SWTFC Ladies A

Essex Ladies League Division One

Saffron Walden Town Ladies 1 vs. Ipswich Town 2

Carr and Bircher sponsored Saffron Walden Ladies hosted League leaders Ipswich Town on Sunday. In a hard fought battle which saw Ipswich take a two goal lead Saffron Walden were unlucky not to come away with at least a point.  Amie Jones came close early on but her header was denied by the on form Ipswich keeper.

Vicky McCaffery brought Walden back into the game when her shot was deflected into the back of the net.

The second half saw Walden reduced to ten players when Kim Jeffery was sent off. Despite this Walden continued to play with determination.

Players of the Match were Karli Hammond, Sharon Harrison and Amie Jones

Saffron Walden Town Ladies 4  Basildon United 3

24 November 2007

Saffron Walden’s confidence was high on the back of a convincing team victory in the league cup last weekend. Walden started determinedly from the off and strong tackling from Sharon Harrison and Frankie Smith ensured that Basildon’s attacks were effectively broken down and turned into attacking play for Walden.

Claire Gooch and Amanda Potter linked up well on the left flank and provided the forwards with some good balls. Andi Wright opened the scoring for Walden with a fine strike; this started the ball rolling for Walden. Vicky McCaffery had an inspired game and controlled most of the ball in the middle of the field. Walden continued to attack and were rewarded with their second goal. Andi Wright crossed the ball in and a team effort from Amie Jones and Kim Jeffery ensured the ball was header on and Amanda Potter slotted the ball home.

Walden started the second half well and looked threatening. However a lapse in concentration from the whole team saw Basildon bring the game back to level pegging. Walden were jolted back to life and continued to pass the ball around well. Sharon Groome was ever dominant in the air and provided Walden with another strong attacking option.

Walden were rewarded with a free kick just inside the area which Kim Jeffery struck and converted the resulting goal. Basildon battled on and came level again. Walden were not going to settle for a draw and Andi Wright was hauled down in the area. This gave Vicky McCaffery the chance to convert the resulting penalty which she did in style.

Keeper Jackie Frost made some superb saves which kept Walden’s lead and allowed them to add another 3 points to their league campaign.

Cornard Ladies 1  Saffron Walden Town Ladies 6

Saffron Walden’s first league game of the season went off with a bang with a convincing 6 vs. 1 victory. From the kick off Walden linked up well and played some promising attacking football. It wasn’t long before Walden opened the scoring with Andi Wright coolly converting. Walden’s consistent attacking plat resulted was rewarded with a well taken goal from Amanda Potter. With the Walden defence rarely troubled and excellent passing and linking play in the midfield Walden were able to stretch their lead. Andi Wright put Amie Jones through to make it 3 vs. 1. A misjudged ball in the Walden defence resulted in a goal for cornard.

In the second half Walden came out full of confidence and continued to play well. Keeper Jackie Frost was ever reliable and made some good saves to ensure Walden maintained their lead. Amanda Potter beat the offside trap and converted a well taken individual goal.

Kim Jeffery and Frankie Smith remained strong in the Walden defence ensuring no further goals for Cornard.

A short corner for Walden resulted in the 5^th goal for Walden struck by Amie Jones from just inside the area. Amanda Potter finished off Walden’s scoring with a superbly taken goal and her hat-trick.

Ipswich Town Reserves 5  Saffron Walden Ladies 3

On a sunny Sunday afternoon the Carr and Bircher sponsored Saffron Walden Town Ladies side travelled to Ipswich.

Despite only having 10 players Walden started encouragingly and looking threatening. They were unlucky not to score half an hour in when the ball hit the post twice before being cleared off the line. Walden were unlucky to concede a goal shortly after. Confidence was not a problem for the Walden side who continued to battle. Further chances presented themselves but Walden struggled to finish them off. Just before the break Walden went two down.

After a rousing team talk Walden came out fighting. They were rewarded for their determination when Vicky McCaffery put Amanda Potter through. Her shot ricochet off the post but Kim Jeffery was on hand to slot the ball home.

This was just the start of Walden’s fight back. Player of the match Vicky McCaffery was commanding in the middle of the park and provided the wings with constructive balls. Walden conceded another goal against the run of play. Kim Jeffery again put Walden back in the game with a superb volley just inside the area. Ipswich continued to niggle away at the Walden defence and again broke through to score. Kim Jeffery looked to have sealed her hatrick but saw her shot hit the post. However Sharon Groome was on hand to slot the ball home and put Walden back in it. Ipswich scored once more to put the 5vs 3 up.

Saffron Walden Ladies 2  White Notley 0

Walden started as they meant to go on with strong tackling, solid defending and promising attacking play. Walden looked likely to score from the off and have several good opportunities. Andi Wright came close early on but was denied by the bar. The wood work denied Walden several more times in the first half. Notley’s counter attacks were broken down successfully by the Walden defence, lead by Sharon Harrison who was characteristically solid. Jackie Frost kept Walden in contention.

