Match Report | Leafield Athletic 3-2 WCWFC

City made to rue their missed chances as they fall to defeat on opening day

Worcester City Women kicked off their FA Women's National League Division One Midlands campaign on Sunday at the Castle Vale Stadium as they took on Leafield Athletic. 

City will be hoping for a good start and to push on following their 2-0 friendly win at Sixways last Sunday against Portishead Town. 

Summer signings Lowri Walker and Olivia Stubbs both got on the scoresheet as Matt Jones’ side put on an impressive second half display in the blistering Sixways heat. 

With Jodie Whiteman being out injured today. Rebecca Wood deputised and with that landed a competitive debut for Worcester City Women. 

Wood is the first player since Nicole Allison took over the club in 2021 that has played for the U18s, U21s and the first team, highlighting that Worcester City Women are one of the best at producing talent through their pathway. 

City threatened straight from the off after Cerys Dolloway played an outstanding ball into Jess Fassnidge who immediately spread the ball to Olivia Stubbs, who drove to the byline, but her cross aiming for Lowri Walker was cleared by the defender.

Moments later, the hosts had their first attempt of the game following a shot from distance, however the ball went over Wood’s crossbar.

Ten minutes later, Charlotte Poole did excellent in not letting the ball get away from her, and after she found Walker, the latter hit a shot from the edge of the box which hit the side netting.

Worcester went close to taking the lead shortly after, when Stubbs broke the offside trap and drove into the box, but her shot just went wide of the right hand post.

City took a deserved lead just before the half hour mark, when a Maja Szymkowiak in swinger corner was met by Karla Norman’s head, but the defender could only hit the ball against the cross bar and Walker was there to head home from close range.

From kick off City were looking to double their lead after Stubbs again drove into the box but her effort was smothered by the Leafield goalkeeper and just after Nyah Edwards played a lovely ball through to Walker who shot just wide.

The hosts, against the run of play, scored twice in four minutes to take charge of a game that should’ve been away from them. 

In first half stoppage time, there was outstanding goalkeeping by Wood after their striker was bearing through on goal, but she stood big and made a crucial save.

Into the second half and new signing Madeline Welham came on for her Worcester City Women debut as she replaced goal scorer Walker. 

Leafield had a couple of opportunities at the start of the half, firstly after hitting the side netting and then Wood had to get down to her left and make a save, after Leafield hit one from the edge of the box.

City had a few half chances midway through the second half, but it was Wood who had to make another decent save down to her right. 

Shortly after, City were back on level terms when Evie Billingsley played in Edwards down the right channel and she hooked the ball into the box from the byline and there was Stubbs to steer home from close range to score her first goal for City.

Ten minutes from time, Welham held the ball up well and sprayed a ball to the back stick to Connie Matthews, but she blasted her effort over the bar. 

A couple of minutes later, Leafield retook the lead after Wood came out and punched the ball, but there wasn’t enough power on the punch and the forward headed the ball into the net. 

Moments later, Leafield almost added their fourth, but the chip over Wood just went wide of the post. 

Welham had a strike saved by the Leafield keeper deep into added on time, but City were left to think of what may have been as they were defeated on opening day.

Next Up for City is this first home clash of the new season as Barnsley visit Sixways on Sunday, 23rd August with a usual 2pm kick-off. 

The U21s kicked off their West Midlands Regional League Division One South season today as they welcomed Redditch United to the University of Worcester where Freya Boucher scored the opener, but then Redditch United went on to score five in the first half.

That’s how it ended with City U21s falling to defeat on their opening day fixture.