Willenhall 3 Atherstone 1

 

Willenhall made very hard work of this victory over bottom of the table Atherstone and although they have now gone an amazing 20 games unbeaten they struggled to get to grips with the Adders.

 

The Reds made numerous changes to the side with players out through injury or holidays Tracey Culloty came into midfield replacing Tina Hand & Helen Crozier played in middle of the park in place of the captain Lauren Jones. New signing Maxine Wren made her debut on the bench.

 

After a dull opening Atherstone seized on a moment of hesitation in the Willenhall defence by Keeper Lizzie Plant & they slotted the ball home on 8 minutes to take a deserved lead.

 

Things got worse for the Reds when Crozier had to hobble off in the 9th minute with a reoccurrence of an old injury & was replaced by Maxine Wren.

 

Abi Riley went close twice in the space of a minute straight after Crozier substitution, firstly firing over the bar and then sliding a shot just wide of the post. Riley did get her reward in the 15th minute when she latched onto a through ball and lobbed over the Adders keeper for her 13th goal of the campaign. Abi then came close to collecting her second goal of the game on 19 minutes but the visiting keeper held well.

 

Lizzie Plant then kept the Reds in the game on 27 minutes with a superb save from the Adders striker.

 

Rachel Kinsis (still suffering from her 21st birthday celebrations) hit a first time shot on 29 minutes wide of the post & Jo Byrne set up Abi Riley on 37 minute, but the shot was fired wide.

 

Abi Riley then set up Rachel Kinsis on 41 minutes but the 21 year old fired wide again. Just before the break Abi had another shot held by the keeper after being set up by Maxine Wren and Becky Yeates headed wide from a corner.

 

On 56 minutes a hesitant Lizzie Plant bravely blocked an Adders shot with her legs followed by Abi Riley almost punishing the Adders but saw her shot saved at the second attempt by the keeper.

 

As Willenhall finally found a bit of form Abi missed yet another chance on 64 minutes with the Adders keeper saving on the goal line.

 

On 78 minutes Willenhall finally took the lead when Jo Byrne's left foot shot was hammered in off the post for her 6th goal of the season.

 

Wiilenhall then killed the game off on 82 minutes when Abi Riley set up Maxine Wren who fired the ball into the roof of the net for her first goal for the club and the Rachel Kinsis twice almost increased the lead even further, seeing a shot held by the keeper and then firing wide in injury-time.

 

Team: Lizze Plant, Di Baker, Lindsay Clews, Sherrylee Boon, Becky Yeates, Stacey Parkes, Helen Crozier, Rachel Kinsis, Tracey Culloty, Jo Byrne, Abi Riley.

Subs: Maxine Wren, Nikki Crutchley

Subs Used Wren for Crozier after 8 minutes

 

Star Red Abi Riley