Carr Vale Angels 4 – 0 Middlewood Rovers

Two goals in each half were enough for the Angels to progress to the next round of the cup.

With a bare eleven players Vale started brightly and enjoyed an early spell of possession. This lead to a corner following good pressing by Alton. Owen swung the corner over into the danger area, Alton showed excellent control before laying the ball off to Marriott on the edge of the area. Her shot went across the keeper and into the far corner. Middlewood responded but could find no way past Evill and Dickinson on the left and in midfield Linacre, Owen and Marriott were closing down the opposition quickly. The Angels went further ahead when Marriott won the ball in midfield and spotted the run of Alton. She outpaced the defence before calmly passing the ball into the net from 18yds. Rovers attacked again and created space for a shot from distance which struck the bar and went over. More and more Middlewood pressed forward looking for a way through the Angels defence, but Nuttall, Whybrow, Burbanks and Evill were in outstanding form to keep the attackers at bay. Although defending strongly the Angels were still a threat on the counter attack and were close to going further ahead.  Owen brought the ball out of her own half before finding Alton, she quickly found space to shoot. The shot was saved, Owen followed up with another shot which was saved again before falling to Marriot who fired just wide.

The second half continued with Middlewood attacking and although they had chances Wall in goal wasn’t seriously tested. Vale had a chance to extend their lead when Nuttall won the ball with a strong challenge before finding Marriott; she linked up with Alton to force a corner. Owen’s kick bounced right in front of goal and then to safety when only the slightest of touches would have been enough to score. The Angels did go further ahead shortly afterwards. Gore chased downed a long clearance and outpaced the defender who brought her down. Owen’s free kick was dropped by the keeper and Alton was on hand to tap home. Again Rover pushed forward but there was no way through the defence as the Angels were on their way to the first clean sheet of the season. Another long clearance was chased down, this time by Alton who won a corner. The kick was cleared out to Nuttall whose first time pass was flicked on by Linacre into the path of Alton. She held off the defenders challenge before poking home for her hat trick. Marriott had a chance late on when she sidestepped the defender before shooting but the keeper made a good save.

The referee’s player of the match was Nuttall

Chesterfield Ladies 4 – 0 Carr Vale Angels

The Angels were slow off the mark today. For the first 20 minutes it was all one traffic with Chesterfield scoring twice. Gradually Vale got back into it with Evill defending strongly against the speedy winger and very often linking up with Mapley to provide a springboard for the next attack. The aerial threat was snuffed out by Whybrow who was strong in the air all game. Nuttall started to settle into the team, particularly in defence. Jacques was quick off her line many times to halt the Chesterfield forwards. The Angels almost pulled a goal back with a good move down the right. Wall and Dickinson combined to find Owen in space, she rounded the keeper, but a defender recovered quickly to block the shot. Encouraged by this Vale pushed forward, Marriott played a delightful defence splitting pass out onto the right, but unfortunately the resulting cross was cleared. With half time approaching Chesterfield scored a third. The midfield player picked the ball up near the touch line before cutting inside and hitting an unstoppable shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

The Angels started the second half strongly. Evill came out of a crunching tackle with the ball and played in Mapley on the wing. She passed inside to Owen who quickly released Burbanks in space; her run took her past the first defender before setting up Mapley to shoot from 12yds. The shot whizzed past the wrong side of the post. Midway through the half the Angels paid the price for pressing forward when Chesterfield scored again with the attacker breaking clear and giving Jacques no chance with a low shot. Alton and Lancaster worked tirelessly all game but were unable to find a way through the strong home defence.

The referee’s player of the match was Owen

Sheffield Wednesday 6 – 0 Carr Vale Angels

Winter arrived in Sheffield five minutes before the match was due to start with icy winds and rain lashing across the playing surface. Straight from the kick off Wednesday were on the attack. Wall and Burbanks worked hard and tackled strongly to contain the forwards. The opening goal would have been a contender for any goal of the month competition. The ball was laid off to the midfield player who hit a 25yd dipping shot into the top corner. A corner soon followed which was headed goal bound from close range, but Dickinson reacted quickly to make a great save. Sheffield went further ahead with another stunning goal, again from outside the area, giving the keeper no chance to save. The Angels tried to counter attack with Mapley, Gore, Alton and Owen linking up well, but they were always restricted to long range efforts. As half time approached Wednesday went further ahead. The winger whipped in a cross to the near post which deflected into the path of the forward who made no mistake from 6yds.

