Willenhall Town 1 Bradwell Belles 0
Byrne

Team: Toni Parkes, Stacey Parkes, Tara Martin, Lindsay Clews, Sherrylee Boon, Tracey Culloty, Jo Byrne, Lauren Jones ©, Rachel Knisis, Abi Riley, Lesley White
Subs Becky Jones, Rachael Poole, Claire Starzak, Jodie Allen

Willenhall started the season with a win although the performance was well below the standards which they are capable of. Against newly promoted side Bradwell Belles they should have done better, but on a very difficult playing surface both sides found it really tough to put passing moves together and the game suffered.

Bradwell started off well and while Willenhall found it hard to find any rhythm the Belles had a couple of decent opportunities that went begging early on.,

Abi Riley played in Rachel Knisis for Willenhall’s first real chance but the visiting keeper was quicker reacting and collected the ball cleanly. Willenhall started to get a little bit more of the play, but lacked that vital cutting edge in the final third of the pitch as move after move broke down, as the belles held firm.

Abi Riley last season’s top scorer almost opened her account, only to see the ball beat the keeper and go wide of the post and then Lauren Jones fired wide from a good position.

Willenhall changed things around on 65 minutes when Jodie Allen replaced Tracey Culloty and reverted to a 4-3-3 formation, after a few minutes of getting use to the system Willenhall began to push forward and forced a corner. From Lesley Whites corner the ball hit Jo Byrne in the nether-region and bounced over the line to give the relieved home side a 1~0 lead.

Rachel Poole replaced the hard working Tara Martin on 84 minutes and the Reds held out to win their first game of the season although the performance was not the best, they did manage to keep a clean, sheet and gratefully take the three points.

Star Red:- Lesley White