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23/05/04
Champions Prevail In Genuine Title Showdown
by Jeremy Ruane
The long-awaited showdown between Lynn-Avon United and Three Kings United finally materialised on May 23, with the destiny of the Northern Premier Women’s League championship effectively on the line in this top-of-the-table encounter, which certainly lived up to its billing - it was a ripper of a game, boasting much which pleased the 250-odd folk in attendance.
Rich in impressive individual performances and technical excellence, it boasted two goals of the highest quality, both of them going the way of the reigning champions, who, given they are now six points clear of their closest rivals with seven games remaining following this 2-0 win, appear to have one hand on a piece of silverware which has not been sighted outside their trophy cabinet at any time this century!!
Yet it was Three Kings who created the first real chance of the match, just three minutes into play. A poor clearance by Ashleigh Cox was pounced on by Sarah Gibbs, who swept a low cross into Maia Jackman’s path. The ‘keeper redeemed herself by blocking with her legs, then parrying Jackman’s effort from the rebound.
Terry McCahill stepped into clear off the line and prevent Zoe Thompson from pouncing, instantly sparking a Lynn-Avon onslaught which lasted some twenty minutes. Just five minutes after the match had started, Rachel Doody and Rebecca Parkinson combined to engineer an opening for Amber Hearn. But it was quickly slammed shut by Three Kings’ ‘keeper, Anna Ruthberg, who punched the ball off her opponent’s head.
Two minutes later, Parkinson picked out Hearn with a corner, but again Ruthberg thwarted her, saving well low by her right-hand post. The resulting corner saw another Parkinson inswinger, which Ruthberg this time turned onto the crossbar. Three Kings scrambled the ball to safety, but the sight of Jackman crumpling in the goalmouth and thumping the pitch with her fist in frustration pointed to one thing - she had a serious injury.
So it proved, and while temporary repairs were being applied on the sideline, Lynn-Avon tore into their numerically challenged opponents in search of an early goal. Vicki Rainbow slipped Michele Keinzley through, but Ruthberg was off her line in an instant to foil at her feet.
Come the twelfth minute, Lynn-Avon got what they wanted - the opening goal. Kirsty Yallop and Hayley Moorwood were its architects, the latter’s ability to ghost into positions where she can cause the opposition maximum damage one of the telling features of this enthralling encounter.
This time, the space she created afforded her time to provide a measured lay-off for Hearn, who fair thrashed the ball past Ruthberg from twenty yards for her twenty-first goal of the season - effectively a hat-trick per match!!
Jackman returned to the fray, and was instantly involved, heading another inswinging corner from Parkinson off the line. But it was clearly evident that a player noted for playing through the pain barrier to aid the cause was struggling with a knee injury, and after Ruthberg had thwarted both Keinzley and Hearn, the visitors’ captain bowed to the inevitable.
The loss of their most experienced player was a hammer blow to Three Kings, who were further hampered when Renee Dale landed awkwardly while clearing, her jarred shoulder concluding her day before half-an-hour had elapsed.
Yet by this time, the visitors had begun to fight back. Urged on by the ever-passionate Gibbs, they grabbed a toe-hold and dug deep. A Dana Humby corner was fumbled by Cox, who regathered at her near post before Gibbs could pounce in the 25th minute.
Four minutes later, Abby Erceg, Jackman’s replacement, motored down the right and whipped in a super cross beyond the retreating Lynn-Avon defence, right into Gibbs’ path. Her volley had ‘top corner’ written all over it, but Cox pulled off a tremendous save to turn the ball onto the bar and to safety.
Back came Lynn-Avon, with Yallop - back to her will-o-the-wisp best - in tantalising form. Scything through three challenges, she let fly from twenty yards, only for Ruthberg to deny her the goal she sought.
The good old-fashioned arm wrestle continued apace until the break, and was best summed up by two opportunities in injury
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time which caused scares at both ends of the ground. Hannah Rishworth sent Sarah Ropati - a much-improved performance - haring forward, but Cox was off her line quickly to save at her opponent’s feet. Seconds later, the old firm of Parkinson and Hearn combined from another corner, but again Ruthberg saved the day for the visitors.
Referee Perry Tompsett’s whistle was Three Kings’ saving grace just sixty seconds into the second spell, Moorwood denied a goal for a handling offence which looked somewhat dubious at best.
Keinzley then had the chance to extend Lynn-Avon’s lead twice in two minutes. Rainbow robbed Rishworth to supply her with the first opening, but Ruthberg saved at her feet on this occasion, while the second time around, Jennifer Carlisle’s through ball sent Keinzley racing through, only for the striker to lose her nerve when confronted by the well-performed goalkeeper - a glorious chance spurned.
Same approach, different recipient, in the 55th minute, with Carlisle and Rainbow combining to send Moorwood through. Gibbs appeared from nowhere to save the day on this occasion, forcing a 56th minute corner.
Parkinson’s delivery was cleared to Moorwood, some twenty-five yards out from goal. The reigning NPWL Player of the Year’s response was to produce the perfect volley, a twenty-five yard screamer which flashed past the diving Ruthberg and crashed into the bottom corner of the net - 2-0, and how!
Three Kings took their time to get over this setback, but the introduction of Priscilla Duncan - fresh off the plane at 6am this morning - provided them with the necessary impetus to try and get back into the match.
Not before Hearn had sent a shot flashing past the post, however, Rainbow’s through ball prompting a rare error from Kim Rowney - she had a tremendous game.
Lynn-Avon survived a scare sixteen minutes from time, when Cox dropped a Gibbs corner under pressure from Ropati and Rishworth. They survived then, as they did three minutes later, after Gibbs and Duncan had prised an opening for Vicky Butterworth to send a twenty-yarder careering past Cox’s left-hand upright with the ‘keeper beaten.
Back came the home team - it was that sort of match. McCahill released Doody - super performance - down the right, but her low cross for Yallop was thwarted by Humby in the 79th minute.
Nine minutes from time, Moorwood completely outfoxed Zoe Albon, with the Three Kings player’s attempts to rectify the situation being of foul means rather than fair. But referee Tompsett, whose willingness to let the players play was commendable, turned a blind eye to Lynn-Avon’s clear-cut penalty claims, Moorwood having been tripped from behind inside the area.
Thompson had been well shackled throughout by Melissa Ray, who produced a man-marking job of the highest calibre for the duration of this match. Finding her nemesis again thwarting her progress, the Three Kings’ striker turned the ball back to Rishworth, whose teasing cross shot was turned over the bar by Cox two minutes from time, with the resulting corner from Humby being headed over by Duncan.
The last attack of note in a memorable encounter somewhat fittingly featured the game’s premier performer. Ray charged out of defence, played the ball forward to Hearn, who had been generally well contained by Petria Rennie.
But one player Three Kings had allowed to run amok throughout was ghosting forward once more, and Hearn duly picked out Moorwood with a measured pass. Humby came to the rescue this time round, but on a day when a number of players from both teams stood up to be counted, the damage Moorwood inflicted, by creating one goal and scoring the other, has edged Lynn-Avon ever closer towards a fifth consecutive championship.
Lynn-Avon: Cox; Doody, McCahill, Ray (Robertson, 90), Carlisle; Parkinson (Tansell, 72), Moorwood, Rainbow, Yallop; Keinzley, Hearn
Three Kings: Ruthberg; Dale (Butterworth, 30) (Duncan, 60), Humby, Rennie, Rowney; Ropati, Rishworth, Albon, Gibbs; Thompson, Jackman (Erceg, 23)
Referee: Perry Tompsett
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