The second half had barely started before Dickinson was called into action again. The forward found space in the box and looked certain to score until a diving save pushed the ball onto the bar and away to safety. Evill and Lancaster were always in the thick of the action breaking up Sheffield attacks. Marriott and Linacre ran tirelessly in midfield closing down the opposition. Wednesday scored three more goals using their skill and the terrible conditions to their advantage. In the later stages the Angels forced a corner following good work from Alton, Owen and Mapley, but they were unable to score a consolation goal.

The referee’s player of the match was Owen

Sheffield Rangers 1 – 6 Carr Vale Angels

At the previous meeting of these two teams the Angels suffered their heaviest defeat of the season. So the girls were keen to make more of a game of it this time out.

Rangers controlled the early stages of the match and enjoyed long periods of possession but Whybrow and Burbanks worked well together to snuff out any threat on goal and Evill and Dickinson kept a tight grip on the wingers to keep the ball away from the danger area. With probably their first attack of the game Carr Vale took the lead. Alton was fouled some 35yds from goal, Owen knocked the kick goalwards and watched as the unfortunate keeper let the ball slip past her and into the net. Now enjoying more of the game the Angels went further ahead. From a throw in Marriott, Alton and Owen stretched Rangers with their passing before releasing Mapley on the wing; her cross was met at the back post by Wall who coolly slotted home. Again Rangers pushed forward, but they were unable to penetrate the defence and test Jacques in goal. Just before half time Alton nearly made it three, Marriott released her with a defence splitting pass, but she was unable to find the target from a tight angle.

The Angels came out for the second half looking for more goals. Owen put Alton through but her progress was stopped by a clattering challenge from the keeper which left both girls requiring lengthy treatment. From the re-start Owen fired in a free kick which Wall guided into the goal with the keeper stranded. The fourth goal was rather fortunate, Linacre combined with Gore and Wall before finding Alton on the wing, her cross was spilled by the keeper giving Mapley an easy tap in. Rangers responded with a tactical shake up and immediately were on the attack. They created space on the edge of the box for the forward to strike a curling shot onto the post.  The rebound was cracked goalwards but Jacques was positioned perfectly to make the save look easy. With another attack Rangers did pull a goal back. The Vale defence didn’t clear the danger quickly enough and the forward nipped in to steal the ball and score from an acute angle. Straight from the kick off Owen found Mapley in space to shoot from distance. As the ball came back off the post Gore was quickest to react and calmly found the target. To complete the scoring the Angels put together a move practised on the training ground. Linacre, Wall and Owen pulled the defence out of shape with their crisp passing to create space on the wing for Alton to cross. Gore was first to the ball and laid it back for Owen to smash into the top corner from the edge of the box.

The referee’s player of the match was Owen

Carr Vale Angels 2 – 3 Barnsley Girls

With their first win of the season last week the Angels were looking to make it two in a row. They started strongly and went close when Owen’s 30yd shot dropped just over the bar and Dickinson’s shot from a corner went the wrong side of the post. Barnsley mounted their own attacks and took the lead when an inswinging corner flew straight in at the near post. Following the goal Whybrow and Burbank took control in defence and the Barnsley forwards barely got a look in for the remainder of the half. Evill combined well with Mapley on the left and Lancaster and Dickinson looked comfortable on the right. The Angels equalised when Marriott’s excellent through ball released Alton whose unstoppable shot from the edge of the box flew past the keeper before she had chance to move. Gore, Mapley and Owen linked up well to stretch the Barnsley defence, which created the opportunity for Marriott to again find Alton in space in front of goal, and despite the close attention of the defenders Alton managed to poke the ball home.

