Birkdale United AFC

Only the second game of the year, and arguably their toughest task in their entire history faced Birkdale United in the last 16 of the Liverpool County FA Cup. They had been drawn against a Liverpool Feds team who boasted players with Premier League experience, and who were in the top four of the Northern Combination – the third tier of English Women’s Football. Noel had a squad of 15 to call upon, with no Tuakli this week but White was back after a long lay-off. Noel and Dave chose to make two changes, with Ferguson coming in for Griffiths, and Reppion – against her former club – replacing the absent Tuakli.

Noel and Dave had told the home side to stay disciplined and concentrated throughout the match, and it was evident that this was going to have to be their paramount priority if they were to gain anything from the match. Feds quickly displayed themselves to be a well-drilled, skilled and fit side, comfortable in possessions and accurate with the ball. The first ten minutes saw the home side pretty much pinned in their own half. However, chances on goal were at a premium as the home side pressed and harried from the front and did not give their guests any time on the ball.

The home side grew in confidence and started to make more frequent forays into the Feds half, again without really threatening to score. Just when the home side looked to have weathered the early storm, Feds took the lead with what was, in contrast to their excellent build up play, quite a soft goal to concede. A long ball over the top caught the Birkdale defence a little high, and although Hesketh was able to pull off a smart stop to keep out the first effort, she was able to do nothing about the follow-up which gave the visitors a lead which was deserved on the whole balance of play.

The visitors gained confidence from this, and attempted to press home their advantage, but they found the home side in particularly resolute mood. Every time it looked as though they had managed to find a yard of space, a Birkdale player would close down and snuff it out, or manage to get a touch away from them. Reppion and Jackson were trying their best to shield the centre of defence, and managed to get some crucial tackles and blocks in. At times it was a little bit of desperation stakes but at the same time Cooper and Gillingham were offering an outlet and Granby and Ferguson looked dangerous every time they came forward. At half-time, the deficit was but a simple goal.

The second half started in very much the same way, with Feds pressing and Birkdale defending in organised and resolute fashion. The visitors thought they had doubled their advantage at one point, only for Jackson to intervene in the most timely of fashions to intercept an accurate cross from the Feds left. The back four of Davidson, Lloyd, McEvoy and Coulter were displaying the same kind of resilience they had shown in the win against Dingle the week before, but multiplied by about five! The first Birkdale change was made, with Griffiths replacing Reppion. Noel had said at half-time that the home side would get at least one chance though, and so it proved when a fantastic through ball put Cooper one-on-one with the Feds keeper, who pulled off a good save, but unfortunately the Birkdale top scorer put the rebound wide.

Shortly afterwards, it seemed as though the door had been closed on the Birkdale chances of an upset as Feds doubled their lead in slightly fortuitous circumstances. They hit in a great cross from their right which was headed back from an acute angle towards goal. With Lloyd waiting on the line to clear it if it cleared Hesketh, the ball hit the underside of the bar, dropped straight down and hit a Feds player on head and hand at the same time, landing in the goal. It was a bit harsh on the home side but the contact with the hand was totally accidental.

Birkdale brought one White for Ferguson in an attempt to shore things up, although Feds understandably grew in confidence after this and had what they felt was a good claim for a penalty when Davidson’s clearance hit Griffiths’ arm at point-blank range, but the referee declined their requests. This was crucial because only a matter of minutes later, the deficit was halved. Granby, Jackson and White combined well in midfield to release Gillingham further forward. It looked as though she had lost the ball but her tenacity saw her win it back and play it to Griffiths. The substitute showed great composure to put an excellent pass back into the path of Gillingham who hit a fantastic swerving shot past the keeper from the edge of the area and into the corner of the net, and suddenly it was game on again.

For the first time in the match, the visitors looked a little less than sure of themselves and the home side regained confidence. Birkdale were suddenly first to all the fifty-fifty balls and it was this which lead to them levelling the scored with another superb goal. Jackson and Granby worked well together to bring the ball forward before the latter put the ball into Cooper’s feet. From nowhere, the Birkdale striker found a burst of pace to take her past the Feds defenders and from about ten yards she hit a left-footed thunderbolt which was past the ‘keeper before she had even seen it, to spark huge celebrations on the home touchline.

