It was an amazing performance from Birmingham today as they took another victory winning 4-1 against Northumbria in a very strongly defended games. Both teams showed great strategic use of the wings throughout and demonstrated a united defence on both fronts.
The game was clearly the Lionesses’ from the start despite a small initial hiccup where they fumbled the first awarded corner, but they recovered quickly taking the first point only moments later in a precisely executed corner leaving the score 1-0 to Birmingham. This goal motivated the team and lit a fire under Northumbria who began to show the pressure was getting to them with a few fumbles and lost plays which were picked up by Birmingham’s defence who excellently defended their goal. The second goal extending their lead came from an amazing run by number 76 who surpassed the defence and made it round the keeper to score a clean and powerful shot into the bottom corner showing amazing play. UoB were proving themselves to be the better team and finished the half with another successful corner, clear cut one touch and straight into the goal amazing overall performance which put them ahead and in a very strong position going into the second half.
It wasn’t long into the second half before Birmingham added to their score with a great play made possible by a fumble from Northumbria’s defence and well picked up by the Lionesses’ attack. They had another chance at a corner not long after, but a very united Northumbria defence thwarted this attempt showing the fight wasn’t over yet. Northumbria had a last push from their number 3 who scored after a great run leaving the score at 4-1. This goal seemed to put pressure on UoB and their defence stopped in its tracks a corner attempt later from the opposition, but the overall pace of the game depleted after this point until the final whistle where Birmingham became the victors after a well strategized and defended game.
A well-deserved win for the Birmingham ladies and hopefully a good stance for them continuing to the end of the season.
By
Bethany Walton