantage due to struggling to keep their shots down. However, sharp shooter Chelsea Garret found the net 38 minutes into play with a lovely bit of foot work to find space to shoot, although the keeper should have done better as the shot was straight at her.

It became 3-1 two minutes later with an old school hoofed ball which succeded in getting Aimee Durrant in behind the defence, the first shot was saved but Durrant followed up her parried shot and headed it into an empty net. On the stroke of halftime the Canaries made it 4-1 from a free kick just inside their own half which caused confusion in the Kent defence as the ball just rolled through on goal and the striking instinct of Chelsea Garrett saw her slide it into the far corner.

It became 5-1 straight from the resulting kick-off after Norwich were awarded a free-kick. Megan Todd struck home with the half-time whistle following shortly afterwards.

The excitement level dropped in the second period – but Kent gave themselves a glimmer of hope with a goal on 56 minutes on the counter. Despite Norwich’s defence still not quite functioning at 100%, the visitors could not improve on their tally. Instead, it was Norwich who got their sixth goal on the 82 minute. An attack down the right resulted with the ball being crossed into Megan Todd who headed it down, with the Kent defender getting a foot to it which unfortunately took it past the keeper. The game finished 6-2.

Norwich, despite their dominant performance and having a larger amount of possession looked slightly in defence at times. Newly promoted Kent Football United are still trying to catch up with the intensity of this league. They look promising and are just missing two or three experienced players. If they can get someone in with experience they might be able to be saved from the drop.

Teams: NORWICH CITY WOMEN: Hope Armstrong, Tigi Robson, Kate Parsons, Aimee Durrant, Millie Daviss, Chelsea Garrett, Megan Todd, Lauren Cullum, Rosie George, Reeanna Cook, Izzy Collins. Substitutes: Tash Snelling, Angelina Nixon, Josie Jarvis, Lily Bueggeln, Keunna Dil.

Scorers: Durrant 2, Garrett 2, Todd, Snelling.

KENT FOOTBALL UNITED WOMEN: Abigail Adewunmi, Shannon Burden, Ami Burnham, Megan Burrows, Chloe Francis, Charley Macneil , Poppy Payne, Amy Russ Emma Squirrell, Grace Taylor, Lydia Wills. Substitutes:  Lucy Dante and Maisie Joyce

Scorers: Macneil (2)

Attendance: 100.

Connor Wroe is a regular contributor to Impetus and “follows all things sport – both men and women”.

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