Allscott Ladies v TNS/Shrewsbury

Cobra Insurance Women’s Challenge Cup

14th May 2009.

  Allscott got off to a bright enough game in this clash of arguably the two highest profile clubs in Shropshire, creating the first clear cut chance when Jamie Phillips latched onto an Amanda Mason free kick to put her shot just wide. In the next chance the defence cleared to Isha Alsadek, a nice move involving Phillips saw Casey Starling put her effort wide.

TNS Shrews then began to crank up the pressure leading to Bev making two superb stops after each other, Zara made a magnificent challenge on the edge of the 18 yard box to force the TNS striker to shoot wide.

  Allscott’s best move of the half came just after with some great movement from Alsadek creating room to send a first class in to Helen Constable, the young striker would have given her side the side the lead but for a great save under pressure from the legendary Sarah Martin. From the goal kick TNS took play straight to the other end and crashed a shot off the post. The game began to ebb and flow with TNS having the clearer cut chances, the best of which was cut out by a crunching Mason challenge, but with Allscott holding their own and creating flashes of brilliance. Allscott should have gone ahead when Zara McIntosh crossed in inch perfect ball into space for Phillips; the winger controlled the ball, and unleashed a shot over the bar that in reality should have been buried into the back of the net.

  TNS pressed forward and but for some resolute defending from Laura Clarke might have taken the lead. It already looked like it would not be Allscott’s night as every bounce and rebound of the ball fell to the opposition, and a side like TNS is quick to latch onto any opportunity and turn it into a goal scoring chance. The lack of luck was compounded when Philips was knocked off the ball on the edge of the TNS 18 yard box, but the referee waved away any protests. Bev Highfield pulled off a tremendous save, diving low to stop TNS at the far post, but she could do nothing to stop the opening TNS goal when it finally came. Allscott had conceded a free kick 20 yards out, and the keeper could do nothing to stop a sweetly taken free kick from flying into the roof of the net. 0-1.

  Towards the break TNS took advantage of a stretched Allscott defence to take a two goal lead into half time, but Allscott had no reason at this point to be unduly worried as despite being two goals down they had created several goal scoring opportunities themselves.

SECOND HALF

  Highfield made another top drawer save at the start of the half, but within a minute the TNS strike force had opened up the Allscott defence to score a third of the evening 0-3. At 3 nil own Allscott still had the determination to fashion some good chances, Alsadek put a great headed chance just over the bar. Not long after it started to seem that TNS’s superior fitness might be the deciding factor in the game when they again sneaked through to beat Highfield at the near post. 0-4.

  When Allscott were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position it suddenly seemed like the entire crowd were Allscott fans, and when Phillips stepped up, everyone seemed to know that Allscott’s deadball specialist would grab a goal. Phillips did not disappoint, duly dispatching her curling free kick over Martin and into the top right hand corner of the net. 1-4. The goal gave Allscott that glimmer of hope, but for TNS it just seemed to galvanize them into more action and in no time at all goal no 5 seemed to come from nowhere, quickly followed by a 6th that Highfield would not have gotten a sniff of until it was too late.

  TNS went on to show their class and win 11-1, but there were still chances for Allscott to show just why they are unbeaten champions in their division this season. Constable, playing her first season in senior football reminded all of how important she will be next season with her lovely determined run through the TNS midfield to skip the ball to Phillips who was just beaten by Martin, and young Ami Crump, on as a sub proved that her direct style of play can play create so much when given the chance, her lovely passing move with Phillips gave the winger the opportunity to flash an effort just over the bar.

  Yes this will have seemed a crushing blow to Allscott, but in reality nobody can touch TNS Shrewsbury n the County right now, but this will give Allscott the bench mark of what they will need to attain if they are to move to the next level.

JC