King’s Lynn Town Ladies 1 Stevenage FC Women 4
A vastly-improved King’s Lynn Town Ladies put up a determined fight against ERWFL Premier Division leaders Stevenage in an entertaining spectacle of football.
The Linnets were unlucky not to go ahead early on, as Fran Peeling tried a long-range shot which hit the bar.
From the start this was a performance far removed from their fixture the previous week. Lynn endeavoured to maintain possession and moved the ball quickly with great accuracy making Stevenage chase ghosts
Returning 'goal machine' Samara Nche, along with Rachel Skinner and Oksana Imanalijeva, provided some exciting runs at the home defence, putting them on the back foot as the Linnets midfield picked out their forwards with some accurate and well-timed passes.
Stevenage managed on a couple of occasion to get some good counter-attacks running down the right, but the Linnets worked hard to close play out and clear their lines.
Peeling, who moments earlier had narrowly missed scoring, was quickly in the action on her own goal line as she found herself in the line of fire and cleared with her head.
Stevenage broke the deadlock against the run of play with a corner floated to the front of the box. The first strike was parried by keeper Yasmine Walford only to be pounced on at the back post by Amy Gooderham, who had only just come on to the pitch.
Lynn continued to battle for the remainder of the half and probably had more chances, but were denied by some valiant defensive work and some excellent goalkeeping.
Stevenage came out for the second half with the bit between their teeth. The increased tempo of their play put the Linnets on the back foot and saw two early goals hit the Lynn net, both from well-placed crosses to the back post where the home side's height advantages paid dividends.
Stevenage continued to apply the pressure and scored a fourth after Walford again parried only to find the ball drop for Becky Shephard to volley home at the far post.
Lynn regained their composure and maintained possession in midfield for periods of the second half, although it should be said Stevenage were very much dominating.
Nche led the fightback with a well-struck volley despatched into the Stevenage net, all from a beautifully-placed free-kick by youngster Tilly Sands on the 65-minute mark.
Nche, Skinner and Imanalijeva all continued to probe the Stevenage defence but they were a well-organised group who looked to shut the play down early in order to move the ball quickly and wide into their midfield, counter-attacking quickly along the flanks.
Stevenage pressed a lot higher in the second half, holding the Linnets for much of the second 45 inside their own half, so that any potential counter was forced to come from a long way out.
A tiring Imanalijeva was replaced by Katie Ward who continued to counter down the right wing - her confidence shone through as she took on the Stevenage midfield but was closed out by the high backline of the defence.
Stevenage were the better side on the day but Lynn put up a good fight for all but the first 15 minutes of the second half, where they looked slightly shell-shocked as Stevenage put the game to bed.
Joint Ravenswood Pet Rescue POTM: Oksana Imanalijeva and Leah Newcombe
Squad: Yasmine Walford, Frances Peeling, Leah Newcombe, Sam Davis, Nadina Green, Jodie Hopkins, Rachel Skinner, Lily Porter, Oksana Imanalijeva, Tilly Sands, Samara Nche. Subs: Alice Collins, Amy Magnus, Katie Ward, Ellie Meads, Albany Hodgson
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