Florence 0  Willenhall Town 0

Willenhall Town left the Potteries with a valuable point after an entertaining goalless draw at high-flying Florence who had not dropped a point this season.

Willenhall gave a first start to young Jodie Allen and rested Tara Martin who had started the previous four games. The flexible Tracey Culloty was moved into the centre of midfield and produced an outstanding display full of energy, drive and determination, while Jo Byrne led the team well.

Florence beat the offside trap on 2 minutes and with only Toni Parkes to beat the Lively Florence number 11 fired a weak shot straight at the Reds keeper.

Tracey Culloty produced an excellent ball on 6 minutes for Abi Riley who sliced her shot and saw it go wide. Lesley White then tried to find Riley on 9 minutes, but Florence intercepted the ball.

Jo Byrne and Abi Riley then played some quality football interchanging passes before forcing a corner and on 31 minutes. Jo Byrne then tried an audacious 35 yard shot which was well saved by the home keeper. Stacey Parkes then saw her 25 yard effort just miss on 36 minutes.

Florence got in behind the Willenhall defence on 41 minutes but another tame shot was easily saved by Toni Parkes. Abi Riley then had a shot saved on the stroke of half-time .

Florence beat the offside trap in injury time only to see a yet another poor effort on goal as another clear cut opportunity went begging.

Willenhall kicking down the slop in the second half started well and Lesley White side footed wide from Abi Riley’s pass on 47 minutes and then on 49 minutes the unlucky Abi Riley fired wide from a good position.

Lesley White then shot over the bar on 52 minutes and Abi Riley again fired wide from a Lauren Jones pass on 55 minutes.

Florence shot wide on 61 minutes as they tried to assert themselves again, but Willenhall’s  Fab four at the back kept them at bay as keeper Toni Parkes was clearly struggling with a muscle injury.

The youthful Tracey Culloty forced a corner on 63 minutes as she battled away and some neat play between Abi Riley & Rachel Kinsis forced another corner on 64 minutes.

Abi Riley had another shot saved on 68 minutes as the Reds looked the more likely side to win the game.

Rachel Poole replaced the hard working Jodie Allen on 75 minutes. Jo Byrne fired over the bar within seconds of the substitution. Stacey Parkes turned and shot wide on 83 minutes and then Florence had a really good chance to seal a victory but fired over on 88 minutes.

A very encouraging display by the Reds after last weeks defeat against Dudley and the Sherrylee Boon- Lauren Jones defensive partnership stuck to their task well as they kept their fourth clean sheet in five games.

Top Babe  Tracey Culloty

Line-Up :- Toni Parkes, Stacey Parkes, Lindsay Clews, Sherrylee Boon, Lauren Jones, Jodie Allen, Jo Byrne ©, Tracey Culloty, Rachel Knisis, Lesley White, Abi Riley.

Subs : Tara Martin, Rachel Poole .

Willenhall Ladies would like to thank Florence for their hospitality after game and a special mention goes to the Florence fan who attempted to sing Delilah on his own in the club to everybody’s amusement, not to mention the prank some of the girls played on poor Tracey Culloty.