Been meaning to put this thread up for a couple of weeks, thought I'd start something to post on and follow Town Women in their first season in the 2nd tier. Maybe I'll be alone on here, we shall see! So the women's team finally made it to Tier 2, the newly renamed Women's Super League 2, which for the first time ever is now a league containing all teams at a fully professional level. For those that don't know, the WSL2 runs a Youtube channel and you can see every match live, or catch the replay. With just the one commentator, the matches are broadcast in good quality, and the commentary is focused on the match and without all the side talk that can happen when there are two people on the mic. I've seen every league game so far via replay. Away at Saints : 4-0 loss A tough opening fixture that resulted in a chastening 4--0 loss, welcome to the division ladies! The Southampton team just looked bigger overall. It had shades of the men's squad last year in the PL, where our players were just dwarfed by the athletic nature of most of the players at that level. Boswell and Peake were in the centre of defence, with Bethan Roe at LB and Grace Neville at RB. Joe Sheehan has taken the decision to put Leah Mitchell in the number 6 role this year, having been our RB previously. So far it has looked an astute move as her size and mobility has certainly added steel to the middle of the park. Kyra Robertson on the other hand got overran and doesn't look like being able to handle the step up at the moment. The forward line consisted of Peskett on the right, Tash and O'Brien continually swapping places on the left and Rianna Dean up front. It was a difficult match, with not many positives to be taken from it. Peskett couldn't get going and most of our attacks were easily snuffed out. There were a lot of long balls played forward and a reluctance to risk playing out from the back. It looked like being a tough season after that match. Away at Forest : 1-0 loss Another away game with a trip to Nottingham to face the other newly promoted side. An almost similar line-up to the week before, the only change being Thomas dropping to the bench and Jenna Dear coming into the number 10 spot. It was a much more even affair where we managed to get more possession and some of our attacking play going. Mitchell was solid in midfield, Robertson struggled again. Peskett looked a lot more comfortable and Dean held the line well. Home to Charlton : 0-0 draw First home match of the season against a strong Charlton side. Summer Hughes came in at LB with Roe moving into the middle alongside Mitchell. This combination has turned out to be a decent pairing. Roe struggled a little at LB but Hughes came in and was good and Roe was better in the midfield than she had been covering LB in the previous two games. Tash played on the left of attack with O'Brien injured and absent from the squad. This was a dogged performance from the team. They were under the cosh for most of the match, Charlton making quick and incisive attacks, but the defence held strong and ultimately they came away with a hard fought and precious first point of the season. Home to Portsmouth : 3-2 win Just as the men's team had the day before, the ladies travelled to the south coast and came back with 3 points, their first win of the league campaign. The back four of Hughes, Peake, Boswell and Neville was solid in the game against Charlton and continued this week. Roe and Mitchell were in the middle again and Peskett was on the left, Ruby Seaby on the right and Dear/Dean up front. Now this was more like the team we've been watching over the last couple of years. The confidence to play out from the back was obvious and we had an attacking threat throughout the match. Peskett was busy down the left but in my opinion wasn't as effective as when she is played at RW. She did get a fantastic cross in for Dean to head home the opening goal but overall I felt she needed to cut back in too often and looked much better in the second half when Seaby was subbed for Thomas and Sophie moved across the pitch. Not saying she played badly on the left, because she didn't and was dangerous, but she looked even more threatening at right wing later in the game. Mitchell and Roe had another good display in the middle of the park and both Hughes and Neville got forward from full back to join in on attacks. Jenna Dear looks handy in the 10 role and Dean is a handful up front, with good strength to go up against Pompey's CBs. Dean took her goal (and the first scored by Ipswich Women at tier 2 level) well with a deft header that landed in the bottom corner, just out of the 'keeper's reach. There was some confusion over the second goal. Peskett crossed from the right and Tash met it with a strong header to bring the score to 2-2, Portsmouth having scored to go in front just a minute or so earlier. The confusion came from whether or not the ref had blown for a foul on Peskett as she crossed the ball or whether he had allowed the advantage to be played. The goal eventually stood and Thomas could celebrate her first WSL2 goal. She has now scored for Ipswich in tiers 4, 3 and 2. The Portsmouth manager was not happy and received a yellow card for his protestations. With 10 minutes to go, Paige Peake stepped up and buried a penalty that had been given following Peskett being brought down in the box by Collins, the second penalty she's given away in the last 2 matches. Unusual to see a CB step up for the spot kick but she was calm and assured and slotted it away, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way in the process. It was a match that looked like the team were starting to get to grips with the league and the first win will give them a big confidence boost. It was good to see Charlotte Fleming return for a cameo appearance as Joe Sheehan closed shop with Wearing coming on to make 3 CBs and Fleming coming in to make it three in the middle of the park. So from looking outclassed in the opening fixture, the ladies are growing into the season and each performance has looked better than the one before. I'm not sure how many of the promotion players will last in the WSL2, some of them looking a tad small and without the overall power that some of the opposing players possess, but the team and performance has improved each week so far.
As one who grew up with no women cricket, rugby or football, I am delighted to see their meteoric rise. And witness the England national teams' world class performances. European and World Champs in footie and rugby! Thanks for sharing SD.
