Birkdale United AFC

A Sunday afternoon kick-off saw Birkdale Diamonds face Southport Ladies. A freshly mown pitch with lots of loose damp grass made playing a ball across the surface very difficult. At times the ball clogged in the grass. This was something of a derby game, as lots of the girls go to school together.

Another away game, this time to Euxton. Another slow start by the girls, but they only went in at half time 1-0 down after a long range effort beat Harrison in goal and Euxton edged the half 60/40. In the second half, Birkdale were by far the better team dominating the half 80/20 with constant pressure and lots of corners but just couldn’t score the equalizer.Keep going girls, your luck will change soon. WELL DONE!

A very difficult away cup fixture faced Birkdale today, against the top of
the North division. The day began with a long journey to Bolton and an early
kick off. The pitch was heavy but playable.A fter a couple of minutes Birkdale
found themselves a goal down. Birkdale immediately fought back and had a good
spell of pressure keeping Academy in their on half.A counter attack and
defensive error led to Birkdale conceeding another goal. The game continued
with pressure at both ends. However it was Academy who added to the score
sheet. The half closed 4-0, but the scoreline flattered as Academy had taken their
chances and finished well, which Birkdale never did.

The second half was far closer and finished 2-0 to Academy leaving an overall score of 6-0 to Academy.On a positive note Birkdale never let their heads drop and at times played some
good football  

Anxious to get their first win, the girls went into this game with great determination.  They played really well against a good Athletico team who hadn’t lost a match.  Despite having quite a few chances in the first half the score remained 0-0 at half time.

 In the second half the girls dominated the match and soon went 1-0 up.  This seemed to spur them on even more and they played some great football and soon went 2-0 up.  It was an exciting game and both teams played really well but when the third goal went in for Birkdale it was great for the girls to get their well-deserved first win. Final score 3-0 though it could have been more.

Both teams should be proud of themselves.

Player of the match:   E. Alderson.

The first half saw Edmondson standing in for our absent goalkeeper. The girls battled hard against a tough Burnley side and finished the first half 2-0 down.

The second half Mills, who was playing her first match, went into goal. Birkdale had a few near misses and were awarded a penalty but were unlucky as it went just passed the post. The game finished 6-0 to Burnley.

Well done girls for a good try on what was a match in tough conditions.

Player of the Match: E. Alderson　

The venue  today was  Redgate school, Formby. The boys were there early, eager to get the three points. They were up for it. Rawling was in top form - he was going to take no nonsense of anyone especially the manager, he was in no mood for cuddles. Ankers was to make his debut for birkdale, we had paid a record transfer fee for this lad. Well done, great start. Allen was in fine form in defence and upfront, pleasure to watch. Pritchard had a couple of chances on goal in the first half. Keep your head up, you’re a brilliant player. You’ll get there mate.

Local derbies were all the rage this Sunday, and while Liverpool were winning the bragging rights over Manchester United, one of the more entertaining and hardly-fought local rivalries in girls and women’s football was being resumed at Bedford Park. Birkdale found themselves up against friendly rivals Town Green, with many of the players and coaching staff being good friends, this was certainly a game where both sides knew a lot about each other.

The Birkdale squad showed a few changes, with Birnie returning in place of the unavailable McEvoy. Tuakli was still injured, but Griner returned to the squad and Corrigan was ready to make her debut, so Birkdale had the full compliment of 16 players, although Birnie’s participation was limited to just over a half due to her work commitments. Conditions were very windy and therefore it was important to keep the ball on the floor as much as possible.

The home side started brightly and Gillingham and Cooper were putting the visitors under a great deal of pressure. It paid instant dividends as White and Jackson combined to put a through ball into the path of Cooper, who drew the keeper and finished low into the corner to give the home side the lead.

If anything, however, this early goal meant that the home side relaxed too much and allowed Town Green far too much of the play. There was too much ill-discipline in the home team’s display and they weren’t closing their opponents down quickly enough. They paid the ultimate price as a ball was chipped over the defence to find a Town Green forward one-on-one with Hesketh, who was given no chance with an excellent lobbed finish.

This focussed some of the home team’s minds and they upped the tempo, but in truth the final ball was lacking far too often, and the visitors found their opponents’ attacking play far too predictable. As it was, when the home side did retake the lead, there was more than an element of fortune about it. Cooper worked hard on the edge of the area and found the space to release a shot, but it took a huge deflection off a Town Green defender and gave Rimmer in the visitors’ goal no chance whatsoever.

