Second Half Fightback Secures The 3 Points

It was the final home game of the season for AFC Telford United Women before they face 4 away league games to conclude the season. Sunday they welcomed Lichfield City to TCAT College. The sides had previously faced each other in the league cup with the Bucks running out 4-0 winners. However, it was expected to be a much closer contest this time out.

It was the away side that started the game the brightest and shocked the Bucks by taking the lead in the 4th minute. A neatly threaded ball left the City player in 1v1. They were able to get ahead of keeper Beth Owens to prod the ball home. For the majority of the first half, it was a case of plenty of half chances but no meaningful sights at goal. That was until the 38th minute when the visitors should have extended their lead. With space on the right, a low cross found the Lichfield striker 12 yards from goal who had time to shoot. However, Owens was equal to this with a smart save low to her right.

HALF TIME: AFC Telford 0 Lichfield City 1

10 minutes into the second half, the Bucks had their best chance of the game. Fresh from her 4 goals last week, Liv Bellamy was played in 1v1 but her low finish drifted agonisingly wide of the far right post. Straight up the other end, Lichfield had a chance to double their lead but an attempted lob drifted over the crossbar.

Just past the hour mark and the scores were level. Jem Smith picked the ball up in the middle of the park and with space to pick her spot found Bellamy with space to run onto. Similar to her chance earlier in the half she was one on one with the keeper but this time found the right side of the post to draw her side level. 2 minutes later and their was a chance for the home side to take the lead. Good work from Skye Hipkiss down the right found Abi Beady in the box. However, the keeper was quick to pounce on her first touch to smother at her feet.

On 74 minutes and it was deja vu as Bellamy was in again 1v1 but this time was denied by a smart save from the keeper. Moments later Abby White managed to beat 3 players on the edge of the box before her low angled drive was tipped around the post by the Lichfield keeper.

As it looked like the Bucks were heading towards another draw, with 6 minutes to go they took the lead. A move which started from the Bucks own box with Hope Dunn who surged 40 yards into the Lichfield half. Her threaded pass found Liv Bellamy in a great position who dropped a shoulder to beat the defender before firing past the keeper; her 6th goal in just 2 games.

In injury time there was an opportunity for the home side to extend their lead; a scoreline that would somewhat flatter them. However, the Lichfield keeper pulled off another fingertip save to deny Woodhouse.

FULL TIME: AFC Telford 2 Lichfield City 1