Knaresborough Town Women 4-2 Athletico FC Women
"Quality is not an act, it is a habit" - Aristotle.
Sunday, the 24th of September saw Knaresborough Town Women return to league action at Manse Lane for the first time this season.
Autumnal weather had returned, although it was reasonably warm, the skies were dark grey, and it looked like it could rain at any moment. In fact, the forecast was for rain to start at the beginning of the match and stop near full time.
We can report [with some relief] that apart from a few spots of rain midway through the second half, the conditions were almost perfect for playing football.
We couldn’t have asked for more difficult opponents to start the campaign at home, with the visit of Athletico FC Women. The visitors are the early pacesetters in division two, having won all their opening three games, amassing an impressive goal difference of +16.
As we said in the match preview, Athletico represent formidable opponents, a team that presents a different type of challenge to almost all of our previous games, and in our view, are a team that we could measure ourselves against.
With the summer holidays ending, players have been returning to training, providing Mike, Austen, and Scott with a selection headache. As we have a small and compact squad, we are however, still missing a few key players to illness and injury, but were fortunate enough to be able to name two substitutes.
This game also saw a return of Veo, and highlights from the game will be available on our YouTube channel in the next 24 hours.
The exchanges in the first 45 were exactly as we expected, both teams attempting to bring the ball down to feet, gain good possession, and build attacks by passing and moving. It was instantly clear that Athletico are a very accomplished team, with some excellent players who not only possess pace, but an abundance of skill too.
Town raced out of the blocks, scrapping for possession, and attempted to implement some of the patterns of play practised during training sessions. This quickly paid off as Eva Jenkins chipped the Athletico keeper to put Knaresborough Town one goal to the good in the first five minutes, 1-0.
Shortly after, Grace Adams ran through with the ball, one-on-one with the keeper, again, hitting the ball to one side of the advancing stopper only to see it saved. Grace, not to be denied, was first to react - controlling the ball and taking it around the keeper before calmly, slotting it home to double Town’s advantage, 2-0.
The visitors seemed a little out of sorts at this point, with a number of chances presenting themselves for Boro’ to increase their lead, however they weren’t taken and as Athletico settled back into their rhythm they started to press forward, searching for a way back into the game.
It wasn’t a surprise when they managed to grab their first of the match, as a result of some great passing and running into spaces behind Knaresborough’s defence, 2-1.
At this point It was clear that this wasn’t going to be one of those afternoons where Knaresborough Town Women ran away with the result.
Boro’ spurred on by conceding a goal, immediately fought back. A few more chances came Town’s way, and again it really wasn’t a surprise when Grace Adams grabbed her second of the day and Knaresborough’s third to restore a two-goal advantage, 3-1.
Just before half-time Cass Lane running in on goal, grabbed Knaresborough Town Women’s fourth goal, giving the home team what appeared to be a comfortable three-goal cushion and being honest, underlined how well they had played during the first 45 minutes, 4-1.
There had been a few stoppages during the first half, and this resulted in over 10 minutes of injury time being added before the half-time whistle blew.
Having looked at Athletico’s results for the three games that they have already played this season, it is clear that they are team who are athletic and have an excellent level of fitness. This is shown by the fact that they score a lot of goals in the second 45 of games, and despite Town being three goals ahead, Boro’ couldn’t take the result for granted.
The second half kicked off pretty much where the first 45 minutes had finished, with Knaresborough Town looking to get forward and create more opportunities to score. In the first 15 minutes of the second half, Boro’ created a number of chances and half chances from which they perhaps should have increased their lead, but didn’t.
What did happen, was that Athletico were increasingly controlling passages of play and pushing Knaresborough back into their own half. The visitors weren’t creating many clear-cut goalscoring opportunities, but at one point were seemingly camped in and around Town’s penalty box.
Athletico’s quality of play and possession were evident during this spell.
That’s not to say that Knaresborough Town didn’t pose a threat, and when they did get the ball, they came forward meaningfully, invariably managing to create goal-scoring opportunities.
Throughout the second 45, Knaresborough Town managed to create around five or six golden chances to increase their lead and put the game to bed. Unfortunately, they were unable to convert any of those chances into goals.
Again, it wasn’t a surprise when Athletico managed to put a shot across an advancing Ella Ritchie, Boro’s keeper, stroking the ball into the far corner of the goal to make it 4-2. I don’t think anybody would’ve begrudged Athletico the goal, which their play richly deserved, 4-2.
