The Technique Stadium, home of Chesterfield FC and Sheffield United Women based in Derbyshire. They play in the FA Women’s Championship but tonight face Sunderland Ladies in the first group game of the Continental Cup! 149 grounds down… But the big 150 will have to wait for the weekend as this is my third visit to this ground. The first one being an England U16s match back in 2011 and the last one was a famous Mansfield win against the Spireites!!! Let’s hope for another cracker of a game here tonight!
The short journey from Sheffield to Chesterfield, and here we are! £5 to watch this Continental Cup tie! Brill! Note to self: “Always bring cash…”
Kick Off! A slow start here so far with both teams enjoying spells with possession but no one really going for the throat as of yet. 14 minutes in and Sheffield United have a free kick on the right hand side near the right corner of the Penalty box, Lucy Watson to take, she goes for goal… Just over the bar!
“Come on you Blades!” A bit of noise from the Sheffield United fans now! It’s a poor game I have to say sadly so far… Nothing happening! 2 good defences here going at it and no one can quite pull off that killer last pass! Out of 332 games I have seen in my life only 9 have been 0-0! Which is a good streak but it looks certain to become double figures tonight with what I’ve seen so far… Let’s hope it changes soon!
36th minute and Sunderland give the ball away in their own half cheaply, Lucy Watson gets it and she drives forward, she’s brought down and wins a free kick on the left side, Maddy Cusack takes, crossed in… Keeper comes and punches away and Sunderland clear. Right on half time and United break forward, played out left to Lucy Watson who drives into the box and crosses… Keeper collects. At half time the score is 0-0…
Second half, “Come on you Blades!” There it is again! 51 minutes played and Sunderland clear a United corner but United get it back, lofted into the box towards Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, she chests it down and shoots… Keeper scrambles… But just tips it wide for a corner, in it comes… Headed at goal… Keeper catches it.
53rd minute and United have the ball on the right, crossed in from deep towards the far post, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk tries to meet it… And she does… And she finds the net!!!! We have got a goal!!!! 1-0!!! On the balance of play so far this half, it is nothing more than United have deserved!
57 minutes now and United play a through ball, Sweetman-Kirk chases it, Sunderland’s keeper hesitates but comes out for it… Sweetman-Kirk gets there first and goes around the keeper just inside the box to the right… She’s put it wide… What a chance!
60th minute and Mia Enderby gets the ball in midfield for United, she drives forward and gets to around 25 yards out, she goes for goal… Wide. 68 minutes played and United break forward, the ball is played to Courtney Sweetman-Kirk who gets to the edge of the box and she goes for glory… Wide again!
The game has slowed down again and United are looking very good for the win here tonight but will they hang on? 86 minutes gone and United play the ball out left, Lucy Watson gets it and she drives into the box, she pulls it back for Sweetman-Kirk… Keeper saves but it comes back for Charley Docherty, she takes a touch and shoots… Blocked! Comes out to the right and it’s fizzed in low towards Docherty again… Keeper gets there first and Sunderland clear.
88th minute and Sunderland have a free kick in a dangerous position to the right of the box, Emma Kelly steps up… It’s over! Into stoppage time and Sunderland are looking for the equaliser now, long ball played into the box… Oh no! That’s come off a United hand there… Referee points for the Penalty! United appeal for a push in there but I have to agree with the Referee there! Late drama here! Keira Ramshaw to step up here, what a moment… WHAT A PENALTY!!! It’s 1-1! And it may be penalties after all!
The game continues… But not for long, it will be a Penalty Shootout! It will be Sunderland to take first. Keira Ramshaw to take first for Sunderland… She scores again! 0-1! Rebecca Rayner first for United… She finds the net! 1-1! Emma Kelly is next for Sunderland… Scores! 1-2! Lucy Watson next for United… She’s put it over… Still 1-2! Emily Scarr is next for Sunderland to give them daylight… She does it! 1-3! Charlotte Newsham is next for United… Good Penalty! 2-3! Neve Herron next for Sunderland… Match Point Sunderland! 2-4! Which means that Kasia Lipka must score for United… Oh no! She’s hit the post… Sunderland win! They will get the extra point in the Group Stage tonight!
FT: Sheffield United Women 1-1 Sunderland Ladies (Sunderland win 4-2 on Penalties)
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 2/10 – A decent crowd in tonight and a few shouts here and there.
- The Ground: 8/10 – Still the game ground I have visited the last 2 times!
- Expense: 9/10 – £5 is always a good price! With late drama and Penalties to add to it too!
- Overall Experience: 7/10 – Wasn’t looking good at 1-0 but the late drama and Penalties made it that bit better!
26/40