Sutton United Ladies vs AFC Phoenix WFC

[trev]

I thought that this evening's historic first ever FA Cup tie for Sutton United Ladies warrants a thread of its own.

I know very little about the women's game, although I understand that AFC Phoenix play two divisions above us, so presumably we are the underdogs for this one, even with home advantage. 

In spite of this, I see that we had a very convincing 4-1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge FC on Sunday, which should instil the side with confidence going into this one. 

This will be my first ever attendance at a Sutton United Ladies game, so I'm really looking forward to it...

[Stewart]

Enjoy the game. I expect a full write up tomorrow ;-)

[trev]

Ha, will try and do one tonight if I can, as my band are off on tour tomorrow..

[trev]

Sorry about the slight delay in providing a match report. I felt decidedly chilly after the game, a sensation I can’t remember experiencing for quite some time, so I needed to go for a quick 3 mile run to warm up a bit..

A couple of years ago, a drunken grey-haired American guy and his equally inebriated son invaded the stage during one of my band’s shows, taking over the mic with their slurred vocals. Rather than knock seven bells out of them, we just went with the flow and let them do their thing.

Now, in 2018, the same father and son combo have offered us a substantial sum of money, plus expenses and accommodation, to do a mini-tour of Cornwall this bank holiday weekend. Use of a yacht has also been mentioned. Sometimes it pays to be easy going. Literally.

There’s probably a catch somewhere, and if I wake up on Sunday morning next to a bearded sexagenarian to the words “You're my wife now” then I’ll only have myself to blame..

So surely, the day before embarking on an all expenses paid trip to the farthest flung corner of the country, I was mugging up on the 38 song set we are contractually obliged to play? Of course not, because Sutton United Ladies were playing their first ever game in the preliminary stages of the Women’s FA Cup.

And thus ended the most convoluted introduction to a match report in living memory.

I arrived at Gander Green Lane early, which was just as well, because the turnstiles were closed, so the only way of getting into the ground was through the main entrance and then out through the players’ tunnel. And so, in a similar manner to Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I was transported via unorthodox means to the hitherto unknown realm of women’s football.

I was immediately greeted by the decidedly surreal sight of a coterie of Phoenix players doing their best to practice goalscoring from corners, whilst being harassed and intimidated by the imposing frame of Jenny the Giraffe. She was clearly doing a sterling job, because none of Phoenix’s shots came within a barnyard's door of our goalmouth. Sadly, Jenny must still be waiting for some kind of zoological clearance, as she failed to make the starting eleven, let alone the bench.

Minutes later, without a PA system, both sets of teams walked out onto the pitch in almost complete silence, save for a couple of shouts of “Come on Sutton!” I would guesstimate a total attendance in the region of 50 for this one.

Without the benefit of a programme or a team sheet, combined with my appalling eyesight, the chances of working out who any of our players were, was pretty minimal, team names or no, so apologies in advance for referring to players by their numbers.

It looked as if we set up in a 4-3-3 formation, which seemed like an audacious game plan given our opponents were two divisions above us, although as the game progressed, this settled more into a 4-3-2-1, with our number nine up in the lone striker position.

There was an early corner for the U’s after a decent through ball to our pacey number 9, and from the ensuing corner, our number 6 headed just over the crossbar. A very encouraging start indeed. And that same number 6 was very effective in mopping up any loose balls at the back.

Our number 11 (Perez – one of the few names I could make out with my Mister Magoo-like eyesight) also demonstrated some impressive pace a little behind our number 9 on the left.

Phoenix took advantage of our formation to press us on the flanks, and a burst of pace down the left side saw their player in space, which led our keeper to come racing out of the box. However, our keeper failed to make a full connection with the ball, and we were fortunate that Phoenix failed to capitalise on that early opportunity. It was certainly a warning sign.

With around fifteen minutes to go, it was an evenly contesting game, and impressively so, given the two division difference between the sides.