For the first time in the game, Birkdale started to put some good play together and a third goal followed shortly after. Waring had only just come onto the pitch as a substitute when she was found by an excellent pass from Jackson, one-on-one with the keeper. She kept her composure and curled a superb finish into the top left-hand corner of the goal. The home side looked for a fourth to kill the game off but Jackson, Waring and Griner were all thwarted by good goalkeeping and determined defending.

At half time, with the score 3-1 to the home side, Noel and Dave told their team that the performance level really hadn’t been good enough, and that they needed to raise their game if they were going to get anything out of the game. So far they had not battled hard enough against a strong and conscientious opponent, and they needed to rectify this in admittedly difficult conditions.

The players heeded their coaches’ words well, and while their performance was not as good as it had been against the likes of Tranmere, it was certainly a huge step forward on the first half. Defensively, they played excellently, with White slotting into the defence in Birnie’s absence and performing admirably. The home side created a number of chances but were unable to take them, with Cooper, Waring, Griner and Corrigan all being foiled. In the end, desite an industrious performance from both sides, there were no goals in the second period, resulting in a 3-1 win for the home team.

At the end of the game, Noel and Dave told the girls that the second half had been a huge improvement on the first, but they needed to try to make sure that they didn’t let themselves start as slowly in the future. The sign of a good side is to not play to its potential and still win, which is what they did against a committed and competitive Town Green side. They need to heed the warning from this game and learn the lessons from it, and address them in future matches.

The Player of the Match, awarded by Town Green,, went to L. White.
The Manager’s Player of the Match was awarded to M. Coulter.

The team was: Hesketh, Davidson, Coulter (c), Lloyd, Birnie, Cooper, Griffiths, Jackson, Granby, Gillingham, White, Waring, Dixon, Corrigan, Griner and Ferguson.

After the previous week’s excellent draw against Tranmere, Birkdale faced a different challenge against a Corinthians side who had not played many games in the league up until this point. The Birkdale squad had a couple of changes from the previous week, with McEvoy in for Birnie who was unavailable, and Griner was also not able to play. On the plus side, Ferguson was in line to make her debut and she started on the bench, along with Waring who was available once again.

The home team started brightly and put the visitors under early pressure, which led to an early goal. Granby and White combined to feed Cooper in the inside left. She hit a shot powerfully towards goal which was touched onto the inside of the post, but Gillingham was on hand to put the ball into the unguarded net. Birkdale doubled their lead shortly afterwards, as Davidson lifted an excellent and accurate pass into Gillingham’s path. She used her pace to get past the defender and then, as the keeper advanced, chipped her from the angle of the box for a superb second goal.

Birkdale relaxed a little and got a bit sloppy, but then rediscovered their composure and put together a great third goal. Griffiths and Gillingham combined down the right and the latter hit in a low cross which Cooper dummied for the onrunning White to sweep powerfully into the corner of the net for her first goal since joining the club. Shortly afterwards it was four, as White’s corner from the left was cleared back to her, and she hit the ball back into the area for Jackson to hit a controlled side-foot volley into the top corner.

There were two more goals before half-time. The first saw Cooper get her name on the scoresheet with an excellent piece of skill after receiving the ball from Griffiths. She beat two players and hit a powerful low shot from the edge of the area. Waring then scored the final goal of the half after good work from Ferguson and White. There were other chances for Ferguson, Gillingham and Waring, but the half-time whistle went to see the home side six goals to the good.

Noel and Dave told the girls at half time that they had played well in patches but at times had been sloppy, relaxing too much and not putting in the requisite work. They needed to reapply themselves strongly at the start of the second half.

In fairness to the team, they took their coaches’ words to heart and killed the game off within five minutes. Firstly, a flowing move starting with Davidson at right back saw Griffiths feed a ball into Waring who flicked the ball cleverly into the path of Gillingham, who finished unerringly to record her first hat-trick of the season. Shortly after, Griffiths and Gillingham combined to present Waring with the simplest of chances to fire accurately into the net.

After this, the players visibly and understandbly relaxed, still playing some good football but not going for the jugular. Davidson and Griffiths were unlucky not to add to the scoresheet, although the return of Cooper to the pitch saw more action infront of goal. A Corinthians corner led to Birkdale’s ninth goal, as Davidson’s excellent through ball from inside her own half saw Cooper through to finish neatly past the exposed keeper, and then a great move involving Granby and Ferguson saw Cooper in to finish low into the corner and complete her own hat-trick, taking the home team’s score into double figures.

There was only one further goal to report, and it was a popular one amongst the team. With the last move of the match, Davidson and White linked up to free Griffiths down the right, and she squared the ball into the path of Coulter, who finished like an expert striker for her first goal in three years. As soon as this goal had been scored, the whistle went to signal a resounding victory for the home side.

