UEAWFC suffer narrow defeat

After a long journey up to Nottingham the team started slightly sluggishly and it showed when Trent scored in the first ten minutes. The goal itself was well-taken after the ball had been allowed to bounce around in UEA’s penalty box from a corner, falling nicely for the Trent striker. The ‘Yellows’ defence was struggling to get to grips with the two speedy Trent attackers, and more than once the offside flag saved UEA from falling further behind. Nottingham’s attackers did beat the offside trap a few minutes later, their striker going clear through and finishing well, leaving ‘Yellows’ goalkeeper Becky White with no chance.

Despite the loss, UEAWFC’s spirit was evident throughout

Although UEA found themselves two goals down within 20 minutes the spirit of the team showed, and their heads never went down. Winger Abbi Knell was making inroads in the Trent defence, and it often seemed as if UEA would score until a last-ditch tackle by the Trent centre-backs was thrown in. The break-through UEA needed did come a few minutes later, and what a goal! Aviyah Abrahams played a square ball across the box to Sam Algar who smashed it in off the cross bar with a first-time shot. It was exactly the gee-up UEAWFC needed, and for the rest of the half they were in control. The defence seemed to have got a handle on Trent’s attackers, Caron Hutchinson following the runs of Nottingham’s speedy right attacker, well backed up by Greta Holgersson who showed classic German efficiency throughout. Cassie Hynes got the equaliser 5 minutes before half time, poking in an Amelia Glean corner at the back post. Half-time probably came at the wrong time for UEA as they had the momentum.

Heading into the second-half the ‘Yellows’ picked-up where they had left off though. Sam Algar and Amelia Glean were running the midfield, and despite a few scares the defence and White coped well. Both UEA wingers Knell and Katie Fray were creating chances and after good play by Knell on the left the ball was played to striker Aviyah Abrahams who, after fantastic footwork in a crowded Trent box, squirmed the ball in under the Nottingham ‘keeper. After taking the lead the energy expended by UEA to get back from 2-0 down probably began to catch up with them, as Trent’s right attacker rounded the defence and slotted home in the bottom far-left corner. A draw would still have been a great result for the girls, unfortunately it wasn’t to be as an almost identical goal to Trent’s last one came for Nottingham. It was a massive blow to UEA, and with 5 minutes left on the watch there just wasn’t enough time left to snatch a draw.

The result was a big disappointment, but UEAWFC played well against a solid Trent side with some stand-out players. Onwards and upwards, bring on next Wednesday!