Feds were stung into action by this and it took a huge concerted effort to keep them out for the last ten minutes, but manage it the Blues did. They were indebted to some unbelievable saves from Hesketh in the Birkdale goal, and some blocks which were pretty much equal to players putting their bodies on the line for the team, but they all kept going and the final whistle sounded to signal 30 minutes of extra time.

In truth, the home side were beginning to tire by this point. Many of this team had not been used to playing 90 minutes a match until this season, and the prospect of an extra 30 was draining. However, the ladies kept plugging away and working hard, and caused some problems for their more illustrious counterparts. However, they went behind for the second time in the match just before the turn-around, when a good cross from the right found a Feds forward who finished adroitly on the volley to make the score 3-2. This was still the score when the teams turned around for the second period of extra time, although the third and final substitution had been made when Dixon replaced the unwell Davidson in defence. She made a good start by making an excellent clearance when under pressure only seconds after going on. This unfortunately meant that Waring could not take part in the game but she had more than made an impression and a positive contribution with the constant encouragement which she had given her teammates throughout the match.

By this point the home side were at desperation stakes and were beginning to take a few risks, and although they had a few half-chances, Feds were able to hit them on the break very effectively to add two further goals. The first saw a ball in from the left get stuck under a forward’s feet, with McEvoy and Lloyd unable to clear. She turned and hit a low shot past the unsighted Hesketh to seal the result. Then, in the final couple of minutes a long cross from the right to the far post was well headed in to give the scoreline a slightly more emphatic feel than was just. Shortly after, the final whistle went to underline Liverpool Feds passage to the last eight of the County Cup.

Noel and Dave both had no complaints with the final result, even if they did feel the scoreline was a little harsh on their team in the end. However, both of them were absolutely delighted with the attitude, effort and performance from the Birkdale team in this match. Without  a shadow of doubt, this was their best ever performance and they should take huge confidence from the performance and the result after ninety minutes. Both of them declared themselves incredibly proud of the ladies, and that they should always bear this performance in mind when facing other difficult opposition, as this is what they are capable of when everyone is pulling in the same direction. Well done to all of you ladies, and thank you!

The Player of the Match award couldn’t be given, as everyone deserved it!

Team: Hesketh, Davidson (Dixon 97), Coulter (c), Lloyd, Cooper, Jackson, Granby, Gillingham, McEvoy, Ferguson (White 68), Reppion (Griffiths 60). Sub not used (and Supercoach!): Waring.

After three home games ,we were back on the road. An away game at Burscough awaited us for the second time in a week. Another cold but dry day with the pitch soft but playable. Birkdale had a near full strengh squad with only Hubbard with a slight thigh strain.

Once the game kicked off it was clear to see that it was going to be a hard fought game. The first half had few chances from either team with Elliot and Edmondson having half chances. The second half began with Birkdale fast out the blocks, and the passing game was greatly improved in this half. Gray-Smith who normaly plays in defence was moved to left midfield for her first time to replace the injurd Hubbard and Armstong played on the right.

Keeping the positions well, Birkdale took a foothold in the game. A long range effort by Elliot produced a good parry by the goalkeeper, only resulting in giving the ball to Grey-Smith to roll the ball home into an empty net. There were other chances by Edmondson and Elliot which came close, but Burscough had a great chance with a one on one with Harrison in goal but she producing a fine save

Well done girls, a result that takes us up to second. A difficult choice for player of the match, with the award being split between Grey-Smith and Cunliffe.

Birkdale S visited Town Green Lions on a great day for football. Both teams got stuck in from the start but it was Birkdale who struck first with Welford scoring his 20th of the season. Town Green managed to get a goal back when Birkdale stopped playing due to a misunderstanding from a Town Green free kick in their own half. Birkdale fought back and got a free kick on the edge of the box which Casterton floated into the top corner making it 2-1 to Birkdale.

Town Green again though managed to pull another goal back from a corner, but not long after it was Birkdale`s turn and Welford floated a inch perfect corner for Casterton to nod home to give Birkdale a 3-2 lead. It was looking like a Birkdale win with only three minutes to go but the game seemed to go on for a lot longer and Town Green got the equaliser to make it 3-3, and that was the end of the game. It was a good game of football by both teams – well done.