Moments later, after a heavy challenge on our number 9, we had a free kick just outside the near corner of the penalty area. Instead of lofting it in for a header, our imposing number 4 delivered a delightful looping shot, straight into the top right hand corner. The keeper was certainly not expecting that, and neither was I for that matter. A truly exceptional finish, earning a gushing “YES! BRILLIANT!” from yours truly. Worth the price of admission alone, if it weren’t for the fact it was free to get in.

The yoof behind the Phoenix goal (or should that be the Uth?) took this opportunity to send some jovial banter their keeper’s way, but this was no Dartford snowflake between the sticks, and the lady was clearly made of sterner stuff. The yoof chanting moved on to other more esoteric subject matter, such as the Pope and the IRA, which given AFC Phoenix’s relatively scant history of sectarian violence, was decidedly off-topic. Full marks for the vocal support though, always appreciated.

Our number 4’s unexpected wonder strike spurred Phoenix into action, and a quality save from our keeper prevented an otherwise nailed on equaliser, redeeming her for the earlier rush of blood outside her penalty area.

Shortly before the half, the Phoenix equaliser came, but I had my head buried in a band-related text at the time so I missed it completely. An unforgiveable lapse of concentration from me.

Another header just wide of the post from Phoenix just before the half-time whistle, and the two sides went in at the break one goal apiece with very little to chose between them.

Although our formation remained pretty much the same as before, Phoenix started to play a much higher backline, which meant that our keeper could no longer rush out and make the swift clearances of the first half, but with little action from us on the flanks, there were scant opportunities to punish Phoenix on the counter.

The player most likely to make a difference was our number 15, who had an exquisite first touch, a lightning quick turn somewhat akin to Tommy Wright’s, and a promising array of neat tricks, including backheels. If only she released the ball a little quicker, she would have been a truly potent playmaker in central midfield. Although in fairness, with a lack of options out wide, and our number nine increasingly isolated and tightly marked, she was not exactly spoilt for choice.

As the second half progressed, Phoenix really began to grow into the game, and the gap in the football pyramid between the two sides first started to show. As they pushed further and further up, a rapid succession of Phoenix corners racked up the pressure, but we continued to defend well, and our back four all looked impressive.

With about twenty or so minutes to go, a devastating through ball cut straight through the heart of our defence resulted in a one on one, well placed in the far corner. The best move of the game, and something of a momentum shifter. Our keeper didn’t stand a chance.

After that, Phoenix were unlucky not to extend their lead, as the chances came thick and fast, with a very high line which gave our forwards scant opportunity to even get into their half. It was by this point, that our most industrious players started to flag, and our hardworking number 11 was subbed off. I was acutely aware that with league fixtures not scheduled to start until September, match fitness is still very much an issue, and it became progressively harder for us to match Phoenix’s pace.

Another couple of substitutions were unable to prevent the match from becoming an increasingly one-sided affair, and we definitely missed the presence of our number 4 to marshal the defence when she was subbed off.

We still kept faith with a lone striker upfront, and maybe a more daring approach was necessary in the game dying minutes to try and get back on level terms, although with Phoenix showing no signs of dropping off the pace, in truth we did well to keep the scoreline at 2-1.

A clash of players outside our penalty area saw our left back at number 3 (Stuart) stay down for a prolonged period, and she did well to carry on after that. In spite of hobbling visibly, she showed an impressive degree of grit, and for that she deserves special mention, I just hope she doesn’t pay for it in the morning.

So a well earned round of applause for Sutton United Ladies at the final whistle, to only lose by a single goal to a side two divisions above us is certainly no disgrace, and there was nary a whisker between the teams in the first half, with Phoenix’s experience and fitness levels giving them the edge in the second half.

Although our FA Cup odyssey is at a premature end, I would certainly be interested in seeing some league matches this season, to see how our newly promoted side shape up against more evenly matched opposition. With pre-season fitness still an issue, we will only get stronger as the season progresses, and I definitely hope to put some more names to numbers.

Entertaining football tonight, here’s to more of the same...

[VCLXI]

Well, as summaries go, that was genuinely brilliant. Best post I think I've ever read on here.

With the possible exception of someone who wrote a ditty about Thurrock (or someone) with a similar strip to Brazil.

