Women’s First Team Vs Mansfield Town Ladies FC

Historically night matches have never brought Arnold Town Ladies much success but this current squad are starting slowly but surely to turn that around. Wednesday's match versus Mansfield Town was the 3rd encounter this season and has shown how far the Arnold side have progressed in that time. The first game saw the Mansfield side leave Eagle Valley with a convincing 5-1 victory in the cup with a team they promoted as young, inexperienced and certainly not their strongest. The latest match saw visitors put out an even stronger side than the one that beat Arnold at The One-Call Stadium last month in which they won 2-0.

Arnold suffered an early blow as centre back Claire Potter was ruled out of the game with illness but had the fantastic news that 16 year old Chrystal Smiley had signed from the under 18's and went straight into the starting line up, as the main striker. This shows how the conveyer belt of players are starting to come through as it was the second 16 year old in the side, which is a real credit to the coaches of the girls sections at the club.

Arnold started with Emily Hallam in goal, Tina Potter and Charley Norman at full back with Risa Naisbitt coming into centre half along side Chay Davey. Midfield saw second team captain Lottie Swinscoe partner Elli Leathen and the skipper Jen Lorimer in midfield leaving an attacking trio of Molly Parker, Chloe Jordan and the debutant Chrystal Smiley.

The first 10 minutes saw Arnold start brightly and with out causing too much danger, box Mansfield into their own half. The pressing rate was good and put pressure on the visitors. However Mansfield soon settled and started to play their attacking passing style with only the alert Emily Hallam and fearless defence tidying up the through balls. Arnold just seemed to go off the boil and gave the opposition too much time and space, so that they could take a touch before making a pass. The break through came around the 20 minute mark when Androulle Kokkinou was allowed to glide through a couple of challenges before curling the ball inside the post from the edge of the area to make it 0-1. This came after an earlier long range shot from a similar position that came back off the cross bar.

Arnold to their credit were only millimetres away from getting an instant response following a Jen Lorimer corner from the right. As the ball came across to the far side of the box, Molly Parker sent a volley crashing onto the crossbar which certainly would have been the teams goal of the season. The home side worked tirelessly in trying to break up Mansfields passing from the back but to no avail. It was soon made twice as hard as Mansfield doubled the lead in familiar style with Marie Wayne's long range shot nestling in the top corner for 0-2.

The second half saw a more confident Mansfield but a also a more stable formation from Arnold who were able to soak up a lot of the pressure and go on the counter attack. Changes were also made with Chrystal Smiley replaced at the break by Emily Nelis which saw Molly Parker take a more central role with the oncoming sub on the right.  Hard work, graft and determination  were all comments made on the home bench as every player put in a shift in order not to crumble as some sides would in this position.The final change later on saw Kellie Hart replace Elli Leathen to allow Chloe Jordan to drop into a central midfield role.

Emily Hallam again commended her box brilliantly even leaving it to head clear at one stage, before turning a shot around the post at full stretch from a low shot that came through a crowd of players. At the other end Molly Parker capitalised on a mis-timed header to race through on goal, unfortunate to see her well hit shot hit the keeper before the ball was cleared to safety. With time running out a goal either end would make it easy or uncomfortable last 20 minutes for the visitors and it came in the last few minutes, and what a goal it was. Mansfields Androulle Kokkinou made it a double for the night with an excellent volley from the left hand side which was good enough to win most games.

Overall with the positive comments made by the Mansfield management, the staff at Arnold  were again happy and  impressed with the attitude, work rate and commitment of the side. Exciting times lay ahead for these players as long as they continue on this road of hard work and dedication.