On the domestic front due to the lop sided fixture list, the Lady Imps faced a run in of 5 away games from their six remaining fixtures. The first match back saw us slip to a disappointing 3-1 defeat away at FA Cup holders Birmigham City. This was followed by a trip to second bottom Liverpool at the weekend. With 20 or so minutes to go the Imps trailed 2-0 and it looked as if the season was drifting by. But if this season has proved anything, it is to expect the unexpected as far as the Lady Imps are concerned. The Imps rolled their sleeves up and mounted a great comeback to win 3-2 and keep their hopes of 2nd place alive. They may be a long shot for it but this win kept them in with a fighting chance and would have done their confidence the world of good.
There has also been a couple of changes on the playing front. One of the Imps most constant players of the season Rachel Daly played her final game for the club at Liverpool as she has gained a scholarship in the New York University of St Johns. As she has had a fantastic season she will be very much missed and i would like to wish her luck in her American adventure.
Its always a blow to lose a quality player, but when you do lose one its important to bring some quality in, and that's what the Imps have done. Laura Alleway's visa issues have been cleared up and she is now able to turn out for the Imps. I have only seen her play once, against Arsenal in the FA Cup but she was a class above everybody else on the pitch that day. Add into the mix that Lincoln's biggest attacking threat (in my view anyway) Jess Clarke is now fully fit and raring to go and you get some very interesting selection dilemmas for Imps manager Glen Harris. I don't envy him in picking the line up now that everybody is fit. I did have an idea of what i thought the line up would be for this game, but in the end i was well off the mark.
The set up at Doncaster is alot different to the other clubs in the WSL. Whereas the rest of us all play on non league grounds, (Bar Arsenal once a season when they play one match at the Emirates stadium) Doncaster play at the Keepmoat stadium that is owned by Doncaster council and shared with Doncaster Dons RLFC and League one side Doncaster Rovers. I had mixed feelings about seeing a game here before tonight. Although it is a smart enough modern stadium, the thought of a 200 or so crowd in a 15,000 seater stadium didn't strike me as a great atmosphere for football. Having seen a match here there i feel it's not quite as bad as i first feared but i still prefer the Ashby Avenue experience.
The first thing you need to know if you haven't been to see your side play here is that you need to but a ticket before you go to the turnstiles as they don't accept cash on the gate. Once you come out of the ticket office turn right, follow the stadium round until you come to the turnstile that is open. As we entered the ground a steward politely asked whether my other half had brought her boots, and if so she would get a game as the home side were short on numbers. A ticket for this epic encounter cost £6. Once inside there is a table that was selling the programme for £2 and raffle tickets for £1. Quite why i continue to buy raffle tickets i don't know as i have never actually won one, but we live in eternal hope i suppose. I must admit to being a tad concerned that all of the food and drink huts appeared to be shut. Not to worry though for WSL games Doncaster open up the executive bar at the top of the stand how posh is that?
It would appear the the stand that is opened up for WSL games is the best one in the stadium and were all the V.I.Ps sit on a matchday. The bar is situated at the back of the stand and the thing you notice as you walk up to it is the amount of nice comfy padded seats. I don't know how much you have to pay to sit here and use the executive bar on Rovers matchdays, but i bet its a hell of alot more than six quid. The bar itself is very smart with the staff were all well turned out and the whole thing looks very professional. Although as you would expect the food and drink isn't on the cheap side (£2 for a cup of tea for example)
Anyway enough of the ground, on to the game.
We sat to the right of the seated area that was open due to one reason. Some Doncaster fans think that is a great idea to bring bells to games and ring them throughout the game. It's not my idea of fun, but each to their own i suppose. It looked like a few Lincoln fans had got the same idea, as there was a little group of us all sat at that end of the stand. In the match between the sides at Lincoln, some of the travelling Doncaster fans had brought bells with them but as you can stand/sit wherever you want you could avoid them. However at the Keepmoat as you are all located in a small area, you can't really get away from them.
The Imps team news was quite interesting and not what i was expecting. Up front we were starting with Carla Cantrell and Jess Clarke and there was a starting debut for midfielder Emily Roberts. Megan returned to midfield and Sophie Barker in at left back. The Imps had a balanced bench with plenty of options including striker Katie Rood who has just returned from representing New Zealand in the under 20's world cup in Japan. The main thing that was noticeable on the Doncaster team sheet, was the fact that they had only named two substitutes. Maybe the steward was serious about any female who brought their boots would get a game.
Lincoln finished up where they left off on Sunday and quickly had Doncaster on the back foot. With their crisp one touch passing, Lincoln forced a couple of corners and shots from range but, as so many times before this season, didn't really force Earps in the Doncaster goal into making many saves. Jess had a half chance but Remi Allen's cross was just a little out of her reach. Carla Cantrell also missed an early chance when her shot was hit straight at the keeper. Then after making all the running, on 20 minutes Lincoln found themselves behind to a fantastic strike. The last two WSL goal of the month awards have been won by Lincoln players; Carla v Chelsea and Megan v Arsenal. So i suppose it was only a matter of time before we were on the receiving end of a world class strike. What goes around comes around and all that.