[trev]

Aug 23, 2018 23:45:34 GMT VCLXI said:

Well, as summaries go, that was genuinely brilliant. Best post I think I've ever read on here.

With the possible exception of someone who wrote a ditty about Thurrock (or someone) with a similar strip to Brazil.

Blimey, high praise indeed. Thanks! 

I ought to point out that I've just read on Sutton United Ladies' Twitter feed that AFC Phoenix are actually three divisions above us. If that's correct, then that makes tonight's performance even more impressive. There certainly didn't look to be 2 divisions of difference between the two sides, let alone three. Every one of those women should be very proud of themselves tonight, they're a credit to the club. 

[VCLXI]

High praise indeed but it made me chuckle and was very succinct.

It makes me chuckle too when people say England made it to a World Cup semi-final for the first time in 28 years. No, it has been 3 years.

People forget women can play football as well.

[trev]

Damn right. It's pretty galling that the England women's U20 team made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup earlier this week with barely a mention anywhere. The game was on Eurosport but I couldn't find anywhere that was showing it. I really wanted to see it as well. The women's game is coming along in leaps and bounds, but the gulf in finance between the women's and men's game is pretty sobering. Do you know how much prize money AFC Phoenix got for their hard-earned FA Cup win today? £325.00. They'll be lucky to cover their travel fares home..

And the winner of the Women's FA Cup will get just 25 grand in prize money. That's the same amount our men's team will get if we win our opening 4th round qualifying match.

It's a funny old game.

[VCLXI]

It's not funny. It's a joke. There are many reasons why I've fallen out of love with top level football and top of the list is money. I will go and watch Sutton play, have free roam, stand where I want, (favourite place, Collingwood Rec side) and watch. Go to Stamford Bridge and I'm penned in like an animal.

Top level football is just not accessible anymore. Too much demand.

Have to say though after watching the Women's World Cup three years ago, I stayed up for the semi-final against Japan when it kicked off at around 2am. Felt so sorry for the poor woman who scored the own goal. Forget her name.

[trev]

Laura Bassett? Yeah, it was heartbreaking that, deep into injury time. Japan are turning into something of a bogey team for us, they knocked our U20's out at the semi-final stage of the World Cup on Monday. I took the day off to see the game as it was a 3 o'clock kickoff, but like I say, I couldn't find anywhere showing it.

[VCLXI]

Yes. No coverage whatsoever and yet we all bang on about our young male teams.

We all obviously have a gripe about Borehamwood but at least the Gooners, Chelsea and now even Man. United are recognising the Women's game.

[trev]

Even West Ham have a team in the Women's Super League now. Not sure how they pulled that off, given that they've never been higher than the third tier, but hopefully they'll invest some proper money in the side now they're in the top flight...

[VCLXI]

Well Karren Brady is the MD....conspiracy theory I know.

[sallycat]

Aug 23, 2018 23:45:34 GMT VCLXI said:

Well, as summaries go, that was genuinely brilliant. Best post I think I've ever read on here.

With the possible exception of someone who wrote a ditty about Thurrock (or someone) with a similar strip to Brazil.

Well I certainly wasn't expecting my daft Thurrock song to get a mention here!

I agree with this assessment otherwise. Brilliant, Trev.

[amberchoc]

Excellent report, Trev.

With regard to coverage of the women’s game, to be fair, there’s now a reasonable amount of live WSL football being shown on both BT Sport and the Red Button, although they do tend to favour the big three (Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal).

For those that are interested, the crunch Women’s World Cup qualifier between Wales and England will be shown live on BBC2 a week today (31/8), 7.45 p.m. kick-off. A decisive result either way will result in automatic qualification for the winners. A draw gives England the chance to top the group by winning their final game against Kazakhstan the following Tuesday.

I’ve only ever been to two matches of women’s football; a friendly in 1991 between England and the USSR (just before the Soviet Union broke up!) and a World Cup qualifier in 2002 between England and Portugal at Fratton Park. I was considering making the trip to Kingsmeadow last season for the Women’s Champions League quarter-final between Chelsea and Montpellier, but didn’t in the end. We must all try harder!