Women's Report | Card's held level at the Laithwaite Community Stadium

Match Report | Woking FC Women v Abbey Rangers Ladies
Sunday 8 September 2024
The Laithwaite Community Stadium
15:00 KO

Match Report

Woking FC Women had the privilege of hosting nearby Abbey Rangers Ladies on the grass pitch of the Laithwaite Community Stadium for their local derby. The match ended with both teams taking a share of the points, an ordinarily suitable result in a fierce derby match but again Woking FC Women will feel as if they’ve missed an opportunity to take all three points.

First Half Highlights

The cardinals started strongest. After Abbey kicked the game off it was all Woking for the first 10 minutes. Jasmina Vanvooren made an early run down the left hand side carrying the ball well, before floating a cross through the box but there was no one attacking it. Louise Curr pounced on a loose ball from Abbey in the midfield and shot early from outside the box, her curling effort just wide of the left hand upright.

Vanvooren and Alicia Christie both jumped on misplaced goal kicks; Vanvooren shooting herself and missing by a matter of inches, Christie playing in Rebecca Tiney whose early shot was straight at Abbey’s keeper and well-held.

Abbey made rare forays forward in the first half, but when they did our defenders were there to clear. First it was captain Fran Cotter coming across from central defence to slide in and clear big on the right, then it was Laura Mitchell blocking a switch on the left and getting to the second ball first to clear upfield.

Shortly afterwards in the 34th minute, Nicola Marr played a superb through ball to put Beth Anders in one-on-one with the Abbey Rangers goalkeeper. Anders remained calm and placed a right footed shot just inside the right-hand upright to score Woking FC Women’s first goal of the 2024/25 SRWFL season and take the lead in the match. It was welcome relief for the coaches on the bench who had seen two earlier one-on-one chances barely miss earlier in the half.

The half ended with Abbey Rangers taking a corner from the right-hand side. The corner was well met, and a shot was drilled towards the goal, Amy Jenkins was beat in goal but Jasmina Vanvooren was parked on the line to clear with her head. Her brilliant clearance ensured we entered the sheds at halftime with the lead.

Half-Time: Woking FC Women 1 – 0 Abbey Rangers Ladies

Second Half Highlights

The second half started with neither side stamping their authority. The ball changed possession many times as the first five minutes was battled in the middle third of the park.
The game threatened to break open when Jasmina Vanvooren was played in by Rebecca Tiney, Vanvooren then attempted an audacious left-footed dink over the Abbey Rangers keeper but she was up well and pushed the ball onto the crossbar for an incredible save.

On the 58th minute, Abbey Rangers FC equalised with a lobbed finish after pouncing on a loose pass in the final third. Woking FC were seemingly taken off guard by the equaliser, falling to regain the control they had in the first half. Abbey Rangers dominated the next phase of play possession wise, but ultimately were unable to create any good chances.

Going into the final 20 minutes of the match, both teams were showing a desire to go and get all three points. The pace and ferocity increased. It was Woking FC who would pile on the pressure the most, with Tiney going in one-on-one at the 75th minute but her right foot shot rolling painfully wide of the right hand upright, the home crowd had begun cheering as they thought it was in but play restarted with a goal kick.

In the 84th minute Ellie Roch broke free down the right, as she made her run up the wing she was pulled at once, the referee played advantage as Roch continued on but she was eventually brought down by an illegal sliding challenge. The Woking FC bench thought it was a penalty and was asking the question, however the referee determined the contact occurred outside the box. Play was stopped for a while whilst Ellie Roch was tended too.

Alicia Christie stood over the dead ball, 20 yards out to take the free kick. The Woking FC bench watched with bated breath, but her shot sailed just high and wide of the left hand upright.

The final 5 minutes of the match were played out without any real threat at either end and the referee called full-time with the scores level at one a piece.

Full-time: Woking FC Women 1 – 1 Abbey Rangers FC Ladies

Next Match:

Woking FC Women’s season continues this weekend when they travel to Bournemouth to take on Bournemouth Sports Reserves FC.

Bournemouth Sports Reserves v Woking FC Women
Sunday 15 September 2024
14:00 KO
Bournemouth Sports Development Club, BH23 6BL