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Eastern Region Women League Table Eastern Region Women Results Grid Kettering Town 2 - 0 Huntingdon Town Ladies FC Huntingdon Town Ladies 2 - 1 Cambridge Women's Reserves After being frozen off last week and then struggling to get a pitch this week it looked like the fixture between Huntingdon Town Ladies and Cambridge Women's Reserves was destined to end badly. However occassionally Huntingdon pull together as a team well enough to defeat even destiny!
The game began fairly evenly, with both sides making tentative attempts to break into the opposition's area. However after the first fifteen minutes Hunts settled down and began to dominate going forwards. They used their two wingers Claire's Knox and Radford well to carve out several openings and win a pletorah of corners. However, Hunts failed to capitalise on any of their chances and the score was even at half time.
It didn't take long for this to change after the restart. Some excellent passing play finally ended with the ball at the feet of midfielder Karen Williams inside the six yard box. She took no time in tapping in, whilst upending herself into the mud in the process!
Unlike recent times Hunts didn't lose their concentration once they scored. They continued to work hard and against additional Cambridge pressure the defensive partnership of Sian Gamble and Chloe Houston remained firm throughout.
Hunts doubled their lead when Williams knocked a pass onto striker Sarah Gee, who found the back of the net and effectively put the game out of Cambridge's reach.
Cambridge did score a late goal however it was merely a consolation as by that time three points were firmly within Huntingdon's grasp.
A well fought and well played win for Huntingdon that takes them up to fifth in the table. Huntingdon Town Ladies 0 - 5 Kettering Everyone tried their best but with a team heavily hit by injuries it was always going to be a tricky week. Histon Hornets 1 - 4 Huntingdon Town Ladies Melling goes to Portugal, Huntingdon have their best win of the season. Standard! Norwich City Reserves 2 - 0 Huntingtown Ladies Histon Hornets A - A Huntingdon Town Ladies Match abandoned due to player injury Cambridge Rangers 0 - 2 Huntingdon Town Ladies Although it is always a well fought, entertaining contest when Cambridge Rangers and Huntingdon Town Ladies meet, it has actually been several years since Hunts last won. Today they put that right!
Hunts started the game brightly and continued in the same vein throughout. They passed the ball well and threatened the Rangers' goal several times early on, particularily when they pushed the ball wide.
Hunts took the lead halfway through the first forty five. Centre half Sian Gamble struck a perfect pass over the top of the Rangers' defence for left winger Claire Knox to run onto, Knox passed squarely into the six yard box where striker Sarah Gee had no trouble in beating the keeper.
The second half continued as the first had left off, Hunts pressed forward and had several more excellent chances. The best of which resulted from a well worked short corner that floated the ball accross to Gee at the far post. Rangers' keeper Tracey Ware-Lane had to produce an excellent point blank save, one of many good saves, to keep the score at 1 nil.
Rangers too had their chances however a 'player of the match' performance from Gamble in defence and a very welcome return from suspension for goalkeeper Laura Gilbey prevented them from scoring.
Hunts finally doubled their lead as a well worked string of passing found Gee in space behind the defence, she squared the ball to Jo Bull at the far post who, on the second attempt, got it past Ware- Lane.
Although Rangers upped the pressure on the Hunts defence it wasn't to be their day and the score remained at two nil.
A well deserved and well played victory for Hunts Town and proof that in the crazy game of football the team at the bottom of the league can beat the team at the top, it all depends who plays best on the day.
Huntingdon Town Ladies 0 - 1 Haverhill The two sides had only met a week before, when Haverhill won 3-0 due to a poor Huntingdon performance in the first half. This week Hunts were determined to play how they had in the second half of that game and push on to a much needed win. For the first half Hunts looked set to do exactly that. They passed the ball on the ground better than they have in previous weeks and their defence appeared to be well organised, helped by a player of the match turn by central defender Sian Gamble. Hunts carved out the better of the first half chances as well, the standout of which fell to winger Claire Knox, who latched onto a well placed ball over the top from Sarah Gee. Knox out paced the Haverhill defence, however their goalkeeper stood her ground well and was able to prevent the goal. The two teams went into the changing rooms with the scores level at nil nil. As the second half got underway it appeared that Haverhill were the team who emerged from the changing rooms freshest. They took advantage of some poor Hunts defending and took the lead. Hunts rallied around and battled against the difficult winds, and fear of defeat, they carved out several chances in what remained of the half, yet never managed to give striker Sarah Gee the killer ball that could put them back into the game. Hunts may feel disheartened to lose a game that they should have won easily, however there are a lot of positives that can be drawn on from the performance. Haverhill Rovers 3-0 Huntingdon Town Ladies Huntingdon slipped to a forth straight league defeat at the hands of bottom placed Haverhill this weekend. Huntingdon started the brightest and carved out a chance in the opening few minutes but a Sarah Gee shot zipped just wide of the post.