Great credit must go to the visitors, who showed considerable effort, determination and commitment throughout the game. The home side played very well in spells but need to ensure that they avoid losing concentration when it seems like they are in the ascendancy. A good result and a joy to watch at times, well done Ladies.

The Player of the Match, awarded by Corinthians, went to A. Cooper.
The Manager’s Player of the Match was shared between L. Davidson and E. Griffiths.

The team was: Hesketh, Davidson, Coulter (c), Lloyd, Cooper, Griffiths, Jackson, Granby, Gillingham, White, McEvoy, Waring, Dixon, and Ferguson.

After the great fightback against Dingle of the previous week, Birkdale Ladies faced their toughest test of the season with a match against a Tranmere team who boasted a 100% record prior to the game. What made the task at hand even more difficult was that their three wins had come against Mossley Hill, Dingle and Liverpool Feds, widely considered three of the strongest teams in the division. Noel and Dave opted for a change in formation to a back four, with Birnie coming in for McEvoy at the back to play alongside the returning Lloyd- although McEvoy would take Birnie’s place for the second half as they shared the crucial role.

The start to the match was quite cagy with the home side maintaining their discipline as Tranmere probed and looked for an opening without avail, as Birkdale kept their concentration and maintained discipline. The game became a bit more even and stretched as Birkdale gained in confidence, beginning to put together a few moves on their own. However, their good work was almost undone when Tranmere were awarded a penalty, after a forward went over Dixon’s outsretched leg. While there was no doubt it was a foul, it certainly appeared that the visiting player was looking for the contact. However, the Tranmere penalty taker blasted her kick high and wide, and as a result, parity was maintained at the break.

Boosted by a rousing team-talk, the home side came out and began to put their more illustrious opponents under pressure, starting to test the keeper more and cause them problems. However, just as they looked as they were beginning to gain a foothold in the game, they went behind. A corner from the right was not cleared properly and an unmarked player on the edge of the area fired through a crowd of players giving Hesketh no chance.

To the great credit of the home side, their response was swift. A passing move involving Granby, White, Griner and Jackson saw Cooper released and she hit a low, swerving shot from the edge of the area which gave the keeper no chance.

This further motivated the Blues and they flowed forward with confidence, with Cooper and Griner both having chances to put the home side into the lead. However once again a momentary lapse in concentration would cost them, as a loose ball was only cleared to the edge of the area and a Tranmere forward finished with accuracy to put them back in the lead.

Once again, Birkdale showed grit and determination, and managed to draw themselves level – and what a goal it was. Griner picked up the ball on the half-way line and began a jinking run which saw her beat five players before finding herself one-on-one with the keeper. She kept calm and finished neatly in the corner for one of the best goals seen at Bedford Park in many years.

Both teams had confidence for the win now and it was real end-to-end football throughout. Tranmere were presented with another golden opportunity to take the lead when Hesketh raced from her line to collect a loose ball but only succeeded in fouling the Tranmere forward for another penalty. To her immense credit, she fully redeemed herself by saving the penalty and the follow-up, while a second follow-up hit the outside of the post and spun away to safety. Both teams had chances to win the game but in the end it finished up in a creditable and entertaining 2-2 draw.

Noel and Dave were absolutely delighted with the performance of the Ladies against a very skillful and determined opponent. Through the character they had shown in the last two games they have proved that they can compete with teams at this level and should take great confidence from their displays. They have set fantastic standards for themselves now and need to ensure that they do not let them drop. Well done and thank you!

The Player of the Match, awarded by Tranmere, went to S. Hesketh.
The Manager’s Player of the Match award went to the whole team.

The team was: Hesketh, Davidson, Coulter (c), Lloyd, Birnie, Cooper, Griffiths, Jackson, Granby, Gillingham, White, Dixon, McEvoy and Griner.

The Ladies’ first away trip of the season saw them make the journey along Otterspool Promenade to Jericho Lane, to face high-flying Dingle Ladies. The Ladies were without Birnie and Lloyd from the previous game but had Waring back to take her place on the bench. Noel and Dave decided to give McEvoy a start after her impressive display in the previous game.

The visitors started brightly but were finding two things difficult – namely the small nature of the pitch which gave them no space to work in, and the very physical nature of the opposition. As the half went on the home side began to grow into the ascendancy and Hesketh made a number of excellent saves. However, she could do nothing about the way in which Dingle took the lead, as a clearance from White was blocked at point-blank range by a Dingle forward and rebounded into the net at such a pace that it was past the keeper before she could even move.

