Birmingham County Women’s League Premier Division
Your Co-op Community Stadium
Sunday 8th September 2024

Report by Benn Lane

Leamington Ladies kicked off their first home game of the season, and first ever league game, lining up in a 4-4-2 formation, in front of a decent crowd of around 70 supporters for both teams.

A strong early challenge from Linda Turner set the tone of the afternoon and early pressure was applied by the Brakes Ladies in the sunshine at Your Co-op Community Stadium. The talented Georgie Roebuck bossed the centre of midfield in the early exchanges, taking the ball and dictating the tempo of the game. Lots of early pressure from Leamington kept Lye Town pinned in their own half. 

Lye’s first venture into the Leamington half saw an offside call by the assistant referee before anything could materialise. 

A late tackle by Lauryn Farmer earned the visitors a free kick in a dangerous position, but the resulting dead ball sailed straight into the arms of Brakes number 1, Alix O’Donnell. The game's first shot on target. 

The balance of play started to even out as the half went on, with both teams sharing possession but no real chances carved out for either. 

Brakes broke down the left and earned the fist corner of the afternoon which was delivered wonderfully from the right foot of Naomi Morgan. It was met by a half volley from Molly Noble which was wide of the mark. 

Roebuck then turned her marker and fired in a shot from distance, which crept just wide. 

Leamington attacked down the right, and entered the box only to see one of the home players absolutely wiped out by an oncoming defender – This was waved away by the Referee. Lye then broke and won a very soft free kick due to a coming together. The ball was sent into the box and looped onto the crossbar of the Leamington goal. The rebound went out for a goal kick. A close call for the home side. 

Lye advanced again and a fantastic challenge from Farmer thwarted any chance of a counter. 

Brakes sent a searching ball into the box which Molly Noble looked to bring down, but she was poleaxed by the advancing defender. The Referee blew his whistle without hesitation and pointed to the spot – Penalty to Leamington on the half hour mark. 

Naomi Morgan stepped up, blasting the spot kick straight at the keeper. The rebound was blocked by the Lye stopper, but on the second follow up Morgan made no mistake and followed the ball with a tap in to score the first goal of the season. 

The game resumed and not long afterwards Leamington won a corner after having a lot of joy down the right hand side, but the resulting flag kick evaded a congested penalty area. The visitors moved the ball upfield and earned themselves a corner which was nicely dealt with by the Leamington defence. More tidy work in midfield from Roebuck, who had a solid first half. 

Scrappy moments towards the end of the opening 45 minutes from both sets of ladies, but just before half time a corner for Leamington was sent in by Morgan, but headed out by the Lye defence. The ball dropped to Roebuck, who was taken out by a Lye defender – Nothing given. 

Some lovely footwork and link up play by Morgan & Ella Gray down the left hand side came to nothing as the Referee blew for half time.

It was a slow start to the second half with the ball being played in the centre of the park, and scrappy moments of play from both teams early on.

Substitutions for Leamington saw Ella Ashley, Millie Thompson and Keira Sandhu enter the field of play. A good early ball into the Lye box is missed by a whisker by the in-rushing head of Ashley. 

A sliding tackle from Roebuck brought the spectators to their feet in applause to halt a Lye counter attack down the left hand side.

A yellow card was issued to Lye’s number 6 for a late challenge on Gray - A deserved caution. Thankfully Ella was ok and the game continues. 

Linda Turner pulled up with cramp and misplaced a pass to let in the Lye attack – one on one with Alix O’Donnell who closed the ball down well, and then a great block from Sandhu sent the ball back off the forward and out for a Brakes goal kick.

Another change for Leamington saw Leo Hill come on before Turner made a last ditch challenge to send the ball out for a corner to the visitors. Great defending by the long serving defender, especially as moments before she was suffering from cramp. 

Silky feet from Roebuck on the edge of the area saw a rasping shot comfortably saved by the Lye Town stopper.

Lye started to turn on the pressure, which produced a wonderful save from O’Donnell, low down to her right to tip the oncoming shot round the post and out for a corner. The resulting corner is again saved by O’Donnell. The visitors would have been level if it wasn’t for the reflexes of the Brakes keeper.

With twenty one minutes remaining, Brakes played out from the back and put themselves under pressure. From Sarah Smith’s shot the ball cannoned off the keeper and into the back of the net to level the game for the visitors. 

Leamington’s final change saw Sophie Clews enter the action. 

A large lull in the game follows as the Referee goes over to talk to the Leamington bench and the linesman, presumably about something said. 

The winner arrived on 75 minutes when Thompson was played in on goal, shrugging off two defenders to go one on one with the keeper. Her first effort was blocked, but the ricochet was slotted into the empty net by Thompson. The majority in attendance are on their feet, 2-1 Brakes!

Another effort shortly after the goal following good work down the left wing by Roebuck saw her beat two defenders to send in a wonderful cross only for an unfortunate miskick by Thompson. Really good chance for Leamington. 

Another free kick for Brakes after another poorly timed challenge by a Lye Town player, gives Roebuck a chance to send a speculative effort just wide of the apex of the Lye goal from 25 yards. 

The referee blew for full time and Leamington Ladies earned a deserved result against a good Lye Town team. A couple of great saves from Alix O’Donnell almost earnt her the player of the match but she was just tipped to that by the very impressive Georgie Roebuck. 

Leamington Ladies: 1 Alix O’Donnell, 11 Megan Smirles, 4 Linda Turner, 3 Lauryn Farmer, 12 Ella Gray, 19 Kim Maddison-Connor, 6 Chloe Stallwood, 8 Georgie Roebuck ©, 9 Naomi Morgan, 7 Molly Noble, 15 Ella Astheimer.

Substitutes: 14 Leo Hill, 17 Sophie Clews, 2 Keira Sandhu, 20 Millie Thompson, 10 Ella Ashley.

Player of the Match – Georgie Roebuck

Attendance – 70

Referee – Michael Evans.

Photos by Tim Nunan.