Haverhill upped their game and started to dominate as Huntingdon lost their shape, and were rewarded after 20 minutes when a speculative free kick eluded the defence and goalkeeper and bounced into the net.
Rovers doubled the lead a few minutes later when the Huntingdon defence failed to clear a simple ball, which saw Haverhill react the quickest.
More bad news was to follow as goalkeeper Anna Parks, who had just returned after a seven week injury lay off limped off injured, to be replaced by Hannah Price.
The final goal came from a corner which saw the Haverhill attacker rise unchallenged in the Huntingdon six yard box and head home.
The second half saw a much improved performance, with Huntingdon finally starting to pass the ball on the ground and support each other. Huntingdon managed to win an impressive eleven corners but just could not find the finishing touch to get a goal the richly deserved
Team manager Ben Cook said “The second half was much better. The players know what they need to do to compete in this league. We play Haverhill again this Sunday and I expect a much better performance. We need to compete over 90 minutes not just 45” Huntingdon Town Ladies 1 - 6 Norwich City Reserves They whooped us, tenna says they get promoted!! Cambridge Women's Reserves 5 - 2 Huntingdon Town Ladies Huntingdon went into Sunday's game with low confidence after losing consecutive cup games in previous weeks.
The first half began at a quick pace with both teams keen to push forwards and take an early lead. It was Cambridge who succeeded after some slopping Hunts defending gave them an opening on goal. Hunts could have soon drawn the game level however without a UEFA appointed fifth referee behind the goal, no-one was able to tell if Jo Bull's shot hit the crossbar and went in or not. Hunts did create several good chances in what remained of the half and their passing play going forwards was excellent. They drew the game level when a Rachel Bowd corner found the head of Sian Gamble, however the relief was short lived as another defencive lapse gave Cambridge a 2-1 lead at half time.
All Hunts hope was extinguished shortly after the half began as Cambridge took their lead first to 3 and then onto 4-1. Further pain was felt as goalkeeper Hannah Price limped off injured leaving Captain Karen Williams the painful task of donning the gloves. Hunts clawed a goal back with 15 minutes to go, as Sarah Gee connected with another corner, but as was the story of the afternoon, their hope remained only for minutes as Cambridge found the net once more. Huntingdon Town Ladies 1 - 2 Oadby & Wigston - FA WOMENS CUP Huntingdon Town Ladies met Oadby and Wigston Ladies on Sunday for the first time in the clubs' histories in the 1st qualifying round of the Women's FA Cup. As Oadby and Wigston play their football at the same level as Huntingdon hopes were high of a good game. However, the game turned out to be good but not for the home team.
Hunts first half was sloppy, they rarely got the ball out to their wingers and failed to string many passes together or in fact create a great deal of chances. Some excellent last ditch defending kept the scores at nil nil for most of the half, however it was only a matter of time before Hunts were punished. Unfortunately the punishment arrived in double as Oadby scored twice within minutes of one another right on the edge of half time.
Hunts played significantly better in the second half. They retained the ball more, won more tackles on the ground and in the air and created some, although no clear cut, openings for their strikers. Goalkeeper Laura Gilbey kept the hopes of a comeback alive with a clutch of timely saves, proving that she'll be a massive loss now that her suspension has began.
Hunts gave themselves a glimmer of hope in the dying minutes when Sarah Gee fired home from a Jess Guthrie header, but with 30 seconds to go it was too little too late and they plummeted out of the FA cup. Here's hoping they can do better in the league cup next week. Huntingdon Town Ladies 7 - 2 Histon Hornets After a disappointing defeat last week, Huntingdon were determined to make amends and did so in some style, thumping 7 past Histon Hornets. Hunts took the lead early when a speculative effort by Tash Dowdell from just inside the Histon half caught the 'keeper off guard. The lead was soon doubled as Claire Radford made a superb run down the right touchline and smashed it into the top corner. Histon managed to pull the game back into their reach, but for only a few minutes, as Huntingdon striker Sarah Gee scored almost immediatley after the restart. Despite the contant pressure, Histon once again fought back and Huntingdon went into the second half with a tenuoius one goal lead. A rousing team talk from manager Ben Cook saw the Hunts ladies play some brilliant football with Amanda Godfrey adding her name to the score sheet, Radford firing in a brace and Sarah Gee completing her hat trick. This was undoubtedly Hunts' best performance of the season and will boost their confidence ahead of the upcoming FA Cup match in a few weeks time. Huntingdon Town Ladies 1 - 2 Cambridge Rangers Hunts Ladies first home game of the season took place on Sunday against Cambridge Rangers. Historically Rangers normally get the better of Huntingdon, although its always a well fought contest. Today history was to remain unchanged.