The second half was in stark contrast to the first with Barnsley on top and the Angels out of sorts, struggling to clear the ball from the danger area. It wasn’t long before Barnsley equalised, with the Vale defence unable to deal with a bouncing ball the forward stepped up to score from close range. Jacques in goal was called into action time and again to clear the danger. Occasionally the Angels mounted an attack but were unable to penetrate the back line. Barnsley took the lead with 15 minutes left when again the Angels failed to clear the danger. With 5 minutes to go Carr Vale finally started to press forward and look like scoring. Mapley brought a good save out of the keeper and Owen and Alton both went close. Alton and Linacre opened up the defence on the right for the latter to swing over a cross shot which cleared the keeper before striking the bar and bouncing to safety. A series of late corners were all delivered into the danger area by Owen but no one was able to force the ball home.

The referee’s player of the match was Marriott.

Middlewood Rovers 1 – 5 Carr Vale Angels

The Angels started brightly passing the ball about with confidence, playing the game in Middlewood’s half. The opening goal came when Marriott won the ball in midfield, played a one two with Mapley on the wing before finding Owen in a forward position. She shrugged aside the defenders and struck for goal. The ball came back off the post but Owen was first to react and fired home. This goal spurred on Middlewood who started to come more into the game, but Dickinson, Whybrow and Evill stood firm with Fullylove covering well. Midway through the half Wall took a knock to the head and was replaced by Linacre. Vale were unlucky to concede an equaliser. Jacques bravely slid out to collect a long through ball, with the ball in her hands the forward came crashing in forcing the ball free which fell kindly for the winger to score from an acute angle.

At half time Jacques had to retire injured and was replaced by Dickinson with Lancaster dropping in at right back. The second half saw the Angels take control of the game with Marriott winning the loose balls in midfield and Owen setting up the attacks. Alton went close when her lob over the keeper was cleared off the line for a corner following a pass from Owen, and Gore and Alton both went close in a spell of sustained pressure. Finally the breakthrough came; Alton again chasing a lost cause forced a corner. Owen’s accurate kick was not cleared and Alton was on hand to poke the ball home. Vale went further ahead when good build up play from Wall, Gore Alton and Mapley forced a corner. Owen’s kick was headed into her own net by an unfortunate defender. Middlewood to their credit didn’t give up, but they struggled to get a clear sight of goal.

Linacre and Mapley on the wings stretched the opposition defence and this created the space for Alton to score from 18yds following a long kick up field Dickinson. The final goal came when a quick throw in by Linacre put Alton in space, her early cross was met by the well timed run of Owen which created the space to smash the ball into the roof of the net.

The referee’s player of the match was Owen

                          Carr Vale Angels 3 – 5 Handsworth Juniors

A much improved performance today saw the Angels put up a good fight against high flying Handsworth.

Handsworth started brightly and forced a corner which was scrambled clear, then a cross shot drifted narrowly over the bar. The Angels defended strongly with debutants Jacques and Burbank settling in well with Evill, Whybrow and Dickinson in defence. The back four were protected by Marriott in the midfield holding role and this provided a springboard to attack. Vale took the lead following an incisive passing move involving Owen, Gore and Mapley which created the opportunity for Alton to beat the defender before sliding the ball home past the diving keeper. Five minutes later the Angels were two up. Linacre won a tackle in midfield and passed to Owen. Her early ball forward was flicked over the defenders head by Alton. Gore beat the advancing keeper to the ball to lob home. Handsworth pulled a goal back when a speculative 35yd free kick found the top corner. This lifted Handsworth and they pressed forward creating chances, but they were unable to break through.

Early in the second half the Angels nearly went further ahead but the keeper dived bravely at Mapley’s feet following a defence splitting pass from Owen. Handsworth pressed forward, going close on a number of occasions before equalising after creating space inside the box. Almost immediately they went further ahead as the forwards created space for a shot. The Angels fought back when Owen took a free kick just inside the opposition half and flighted the ball up to the edge of the box where Marriott flicked it on to Mapley to hit a beautiful shot into the top corner. This was the last time the Angels got near goal as Handsworth dominated the remainder of the match, hitting the woodwork on numerous occasions before scoring twice to take the win.