The visitors were shaken by this and the home side swiftly doubled their lead with a long-range shot which swirled in the wind and dropped over Hesketh’s despairing dive. The Blues rallied and showed a lot more after this, and were unlucky not to score through Cooper and Gillingham. However, it was the home side who further increased their advantage when the visitors lost the ball in midfield and fed the ball to the right-hand side, with the forward finishing with power and precision. That saw the Ladies come in at half-time three goals down.

Noel and Dave spoke to the Ladies and told them they needed to close down quicker and be more combatative in the second half. They still weren’t out of the game and needed to strike early in order to make a statement. The next goal would be crucial.

While the first half had admittedly been a below-par performance, the same could not be said of the second half. Birkdale were first to every ball and worked incredibly hard while moving the ball quickly and accurately. They got a foothold back in the game after five minutes, when Waring fed off a through ball from Griner and held off her marker powerfully, only for her to be on the receiving end of a late tackle just inside the area. While Waring did not go to the ground, the referee deemed the tackle to be a foul and awarded the penalty. Griner converted the spot-kick with accuracy and it was game on. Shortly afterwards, the deficit was but a single goal. A neat passing move involving Jackson and White saw Griner feed Cooper who took one look and then lobbed the keeper from 20 yards for an excellent goal.

The Ladies were buoyed by this but had to be wary of counter-attacks from the home side, but the defence and McEvoy in particular dealt with these extremely well. There was then controversy as a Cooper shot was spilled by the keeper and appeared to all present to go into the net and come out of the side of it, however the referee did not award the goal. The game became quite niggly at this point and there were a few late challenges as tempers boiled over. However, with eight minutes to go the comeback was complete as Waring cut in from the left and crossed the ball into Jackson, who lifted an accurate shot over the advancing keeper.

Both sides had further chances to win the game – with the home side having a couple of free-kicks in dangerous positions – but in the end the game ended in an exciting draw.

Noel and Dave told the players that they had been very proud of their second half performance, in terms of the quality they had displayed but also the attitude and commitment they had shown. It was a clear sign they were acclimatising to adult football. They should take great heart from their display and put it into the forthcoming games, starting next week against Tranmere.

The Player of the Match, awarded by Dingle, went to A. Cooper.
The Manager’s Player of the Match went to A. McEvoy.

The team was: Hesketh, Davidson, Coulter (c), Tuakli, Cooper, Dixon , Jackson,  Granby, Gillingham, White, McEvoy, Waring, Griffiths and Griner.

The boys arrived early, full of anticipation and a great will to win this game . Young Pritchard took the warm up. It was a warm up with a difference, run as far away from the manager as possible find a tree and climb it. Fantastic, well done…

Our third game of the season and only the third match the girls have played together as a team. The parents had high hopes for this game as the girls were starting to gel as a team.

It was a determined start to the match for the Birkdale girls, with a near goal within the first few minutes . Birkdale Girls dominated the game in the first half, the defence were strong and the midfield kept blocking and getting the ball back up to Burscough’s half but after quite a few good passes and shots from the forwards it wasn’t for going into the back of the net. Then seconds before half time out of nowhere Burscough managed to sneak in a well-taken goal.

The second half started with McGuire the goalkeeper not being able to play due to a wrist injury. Emily did a great job replacing her in goal. Again Birkdale played a great second half but could not get the ball into the net.

A great match by both teams but an unfortunate 1-0 defeat to Birkdale.

Well done girls, we all enjoyed the match.

Player of the Match: C. MacBeth

The game got under way on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. Birkdale girls struggled at first to get out of their own half as Athletico pressed, but the defence of G Cunliffe, E Core and C Mentha and keeper E Harrison stood firm, and eventually the game evened out. Birkdale, however looked out of sorts. The deadlock was broken by an accidental own goal by a Birkdale player who was trying to block a shot which deflected into the net. The midfield of L Smith, T Elliot, R Hubbard and C Molyneux - with V Grocott coming on as sub - battled hard but the game was narrow with little width. Soon Birkdale applied some good pressure resulting in a great long range effort from R Hubbard which made the score line 1-1.

The second half commenced with Birkdale playing slightly better but still far from their best. L Edmondson had a couple of good chances after managing to lose the two defenders who where constantly marking her. More substitutions rolled on and off with the introduction of A Welford. Birkdale began to look tired, several girls had been on the sick list  that week and some right up until the day before the match. I believe that this contributed to the eventual result. During the second half both teams had their chances but most notably Athletico had two very good shots forcing one fine and one outstanding save from keeper E Harrison. It wasn’t to be Birkdale’s day today though, as they conceded with only a couple of minutes left to play making it 2-1. Although they threw everything into the remaining minutes  pushing A Welford up front and nearly equalised, it wasn’t to be. The game closed 2-1 to Athletico.