The majority of the first half was a scrappy affair, with neither team managing to create a lot of space of any clear cut chances on goal. Hunts best effort came halfway through when the Rangers keeper saved three scrambled shots, from upclose, in a row. Rangers were the team to take the halftime lead though, as some tired Hunts defending gave Nadine Sillence an easy tap it. Rangers and Sillence could have easily doubled their lead only moments later, however their goal was ruled offside by the referree.
Hunts failed to up their game in the second half and it was only when Rangers scored again that they began to wake up. Hunts picked up their heads and battled on, earning themselves a goal that was well worked between Sarah Gee and Claire Radford who put it away. However it was a case of too little too late, and the game ended 2-1. Yaxley 1 - 2 Huntingdon Town Ladies Both teams started the game positively and it was Yaxley who took the lead, when striker Jodie Bartle outpaced the Hunts defence to slot past the keeper. Hunts failed to let this rattle them, they upped the work rate and began passing the ball on the floor to create chances. They levelled the score with an Amanda Godfrey freekick, that curled in from the outside right of the penalty area missing everyone on its way to the goal. The score didnt remain level for long as Hunts built on their lead. Some good passing play brought the ball to striker Nadine Bowles who deftly stepped past too defenders to pass into the area and the oncoming run of right winger Claire Radford, who blasted the ball past the keeper.
The score remained the same for the rest of the game. Huntingdon proved that the stubborn resilience that they displayed the previous week was not a one off as they withstood continuous pressure from Yaxley for the entire second half.
However, as with the previous week, the major talking point of the second half occured in the last fifteen minutes of the game when striker Nadine Bowles, when twisting for the ball, damaged her knee. The game was suspended as an ambulance was called, and the player was taken off to hospital.
Hunts kept their heads when the game resumed and goalkeeper Laura Gilbey kept the net empty to keep the score at 2-1 when the whistle was finally blown.
Huntingdon are now 2nd in their league and with 4 points from two games are having their most successful start to a campaign for seasons. We'll cross our fingers that next week they manage to get through the final fifteen minutes without any drama, and that spurred on by their success Bowles makes a speedy recovery. First Game of the 2009-10 Season! Ipswich Wanderers 2 - 2 Huntingdon Town Ladies Sunday 23rd August 2pm and the summer's peace is broken as the new Ladies football season kicked off for Huntingdon Town.
There have been a few changes to the Huntingdon Town Ladies line up since the end of last season, with plenty of new faces arriving to challenge for a place in the starting eleven. The summer has also seen the departure to Peterborough Azure of Stephanie Day. After several years of being a key figure, both on and off the field, Stef has now moved onto pastures new and we'd like to take this opportunity to wish her well; she's leaving very big boots (and an even bigger mouth) to fill.
The team may have been new, however the opposition was an enemy of old, as Huntingdon made the long journey down the A14 to take on Ipswich, who they last played in their victorious Cup final in May.
The game started scrapilly with challenges wildly flying in from both teams on the hard, dry and therefore incredibly quick pitch. It was Ipswich who scored first, latching onto a through ball their forward out muscled the Hunts defence to score. It was this goal however, that galvanised the Huntingdon Team; they started to win the ball more and dominate in midfield. They drew the game level with a free kick that Hunts defender Sian Gamble expertly placed onto the waiting head of new signing striker Sarah Gee.
With the scores level at half time Hunts came out roaring and continued where they left off after the break. After Gee doubled her tally for the game Hunts looked to be progressing towards a perfect start to the season, however things at Huntingdon are never that simple.
With not long to go an Ipswich corner resulted in an incredibly dubious goal being scored, by the home team, even though the assistant referee signalled that the ball had failed to go into play. To make matters worse in the resulting melee both goalkeeper and captain were given red cards leaving Huntingdon to battle the last fifteen minutes out with only nine.
To their absolute credit the remaining nine players, including player of the match Anna Parks who stepped into goal, battled stubbornly and refused to give up their one remaining point. It is this determination in winning a point that should be remembered from the game, rather than ruing the two that were lost.
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Fixtures & Results
