Cosford v Telford

Sunday 25th April, 2004

Telford looked sharp as the game began on a sunny afternoon at Cosford, they took the game to the home side, forcing four throw ins in quick succession and winning more possession in open play. Cosford made space for themselves to have the first goal attempt, but the shot was tame and Sarah Martin saved it with ease. Telford were building well from the back, the defensive pairing of Shewring and Cuthbert playing with confidence.

Telford’s first shot on goal came from a long Katie Shewring throw; Lisa Jackson executed a clever headed flick on to Kerry Walker, who lifted the ball just over the bar! The visitors began to stamp some authority on the game, Karen Hackley, returning to the side after a calf injury kept her out of the last game, fired in a testing corner kick. The ball eluded Tash Robinson, but Steph Walker powered a first time shot into the side netting. The game flowed quickly from end to end, without any player being allowed much time on the ball, as a result chances started to come at both ends, Martin ran out to claim an important ball, and within a minute the keeper made another fine save from a headed Cosford attempt. Cosford’s first corner kick was taken quickly but was hit behind the goal. A great run from Steph Walker set up Tash Robinson in front of goal, but the referee awarded a free kick to Cosford for a handball.

Martin made another impressive save when for once Cosford were allowed to get in a free header, after that Telford began to dominate proceedings. K. Walker beat two defenders before going for goal and hitting the angle from the outside. Playmaker Jackson was involved in a great move to set Robinson free, but she was adjudged offside. Telford’s next move showed Telford at their very best, Shewring’s excellent throw in found Jackson, who executed a slide rule pass to K. Walker. She twisted and turned three players before swinging in a terrific cross to S. Walker who saw her headed ball skim wide. Jackson grew in influence; her fast break down the left was thwarted when her last pass of the move was just too short for K. Walker to latch onto. Shewring hit a 25 yard free kick over the defensive wall, but the keeper was well placed to save the ball well.

Cosford troubled the Telford defence only once more in the half, beating them to put the ball wide. S. Walker must have felt like the unluckiest player on the field when in the dying minutes of the half her shot shaved the post making it three good chances for the winger that had come within a whisker of putting Telford ahead. The pace of ex Cosford player Lou Hickman at left back prevented the home side from making much impact on her side, she ran back with the attacker, cut inside her, forcing the striker to try an early cross, which found her team mate well offside. K. Walker had the last chance to pull ahead from a one on one with the keeper, but saw her shot saved.

Telford needed to repeat their impressive hard work in the second half, and they kept up the momentum with another Shewring throw flicked on by Jackson to Robinson, who lost out to the keeper. Cuthbert covered plenty of ground to get the better of a Cosford attacker; she turned the opposition player and won a goal kick. The next Cosford attack saw the ball deflected off S. Rodway, Martin tipped the ball superbly over the bar. Cosford swung in their corner, finding their first gap through the visitors defence they bundled the ball home against the run of play to take the lead. 1-0.

Jackson managed to win a corner, despite being surrounded by three players, Karen Hackley, took the corner kick which hit the side netting. The midfielder, who yet again was one of the main driving forces of her side, was not happy with her effort.

Stacey Aitken Best came on to replace Robinson, and as in the Leafield game her impact was immediate. She whipped in a perfect corner; Hackley hit the ball first time, and was unlucky to have her shot blocked on the line by a player at the near post. Aitken Best took 2 further corners as Telford pressed for an opening; Linzi Brown’s shot rebounded off a defender before being cleared. A foul on K. Shewring gave Aitken Best a chance with a free kick from 22 yards. The striker’s shot hit the wall, the rebound fell to Shewring who hit the ball high over the bar.

A back injury to Jackson saw her replaced by Nikki Mason and saw Telford change players around in a tactical move, L. Brown moving into the centre of midfield. K. Walker saw two shots hit wide. With twelve minutes left on the clock, Hackley headed clear a Cosford free kick which looked to be heading for the net. Telford then had two great chances to get a point; Aitken Best saw an opening after the keeper had been drawn off her line. She collected the ball, turned the defender and lobbed the keeper. Cosford somehow got back to head the shot over the bar to give away a corner. Aitken Best floated the kick towards S. Walker, whose shot went wide of the post. The striker then held up the ball well for S. Walker, who struck Telford’s best chance of the afternoon powerfully and saw it cannon off the post, such was their luck on the day. Shewring had the last word when she swung in a well taken free kick, which the keeper gathered safely.

A point would have been enough here for League safety, but it was not to be. Telford travel to TNS next Sunday. This game will conclude Telford's fixture list for this season!

Final score

Cosford 1-0 Telford

Player of the match

Katie Shewring

Team

S. Martin, S. Rodway, C. Curthbert, K. Shewring, L. Hickman, L. Brown, L. Jackson (Captain), K. Hackley, S. Walker, K. Walker, T. Robinson.

Subs

S. Aitken Best, N. Mason