When Alyssa Lagonia collected the ball wide on the right there didn't look to be any danger as there were no other Doncaster players anywhere near the box, so she looked up and delicately chipped the ball into the top corner giving Nic Hobbs in the Lincoln goal no chance at all. As soon as the ball went in the bells started to be rang with great gusto and i started to regret not bringing any ear plugs.
That goal seemed to knock Lincoln out of their stride and Donny started to pass the ball around much better than they had done. Lincoln had a great chance to equalise when Lucy Staniforth beat a couple of players and passed to Carla Cantrell who was tackled just as she was about to pull the trigger. Donny had been giving up quite a few free kicks by fouling Jess Clarke in dangerous positions but the Imps could not take advantage with the ball either being fired straight into the wall or straight at the keeper. At halftime the Imps trudged off knowing that they were behind in a game that they could and should have been comfortably ahead in. Halftime was also our cue to head back up to the warmth of the executive bar. Halftime was spent checking the phone for other scores and counting the number of groundhoppers frantically copying down the teams from the teamsheets into their little books. I may laugh now but i hope that i never become that sad. The other high point was the raffle draw which unsurprisingly i failed to win.
Neither side made any changes at the break unsurprisingly in Doncasters case given their bench. Lincoln had their first chance to equalise when Megan Harris took a free kick, but she failed to get a decent connection, resulting in an easy save for the keeper. This was followed by a couple of chances for Doncaster the first of which, from a corner, was well saved by Nic. The second one was a cross that Nic left and it just trickled wide of the back post. Thankfully there wasn't an on rushing Doncaster player there waiting for it. I will give Nic the benefit of the doubt and say that she knew it was going wide all along having got her angles spot on and was just teasing the crowd.
Sensing that Lincoln were getting on top and to press home the advantage, Glen Harris made his first change with Roberts, who had looked steady on her debut, being replaced by former Doncaster player Precious Hamilton. This was soon followed by Sophie Bradley making way for Laura Alleway who is always a threat from set pieces.
Then on 66 minutes, disaster. On a Doncaster counter attack Laura Allaway tussled with a Rovers player which let to what Lincoln thought was a goal kick. However the ref had other ideas and signalled a corner. This led to fierce protests form several Imps players. Doncaster then loaded the box for the corner which Nic punched away only for the ball to fall to Millie Bright of Doncaster who slammed the ball into the net for 2-0. As you can imagine this only incensed the Lincoln players even more. Casey Stoney went over to have a civilised chat with the ref about it and was booked for her troubles. Most people would be quite happy if a member of team GB (and Captain of the Ladies Football team no less) came over to talk to them, but not referee Mr Carratt it would seem.
As you would imagine this fired Lincoln up even more. They made their last change with Katie Rood replacing Cantrell up front who was starting to get wound up. On 72 minutes Lincoln got back in the game when Precious Hamilton placed a glancing header past Earps in the Doncaster goal. Game on.
Only moments after getting back in the game the Imps almost hit self destruct.
Doncaster sprung the Imps offside trap halfway inside the Lincoln half which left the Doncaster forward with only Nic Hobbs in the Imps goal to beat. However Nic pulled of the save of the season to deny her and keep Lincoln in the game.
The save really was fantastic and prompted me to say "F##king brilliant Nic!" and punch the air. This drew one or two glares from people around us, as swearing at a ladies game isn't the done thing. If anybody heard it then i apologise. Had this happened at a men's game i would have been drowned out by fans swearing at the striker for missing the chance.
The pattern for the last 15 minutes or so was plenty of Lincoln pressure with Donny looking dangerous on the counter attack. Lincoln's best chance fell to Katie Rood in the last minutes, but another last ditch tackle sent the ball out for a corner. The Imps did have the ball in the net deep into injury time but the ref had spotted a push and chalked the goal off. The final whistle was greeted with a huge amount of bell ringing and chants from 4 or 5 Donny fans of "Can we play you every week?" The answer to that is no, so go home and play with your ding a lings alone. And as for the chant saying "We're gonna win the League" Well i won't even waste my time replying to that.
The set up at Doncaster is alot different to the other clubs in the WSL. Whereas the rest of us all play on non league grounds, (Bar Arsenal once a season when they play one match at the Emirates stadium) Doncaster play at the Keepmoat stadium that is owned by Doncaster council and shared with Doncaster Dons RLFC and League one side Doncaster Rovers. I had mixed feelings about seeing a game here before tonight. Although it is a smart enough modern stadium, the thought of a 200 or so crowd in a 15,000 seater stadium didn't strike me as a great atmosphere for football. Having seen a match here there i feel it's not quite as bad as i first feared but i still prefer the Ashby Avenue experience.
