The Ladies team flew the Phoenix flag to progress to the Semi-Finals of the West Midlands Regional League cup in a thrilling game taking every last effort to gain the result. This aside there were mixed results for the other teams.

Saturday 7 March 2015

Wyre Forest Phoenix v Warndon Villages

The Under 9 Girls were back in action after the half term break and we welcomed Warndon to Brown Westhead Park. Due to an operation Warndon’s Goalkeeper was unable to play, so we loaned them 2 of our players so that we could play 6v6.

It was a great game with some great football played by both teams. Goals: Grace Gallagher-Kennett, Holly Durbin, and Isabella Ricketts sealed the game for Phoenix. Girl of the Game was Isabella.

Wyre Forest Phoenix 0 v 3 Evesham United Robins

The Under 13's Again the score line did not reflect the match this week with Phoenix's silly errors costing them the game.

Phoenix should have cleared the ball before Evesham's winger nipped in and put the ball past the goalkeeper. Angel Childe worked hard all game and won throw-ins and was unlucky with a couple of efforts. Just before half time, Zoe Willetts made a good tackle but the ball fell to the Evesham player and with no cover, she made it 2-0. Phoenix came out fighting and pushed for a goal with some great shots from Chloe Reading, however their keeper was in fine form to keep them out. Finally with a few minutes to go, a handball in the box resulted in a penalty which Evesham converted despite Beth Savage getting a hand to it. A good performance but silly errors have got to be eradicated in order for Phoenix to start picking up points.

Sutton Untied Girls 3 v 1 Wyre Forest Phoenix

The Under 14’s were away to Sutton and the conditions were looking good, we had a good squad with only one player missing. The Flyers started strongly against a physical Sutton and tricky windy conditions but against the run of play, Sutton got a shot in that rebounded from the keepers save across goal to be swept up by a Sutton forward for their first goal. The Flyers battled on and despite coming close a couple of times, the wind was helping Sutton, and from a corner in the 12th minute a strong shot pushed away, fell to the feet of a Sutton forward to hit the back of the net. The Flyers dug in and held against the wind to go in to half time 2 goals down.

A change in goal for the second half, and the Flyers came out fighting with conditions on their side. It took Sydney Harris just 2 minutes to charge up the wing and put in a perfect cross to Fleur Connolly, who ran on to it to bury the ball. Sutton were fighting hard, despite the Flyers getting close a more times, but a push from a Sutton forward, on two separate occasions, saw two Flyers taken off injured. The Sutton player had now earned herself a yellow card, but stayed on. Sutton capitalised on the change of shape and a lob from the right hand side beat the keeper to finish the game (3-1) despite the Flyers efforts to find the back of the net.

Goal: Fleur Connolly and Girl of the Game was Weronika Pawlowska despite there being a number of candidates.

Sunday 08 March 2015

Midwest Counties Female Football League

Bartestree Ladies 8 (4) v 0 (0) Wyre Forest Phoenix

Today WFP Ladies County were away to Bartestree, with only 10 players available and 4 of those carrying minor injuries. Our worst fears were confirmed with this 8 nil defeat. Although we lost this game credit has to be given to the players as they dug in and gave a wholehearted performance, but the free running Bartestree midfielders, who were the cause of all our problems, were just too much for the team today. Girl of the Game went to Emilia Sinden. The next game is a double header next week at home to Droitwich Belles.

West Midlands Regional Women's League Cup ¼ Final

Wyre Forest Phoenix 8 (2) v 7 (1) Droitwich Spa Ladies

(After Extra Time & Penalties)

The wet weather did not dampen the spirits of the Phoenix Ladies first team as they took on the mighty Droitwich Spa who are sitting at the top of the League table with 63 goals to their name. In the League games Droitwich are up 2 as they beat us 3-1 and 5-1 and with the teams due to meet in the County Cup final on April 12th the ladies were nervous but determined to put on a good performance.

From the whistle we created a good chance but narrowly missed the goal. The game was end to end as both teams produced some great attacking play. Phoenix were first to strike as Heidi Mitchell latched onto a pass on the edge of the box and drilled it into the bottom left corner. This game was destined to have goals both ends due to the competitiveness and attacking play and Droitwich levelled up on 30 minutes as their star striker beat the defence to place past on-coming keeper and player of the match Tracy Evans. Phoenix battled on and again took the lead going into half time as Kirsty Roberts headed in from a Heidi Mitchell corner.

Droitwich levelled the game within 5 minutes from the re-start, not what we wanted, but we dug in and were determined to get the lead back. Droitwich are a well drilled team and play some good football, switching play and using the wings to their advantage, but we defended well. We took the lead for the second time on 60 minutes as Chelsea Mudge latched onto a through ball from Kat Meredith and went round the keeper to knock it in from a tight angle. Five minutes later and Chelsea was involved in the set-up of our 4th goal as she volleyed across the 6yd box from, a Molly Maguire throw-in, for Rebecca Carter who was unmarked to tap in. We thought we had the game sewn up, but this is Droitwich, and they are top of the league for a very good reason, they score goals. Two in 5mins to be exact with one being a penalty to level the game, and as much as both teams battled the score 4-4 remained for both full time and extra time.

Down to Penalties which we won 4-3 as below

Kelly Preece GOAL            Droitwich GOAL

Molly Maguire GOAL        Droitwich GOAL

Kirsty Roberts GOAL        Droitwich MISS

Heidi Mitchell GOAL         Droitwich GOAL

Jodi Boraston SAVE          Droitwich SAVE

A massive well done to the team, who played their hearts out yet again. To summarise the goals : Chelsea Mudge (1), Heidi Mitchell (2), Kelly Preece (1), Kirsty Roberts (2), Molly Maguire (1), Rebecca Carter (1).