In the second half Walden continued to attack and were rewarded with a goal from Andi Wright. This only increased Walden’s confidence. Solid passing and good running from Kim Jeffery and Amanda Potter provided Walden with more attacking balls. A substitution with 10 minutes to go saw the introduction of Frankie Smith and a resulting cross saw her score her first goal of the season.

Saffron Walden continued to dominate the game right up to the final whistle. Player of the match was Sharon Harrison for her solid defending and outstanding tackles.

Rayleigh Raiders 2  Saffron Walden Town Ladies 5

Saffron Walden were lethargic for the first 30 minutes of the game despite having the majority of the possession and creating a few good chances. Rayleigh opened the scoring against the run of play and this jolted Walden into playing their game. It wasn’t long before Walden capitalised on the possession they had and a strong run from Amanda Potter found Andi Wright in the box to slot the ball home.

Walden started the second half as a different team and strong attacking play, Vicky McCaffery latched onto a cross from Andi Wright to put Walden in the lead.

Walden continued to dominate the play, Vicky McCaffery’s inch perfect pass found Amie Jones who slotted the ball home. Rayleigh looked to have began a fight back but that was quashed by the Walden defence who were ever reliable.

Andi Wright scored again and a through ball was latched onto by Sharon Groome who rounded of the scoring.

County Cup

Rayleigh Raiders 2 vs. Saffron Walden Town Ladies 3

On a bitterly cold Sunday afternoon Saffron Walden Town ladies travelled away to Rayleigh Raiders for the 1^st round of the county cup.

Walden started strongly with solid defending and strong attacking play. Kim Jeffery put Vicky McCaffery through who coolly converted and opened the scoring for Walden. Walden continued to play the ball around well. A lapse of concentration in the team saw Rayleigh equalise.

Walden were not deterred and continued to battle on. Kim Jeffery and Sharon Groome continued to cause problems for the Rayleigh defence. Frankie Smith and Sharon Harrison were as ever reliable and the Rayleigh attack rarely penetrated their defence. Walden increased their lead with a superb through ball from Clare Gooch. Kim Jeffery latched on to it and converted the resulting goal.

Keeper Jackie Frost made some fine saves and brave decisions to ensure Rayleigh didn’t equalise before half time.

The cold weather spurred Walden on and they were determined to wrap things up in the second half. Rayleigh however had different ideas and didn’t make it easy for Walden. Kim Jeffery had a shot cleared off the line and Carley saw her shot go just wide of the post. Vicky McCaffery’s long ball was met by the keeper who dropped the ball and allowed Amie Jones to tap it in.

Rayleigh kept on picking away at Walden and scored their second goal from a corner. However the Walden team were not going to throw away their lead and a determined team effort, Sharon Harrison and Frankie Smith’s famous slide tackles and superb running by Lauren Hepburn insured Rayleigh’s attacks were broken down. Keeper Jackie Frost’s brave decisions ensured Walden’s victory and a fine ending to a superb team effort.

Next week Saffron Walden are at home to Basildon k.o 2pm

Saffron Walden Town Ladies 4   Basildon United 3

Saffron Walden’s confidence was high on the back of a convincing team victory in the league cup last weekend. Walden started determinedly from the off and strong tackling from Sharon Harrison and Frankie Smith ensured that Basildon’s attacks were effectively broken down and turned into attacking play for Walden. Claire Gooch and Amanda Potter linked up well on the left flank and provided the forwards with some good balls. Andi Wright opened the scoring for Walden with a fine strike; this started the ball rolling for Walden. Vicky McCaffery had an inspired game and controlled most of the ball in the middle of the field. Walden continued to attack and were rewarded with their second goal. Andi Wright crossed the ball in and a team effort from Amie Jones and Kim Jeffery ensured the ball was header on and Amanda Potter slotted the ball home.

Walden started the second half well and looked threatening. However a lapse in concentration from the whole team saw Basildon bring the game back to level pegging. Walden were jolted back to life and continued to pass the ball around well. Sharon Groome was ever dominant in the air and provided Walden with another strong attacking option. Walden were rewarded with a free kick just inside the area which Kim Jeffery struck and converted the resulting goal. Basildon battled on and came level again. Walden were not going to settle for a draw and Andi Wright was hauled down in the area. This gave Vicky McCaffery the chance to convert the resulting penalty which she did in style.

Keeper Jackie Frost made some superb saves which kept Walden’s lead and allowed them to add another 3 points to their league campaign.

Hannakins Farm 6  Saffron Walden Town Ladies 0

Saffron Walden travelled away to Hannakins Farm for the first round of the league cup. Walden started full of confidence and passed the ball around well. Hannakins farm broke the deadlock from a corner. Town were undeterred and Frankie Smith and Kim Jeffery remained strong in the centre of defence keeping the Hannakins attackers at bay. Vicky McCaffery was solid in the middle and provided some good through balls. Hannakins stretched their lead further just before half time.

Despite looking threatening at times Walden ended the game 6 vs. 0 down.