Match Report | Northampton Town Women 1-2 WCWFC
A late Annie Sime strike earns City a hard fought win on the road
The O’Riordan Stadium was the venue for Sunday’s FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands clash between Northampton Town Women and Worcester City Women.
The hosts can be buoyed by their first win of the season last time out as they defeated Sheffield FC 5-1 away from home in an impressive performance by Matt Vernon's side.
City put on an equally impressive performance away from home last weekend when they ran out 5-2 winners at Lye Town Women courtesy of a Lowri Walker hat-trick and a goal apiece from Jess Fassnidge and Annie Sime.
After a minute in, the hosts had a chance as a cross came in, however the attacker couldn’t get any contact on her header and the ball went through to Jodie Whiteman.
It’s started out as a real scrappy affair in the Northamptonshire sunshine, and in the 18th minute, City broke into the final third for the first time in the contest through Olivia Stubbs, but the ball trickled through to the goalkeeper.
Moments later Evie Billingsley showed some outstanding hold up play as she teed up Jess Fassnidge, but her effort sailed over the crossbar and then Northampton broke up the other end of the pitch and the attacker cut inside and had a shot which hit the side netting.
City started to take the game by the scruff of the neck as the ball fell to Nyah Edwards who had a shot from the edge of the box, however her effort just went wide.
In the 38th minute Worcester took the lead after Billie Haynes stepped out of defence and hooked the ball up the pitch where Billingsley showed great strength to hold off the defender and stabbed the ball home.
Six minutes after the restart, Annie Sime was fouled and took the resulting free kick, however her shot was straight down the throat of the goalkeeper.
Ten minutes later, the hosts equalised after Worcester didn’t clear from the second stage of the dead ball and the attacker slotted the ball under Whiteman.
Game changer, Matthews drove down the left hand side moments after entering the pitch and sent a cross to Stubbs who swiveled and hit the shot towards goal, but it was comfortably held by the keeper.
Four minutes from time, Worcester scored the winning goal after Annie Sime arrived at the back stick to steer the ball after a Billingsley corner was whipped in.
Next up, City find themselves back at Sixways for the first time in almost a month as they take on Gwalia United Women in match day 3 of the FA Women’s National League League Cup Group Phase on Sunday, 27th September with a usual kick-off time of 2pm.
Performance Squad
The U18s game against Lutterworth Athletic U18s at Little Perdiswell on Saturday morning was postponed.
Next up for the U18s is a league encounter as Lye Town U18s visit Little Perdiswell on Saturday, 26th September with an 11am kick off.
The U21s were scheduled to be on their travels again as they faced Long Itchington Ladies at Cherry Tree Walk on Sunday afternoon hoping to bounce back following a 1-0 defeat at Crusaders Women last time out, however, the game was postponed due to the hosts participation in the FA Cup.
Next up for the U21s is a home league clash as Droitwich Spa Ladies make the short trip to the University of Worcester on Sunday, 27th September with a scheduled 2pm kick-off.
Thankyou for your fantastic support, City fans. Up the City!!!