Anyway enough of the ground, on to the game.
The Imps team news was quite interesting and not what i was expecting. Up front we were starting with Carla Cantrell and Jess Clarke and there was a starting debut for midfielder Emily Roberts. Megan returned to midfield and Sophie Barker in at left back. The Imps had a balanced bench with plenty of options including striker Katie Rood who has just returned from representing New Zealand in the under 20's world cup in Japan. The main thing that was noticeable on the Doncaster team sheet, was the fact that they had only named two substitutes. Maybe the steward was serious about any female who brought their boots would get a game.
When Alyssa Lagonia collected the ball wide on the right there didn't look to be any danger as there were no other Doncaster players anywhere near the box, so she looked up and delicately chipped the ball into the top corner giving Nic Hobbs in the Lincoln goal no chance at all. As soon as the ball went in the bells started to be rang with great gusto and i started to regret not bringing any ear plugs.
That goal seemed to knock Lincoln out of their stride and Donny started to pass the ball around much better than they had done. Lincoln had a great chance to equalise when Lucy Staniforth beat a couple of players and passed to Carla Cantrell who was tackled just as she was about to pull the trigger. Donny had been giving up quite a few free kicks by fouling Jess Clarke in dangerous positions but the Imps could not take advantage with the ball either being fired straight into the wall or straight at the keeper. At halftime the Imps trudged off knowing that they were behind in a game that they could and should have been comfortably ahead in. Halftime was also our cue to head back up to the warmth of the executive bar. Halftime was spent checking the phone for other scores and counting the number of groundhoppers frantically copying down the teams from the teamsheets into their little books. I may laugh now but i hope that i never become that sad. The other high point was the raffle draw which unsurprisingly i failed to win.
Sensing that Lincoln were getting on top and to press home the advantage, Glen Harris made his first change with Roberts, who had looked steady on her debut, being replaced by former Doncaster player Precious Hamilton. This was soon followed by Sophie Bradley making way for Laura Alleway who is always a threat from set pieces.
Then on 66 minutes, disaster. On a Doncaster counter attack Laura Allaway tussled with a Rovers player which let to what Lincoln thought was a goal kick. However the ref had other ideas and signalled a corner. This led to fierce protests form several Imps players. Doncaster then loaded the box for the corner which Nic punched away only for the ball to fall to Millie Bright of Doncaster who slammed the ball into the net for 2-0. As you can imagine this only incensed the Lincoln players even more. Casey Stoney went over to have a civilised chat with the ref about it and was booked for her troubles. Most people would be quite happy if a member of team GB (and Captain of the Ladies Football team no less) came over to talk to them, but not referee Mr Carratt it would seem.
As you would imagine this fired Lincoln up even more. They made their last change with Katie Rood replacing Cantrell up front who was starting to get wound up. On 72 minutes Lincoln got back in the game when Precious Hamilton placed a glancing header past Earps in the Doncaster goal. Game on.
Only moments after getting back in the game the Imps almost hit self destruct.
Doncaster sprung the Imps offside trap halfway inside the Lincoln half which left the Doncaster forward with only Nic Hobbs in the Imps goal to beat. However Nic pulled of the save of the season to deny her and keep Lincoln in the game.
The save really was fantastic and prompted me to say "F##king brilliant Nic!" and punch the air. This drew one or two glares from people around us, as swearing at a ladies game isn't the done thing. If anybody heard it then i apologise. Had this happened at a men's game i would have been drowned out by fans swearing at the striker for missing the chance.
The pattern for the last 15 minutes or so was plenty of Lincoln pressure with Donny looking dangerous on the counter attack. Lincoln's best chance fell to Katie Rood in the last minutes, but another last ditch tackle sent the ball out for a corner. The Imps did have the ball in the net deep into injury time but the ref had spotted a push and chalked the goal off. The final whistle was greeted with a huge amount of bell ringing and chants from 4 or 5 Donny fans of "Can we play you every week?" The answer to that is no, so go home and play with your ding a lings alone. And as for the chant saying "We're gonna win the League" Well i won't even waste my time replying to that.
This was by and away the most frustrating defeat the Imps have suffered this season. Had we made our dominance count in the first 20 minutes then the game would have been different. Its an old saying in football that if you don't take your chances when you are on top you are going to be in trouble. The effort and desire in this side aren't in question, they proved today and on Sunday that they keep on going to the very end, which makes results like this even harded to take. Sometimes in sport as in life you don't get what you deserve and tonight was just one of those nights.
However, whenever we have had a setback this season the girls have responded magnificently. Now is not the time to cry over spilt milk. We have a huge semi final at home Sunday against Birmingham City to look forward to. See you there!!
Come on you Lady Imps!!
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