Strangely, instead of spurring-on the visitors to encircle the Knaresborough Town goal, this seemingly woke Boro’ up, to press forward and threaten their opponent’s goal instead. If Athletico’s goal had come 10 minutes earlier in the second half, then perhaps they may have had time to score the two goals needed to at least get a draw out of the game, but time was now against them, and the game was swinging back in favour of the home team.
Again, a few stoppages meant that the second 45 had around 10 minutes or so of injury time, but both teams were seemingly cancelling each other out at this point, and it was clear that the result and the day would be Knaresborough’s.
The final whistle went, and Knaresborough Town Women had won the game 4-2, collected three points, and had shown why they are such a good team.
When looking at the table and the teams that play in Division Two, it is evident that it is made up of some very good teams, and Athletico are clearly one of the best in the league. That is why, even though this is very early on in the fixtures, this is such a critical result.
We fully expect Athletico to be challenging for one of the two promotion spots come the end of the season, and certainly, in the opinion of this commentator, will be in the top three when the league finishes in April.
Athletico are technically a very good team, some very fast players, who are extremely skilful, playing as a cohesive unit, and are well coached – showing that they implement on match day what they have learnt on the training grounds during the week.
We wish the visitors all the best for their league campaign, and we are looking forward to the return fixture later on in the season.
Next week we see the return of cup action to Manse Lane, as we welcome Boroughbridge Ladies in the first round of the WRCWFL League Cup. We hope to see you there!
Goals: Grace Adams 2; Eva Jenkins 1; Cass Lane 1.
Player of the Match: Grace Adams; Goal of the Game: Eva Jenkins.
Referee: Alessandro De Marco
Preview: Athletico FC Women (H)
Our visitors to Manse Lane on Sunday are Athletico FC Women, in what will be our second game of the 2023-24 season. Let’s find out a little bit about Athletico.
Where do they play?
Athletico FC women are a Bradford based team and play their home fixtures at Bradford Academy 3G.
Last Season
In the 2022-23 season, Athletico finished in third place in the Third Division, just behind Farsley Celtic, who came top and runners-up Burley Trojans. Athletico were rewarded for a great league campaign by being promoted to the second division.
Athletico finished the season on 37 points, and for reference Farsley won the league with 51 points and Burley Trojans came second with 43 points.
Athletico’s record reads: played 18, won 12, drew one, and lost five. Overall, they scored 92 goals in the league and only conceded 32 for a goal difference of +60.
To further break that down: at home, they won eight games, drew none, and lost one. They scored 50 goals and only conceded 12. Away from home, they won four, they drew one, and they lost four - having scored 42 goals and conceding 20.
This Season
This season Athletico FC Women have started pretty much where they left off the last campaign, looking a formidable team and currently sit top of the second division. They’ve played three games, with three straight victories and a goal difference of +16.
Their opening day fixture was at home to Wortley FC Women which they won 5-3; the next game was away against Queensbury Celtic FC Women, which they won 9-0; and last week's fixture was away against Leeds City FC Ladies, which they won 6-1.
Players
Athletico have three players in the top 10 scorers for the league this year. Currently sitting at the top of the league table for goal scorers is Sadyha Akhtar who has played all three games and scored 13 goals; in third spot is Rimshah Amin, who has scored four goals from her three starts; and in sixth is Ikra Ali who has scored three goals in three games.
It is clear that Athletico have a potent attack, and one that will need to be very carefully marked to try and restrict the number of opportunities in front of goal.
Analysis
Athletico are the early pacesetters in the league having played three games and won all three. Their attack appears to have resumed from where they left off last season – being fairly free scoring.
It is quite clear that if they continue with this early season form, and there is no suggestion that they won’t, that they will be one of the three or four teams vying for those top two promotion spots at the end of the season.
Looking at last season, they are clearly extremely difficult to beat at home, and anyone coming away with one or even three points will also be in the mix for promotion.
Their away record is nearly as impressive, only losing a few games on the road last year, and that was the difference between them coming third, and challenging Farsley Celtic for that top spot.
Knaresborough Town Women will have to play to their highest standards to get anything out of the game on Sunday, as their opponents are on fire at the moment. Athletico probably represent one of the most difficult league fixtures that we have had to face in our short history.
