Archive for March 17th, 2009

Dynamo Rangers v Birkdale Diamonds

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
Date: Saturday 14th March 2009
Location: Liverpool Road, Skelmersdale
Result: Dynamo Rangers (1) Birkdale D (2)

Today saw Birkdale Diamonds travel to Skelmersdale to face Dynamo Rangers for an early Saturday 10.00am kick off. The pitch was heavy and windswept which would sap energy and make the ball difficult to control. Birkdale started well and I believe had the upper hand in the opening exchanges. When the ball broke free in midfield it fell to T. Elliot she powered a shot at the Dynamo keeper who fumbled it and it appeared to cross the line. The goal was not given, but to Birkdales credit they didn’t let it affect them and they continued to play well. Shortly afterwards Birkdale forced a corner. C. Molyneux took a perfect swirling corner which bypassed everyone and was helped into the net by a Dynamo player to make it 1-0 to Birkdale. Shortly afterwards Birkdale introduced their first substitute A. Welford.

From the restart Dynamo came back at Birkdale and put the visitors under some pressure but Birkdale’s defence – C. Mentha, E. Core and A. Sykes - worked well to clear their lines, leaving Birkdales keeper E. Harrison with little to do. At this stage Birkdale did concede several corners which Dynamo failed to convert. Birkdale then turned defence into attack. When Dynamo took a short corner it was closed down by L. Smith who pressured the Dynamo player and won the ball. She continued on a run up the pitch and past one defender to shoot at goal. The Dynamo keeper couldn’t hold the shot and this made it 2.0 to Birkdale at half-time.
The second half commenced  with some good end to end football and saw both sides having chances. Birkdale’s keeper E. was called into action on several occasions but bravely managed to smoother the ball well to stop Dynamo from scoring. Dynamo pushed harder for a goal but Birkdale’s defence stood firm with some crucial interceptions from Mentha and Sykes.Again Birkdale turned defence into attack and from a Dynamo attack cleared by Harrison to Elliot who split the dynamo defence with a  beautifully weighted pass to Welford who had managed to loose one defender but unfortunately the second managed to get the tackle in just as she was about to strike it.

Dynamo continued to push for a goal when Sykes caught the ball in her face, which resulted in a split lip with considerable bleeding. Birkdale’s midfield of Molyneux,Elliot, Smith had worked tirelessly without any respite as Birkdale only had one substitute. Sykes bravely returned to the field when the bleeding had stopped. With two minutes to go, Dynamo managed to get a goal back leaving the final score as 2-1 to Birkdale.

Birkdale’s management awarded their Player of the Match to A. Sykes for a fantastic and extremely brave defensive display.

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