Albion Women were held to a 1-1 draw by Colchester...
Albion Women earned a point at Colchester in their first league match of 2013, a result that sees Jay Lovett’s side slip six points off the pace behind league leaders Reading.Kim Stenning’s first-half strike looked to be enough for the Seagulls but Kate Longhurst’s equaliser eleven minutes from time earned the U’s a point.
On a poor playing surface, Albion struggled to play their attractive passing game and were dealt an early blow when Tammy Waine was forced off injured after a challenge by Longhurst in the 10th minute.
The Seagulls’ first chance of the match fell to Catherine O’Hagan, who capitalised on Kirsty Barton’s cross and forced a fine save from Colchester keeper Nikita Runnacles with 20 minutes on the clock.
Then the ever reliable Stenning broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when she controlled a long ball from skipper Kerrie Ryan, before firing past Runnacles, who despite getting a strong hand to the shot could not prevent the ball from rolling into the net.
But it was not plain sailing for Albion as the home side continued to look threatening on the counter-attack; Maegen Doyle coming close as she forced keeper Charlotte Sol into action.
Jay Lovett’s side continued to create chances of their own and a lovely move down the left involving Charley Boswell and Stenning set up a chance for Lily Agg but her effort was blocked.
Just minutes later Barton delivered a free-kick into the box which was narrowly missed by both Boswell and Stenning at the far post as Albion failed to increase their advantage.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between for Albion in the second-half, as the game turned into more of a physical battle in midfield; Agg went through on goal on the hour mark, but was stopped after a strong challenge from Emily Heaslip.
Albion then had another opportunity to double their advantage, as Barton’s corner to the far post was narrowly missed again, this time by Agg and Stenning.
But Longhurst continued to be the home side’s main threat and scored the equaliser in the 79th minute. Megan Jiggins launched a long ball forward and the striker fired past Sole into the bottom right-hand corner to earn her side a point.
Manager Lovett was slightly downbeat after the match, but concluded that earning a draw means the side can take away a number of positives from the game.
He told Seagulls.co.uk, “It was a hard game, a real tough battle. With the standards the girls have set themselves a draw can feel like a loss, but we managed to get a point against a very good and physical Colchester side.
“There were some real stand-out performances from Faye Rabson, who put in a good shift at centre-back and I thought both full-backs, Charley Boswell and Lauren Cheshire were excellent.”
Albion (4-3-3): Sole (GK), Cheshire, Ryan (c), Waine (Parks 10), Boswell; Agg, Barton, Gurr; O’Hagan, Stenning, Rabson. Sub not used: Stow.
Original article
Albion Women earned a point at Colchester in their first league match of 2013, a result that sees Jay Lovett’s side slip six points off the pace behind league leaders Reading.Kim Stenning’s first-half strike looked to be enough for the Seagulls but Kate Longhurst’s equaliser eleven minutes from time earned the U’s a point.
On a poor playing surface, Albion struggled to play their attractive passing game and were dealt an early blow when Tammy Waine was forced off injured after a challenge by Longhurst in the 10th minute.
The Seagulls’ first chance of the match fell to Catherine O’Hagan, who capitalised on Kirsty Barton’s cross and forced a fine save from Colchester keeper Nikita Runnacles with 20 minutes on the clock.
Then the ever reliable Stenning broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when she controlled a long ball from skipper Kerrie Ryan, before firing past Runnacles, who despite getting a strong hand to the shot could not prevent the ball from rolling into the net.
But it was not plain sailing for Albion as the home side continued to look threatening on the counter-attack; Maegen Doyle coming close as she forced keeper Charlotte Sol into action.
Jay Lovett’s side continued to create chances of their own and a lovely move down the left involving Charley Boswell and Stenning set up a chance for Lily Agg but her effort was blocked.
Just minutes later Barton delivered a free-kick into the box which was narrowly missed by both Boswell and Stenning at the far post as Albion failed to increase their advantage.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between for Albion in the second-half, as the game turned into more of a physical battle in midfield; Agg went through on goal on the hour mark, but was stopped after a strong challenge from Emily Heaslip.
Albion then had another opportunity to double their advantage, as Barton’s corner to the far post was narrowly missed again, this time by Agg and Stenning.
But Longhurst continued to be the home side’s main threat and scored the equaliser in the 79th minute. Megan Jiggins launched a long ball forward and the striker fired past Sole into the bottom right-hand corner to earn her side a point.
Manager Lovett was slightly downbeat after the match, but concluded that earning a draw means the side can take away a number of positives from the game.
He told Seagulls.co.uk, “It was a hard game, a real tough battle. With the standards the girls have set themselves a draw can feel like a loss, but we managed to get a point against a very good and physical Colchester side.
“There were some real stand-out performances from Faye Rabson, who put in a good shift at centre-back and I thought both full-backs, Charley Boswell and Lauren Cheshire were excellent.”
Albion (4-3-3): Sole (GK), Cheshire, Ryan (c), Waine (Parks 10), Boswell; Agg, Barton, Gurr; O’Hagan, Stenning, Rabson. Sub not used: Stow.
Original article