Closing down the visitors’ attack will be key, and taking any opportunities that present themselves upfront could be the difference between getting something out of the game or letting our opponents leave with points.
We are looking forward to welcoming Athletico to Manse Lane and getting back on the pitch at home this coming Sunday.
Boroughbridge Ladies 0-6 Knaresborough Town Women
Over the Bridge
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” Mark Twain
Knaresborough Town Women travelled the short distance to neighbours Boroughbridge AFC Ladies on Sunday to play their first West Riding County Women’s Football League Division Two game of the season.
With injuries, holidays, and work commitments, the team travelled with only 11 players, which immediately made the task of playing a very accomplished Boroughbridge team more difficult.
The game started positively for both teams, with Bridge being on the attack from kick-off, however, Town were getting some success at retrieving possession and driving down field.
It didn’t take long for the first opportunity to present itself, and it was one of the new recruits, Holly Mitchell, who was first to the ball and hit the back of the net with a finely hit shot to give the visitors the lead, and settle any first day nerves the team were feeling, 0-1.
Boro’ were settling into the game better and certain training ground routines were being replicated on the pitch to good effect.
In the early exchanges, Town were irresistible…creating chances and half chances from each foray forward. So, it wasn’t a surprise when Knaresborough doubled their lead from a corner, with a header by Holly, 0-2.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic as the home team were playing some good passing football, trying to break forward quickly and test Ella Ritchie in the Knaresborough Town goal. An attack on their right angled into the Boro’ penalty box and a shot was adjudged to have hit a defender’s hand with the referee instantly pointing to the spot.
The penalty was taken, the forward striking the ball to her left with Ella Ritchie guessing correctly and diving the same way…but the ball was just off target and fizzed past the outside of the post – a let off for Town!
Relieved to still have their two-goal advantage, Boro’ pushed forward to try and increase the lead…but it took until just before half time for another goal to be scored.
A brilliant diagonal ball by Cass Lane was controlled first time by Eva Jenkins, who went around the last defender and calmly slotted the ball past the advancing keeper, 0-3.
Half time and Knaresborough Town Women were good for their 3-0 lead, but it must be said that Boroughbridge probably considered themselves unlucky not to have hit the back of the net at least once in the first 45.
The second half got underway and it was clear that next goal was vital.
Town picked up where they had finished off in the first half, and it only took around five minutes for them to increase their lead further.
Rachel Carmichael’s superb visionary pass from midfield to Addison Troup on Town’s right, set the pacy winger in on goal and she wasn’t going to miss! Our second new signing getting on the scoresheet in her first competitive game for Knaresborough, 0-4.
Last year’s League Four’s golden boot, Lorna Wilkinson simply wasn’t going to be left off the scoresheet! The forward had been working hard all game, making space for the other players to get forward, having a few shots from half chances…but in all honesty, hadn’t really had a clear sight of goal up to this point, but that was about to change.
She collected a ball on the edge of the penalty box, jinked one way and then the other, turning onto her favoured foot and unleashed an unstoppable shot to increase Town’s lead, 0-5.
With five minutes to go, Boro’ won a throw-in on their left, level with the edge of Bridge’s penalty box, Grace Adams collected the ball, turned one way, then turned back inside and looked up to see Cassidy Lane on Town’s right; a keyhole pass and one burst of explosive speed and Cass slipped the ball past the advancing keeper and Knaresborough had six, 0-6.
The final whistle went, and Town had recorded a victory in their first game in Division Two, earning three points in what was a very tricky game.
On another day, Boroughbridge Ladies could have scored several goals, and the nature of the game would have been distinctly different. Town took their chances when they presented themselves and created quite a few more. Not bad for a squad of just 11!
We look forward to playing the reverse fixture later on in the season and in the meantime, wish Boroughbridge AFC Ladies all the best.
The fixtures don’t get any easier, and next week Boro’ welcome early pace setters and league leaders Athletico to Manse Lane…we’re really looking forward to those 90 minutes!
Goals: Eva Jenkins 1; Cassidy Lane 1; Holly Mitchell 2; Addison Troup 1; Lorna Wilkinson 1.
Player of the Match: Holly Mitchell; Goal of the match: Holly Mitchell.
Referee: Alexander Charlesworth