The referee’s player of the match was Jacques.

Sheffield Rangers 13 - 3 Carr Vale Angels

Three great goals scored by Alton, Owen and Mapley. A battling performance from Evill, Lancaster, Marriott, Linacre Whybrow & Gore.

Marriott was player of the match.

The rest is too painfull to remember

Carr Vale Angels 1 – 5 Chesterfield Ladies

The Angels were unable to field a full strength team for today’s game and were soon on the back foot. Chesterfield attacked strongly down the left creating numerous chances before the centre forward found space to score. Lancaster, Marriott and Evill were all working hard in defence to keep Chesterfield at bay, and Owen made many tackles and clearances to break up the attacks. However is wasn’t long before Chesterfield went further ahead when the forward cut in from the right and unleashed a fierce shot which skidded off the wet turf and in at the near post. With half time approaching the Angels pulled a goal back. Wall’s long goal kick was flicked on by Linacre to Alton. She outpaced the defender before drawing the keeper and calmly slotting the ball home.

Buoyed by the goal Carr Vale pushed forward at the start of the second half. Gore, Alton and Mapley linked up well to create space for the latter to shoot just wide from distance. Just as the match was looking more even, Chesterfield went further ahead with the forward scoring following a defensive mistake. Dickinson battled hard in midfield all game breaking up many attacks with her determination and strong tackling.

In the closing stages of the game the Angels tired, which allowed Chesterfield to dominate. Goal number four was scored when a speculative shot from distance dropped under the bar and in, soon followed by the last goal of the game. A miscued clearance fell into the path of the centre forward who headed home from close range.

The referee’s player of the match was Owen.

Carr Vale Angels  0 – 7 Sheffield Wednesday Ladies

The Angels were well beaten today by a very skilful and organised Sheffield Wednesday. Within five minutes Wednesday went in front when the forward broke clear to score with ease. The margin was soon doubled following a good passing move.  Wall was kept busy in goal making saves and organising the defence. Evill worked hard all game to contain the speedy winger, while Whybrow and Owen broke up many attacks with their headed clearances and strong tackling. Meanwhile Alton and Williams were tireless in their efforts to make a break through at the other end. The third goal was knocked in following good interplay between the forwards. The Angels then stood firm up to half time with Dickinson and Linacre breaking up many attacks. Sheffield stepped up the pace in the second half and Carr Vale rarely managed to venture forward. The midfield trio of Marriott, Gore and Mapley were tireless in their efforts but were unable to prevent Wednesday scoring four more to run out easy winners.

The referee’s player of the match was Williams.

Barnsley Girls U16 2 – 2 Carr Vale Angels U16

For the second game in a row the Angels started the match with only 9 players due to holidays and injury. Barnsley took full advantage and were soon on the attack, shooting at every opportunity. The Angels held out until the fifteenth minute when a Barnsley forward broke clear and finished in style. Barnsley extended their lead when the right winger scored in the top corner with a quality strike, and they could have gone further ahead but a 20yd free kick smashed against the bar and the forward hit a post after rounding the keeper. Gradually Carr Vale started to get into the game as Mapley, Marriott and Gore worked hard in midfield to win the fifty fifty balls which enabled the team to push forward more. On one of these attacks the trickery of Mapley drew a foul near the touch line. Owen delivered the free kick into the danger area where Mapley controlled the ball with the outside of her foot whilst holding off a defender before calmly placing it past the advancing keeper to pull a goal back.

The second half was more evenly balanced with the Angels defence of Linacre, Evill, Whybrow and Owen working very well as a unit to thwart the Barnsley forwards. Alton playing up front on her own was a constant threat with her close control and jinking runs. From one of these runs she set up Carr Vale’s second when she skipped past three defenders before passing across the face of goal for Mapley to score from close range. The Angels almost took the lead when Alton again delivered a cross into the danger area, but the defenders recovered to smother the shot. With five minutes remaining Barnsley pressed forward creating a number of scoring opportunities, but were unable to convert any as Dickinson and the defence kept them at bay.

Well played girls, an excellent team performance. The referee’s player of the match was Owen.