WOMEN'S F.A. CUP, 3RD ROUND
The Central Ground, Coles Lane, Sutton Coldfield, B72 1NL
12/12/2021, 1:00 pm Kick Off
As the weather forecast for Saturday is pretty grim I decide to go to a Sunday game instead and I notice that the WBA Ladies team are at home in the Women's FA Cup 3rd Round. They are playing at Sutton Coldfield , which is a surprise as I saw Sutton Coldfield's womens team play there too earlier on in the competition.
I manage to get to Sutton Coldfield by train without any hassle and the weather is not too bad, milder than of late and with sunny intervals too.
I have time to do some Christmas shopping, have a snack in the town centre and walk to Coles Lane.
There is a friendly guy taking the gate money and he turns out to be the Club Secretary as well. I pay my entrance fee and he tells me that the programmes have sold out but I am able to take a printed team sheet instead (thoughtful touch).
I have time to have a cup of tea before the kick-off. WBA are playing Long Eaton United, who play in the level below them but they are either top or second in their league, so although I am expecting a home win, it's a cup match and a chance of an upset.
The teams come out at 1 pm and WBA are in their usual home colours of blue and white stripes, while Long Eaton are in their change strip of red and black.
The home team take the lead after just 2 minutes and I had not been concentrating so I only have time to see the ball nestling in the back of the net following a corner from the left. I find out that the scorer is their No.10 Evie Gallop and 2 days later watch a video clip of the goal on the WBA Twitter account. It was a great goal, where Evie flicks the ball up in the air after beating a defender and volleys it straight over the keeper's head with a lot of power. A good enough goal to grace any game and I missed it!
Long Eaton come back strongly during the following 10 minutes but without creating any clear cut chances.
Then the Albion ladies are back on the attack down the left and the visitor's keeper has to make a good save from Gallop.
They double their lead after 30 minutes when the on fire, Evie Gallop slots the ball in to the right corner of the net.
5 minutes later and the Albion No.5, Kerry Walklett puts in a great shot from the left and Leagh Kellogg manages to tip it over the bar.
Long Eaton go very close to scoring when Tiana Hicks is put through and shoots past the oncoming Albion keeper, Poppy Bastock, only to see the ball go just wide of the right hand post.
The Albion immediately respond by scoring a third goal through their No.14, Leigh Dugmore, after she receives the ball from Trina Greaves on the right and her shot hits a Long Eaton defender and deflects through the keeper's legs.
Half time arrives none too soon for Long Eaton and it's hard to see them getting back in to this game today. I must admit I have been very impressed with West Bromwich so far, especially Evie Gallop of course and the diminutive, Kerry Walklett in midfield, who is a bundle of energy.
The second period commences and it's more of the same with the Albion doing most of the attacking and they add to their tally in the 62nd minute when Shannon Stamps cleverly comes through on the right, manages to get in a shot which the keeper can't hold and it's the irrepressible Walklett who's the first to react and stab the ball in to the goal.
Long Eaton manage to score a goal of their own following an attack on the left and it's their No.8, Moriah McIntosh who does so.
Apart from this it's the Albion who are dominating this game and it's no surprise when Walklett scores again.
But for the Long Eaton United keeper the winning margin could have been greater for the home team. West Bromwich go in to the hat for the 4th Round draw and Long Eaton have to lick their wounds and keep going for promotion from their division.
I really enjoyed this game today and I am tempted to watch WBA Ladies again in the next round if they have a home tie.
Match attendance: 72
Entrance fee: £5 / £1 concession
Programme: Sold out
Match entertainment: 7.5/10
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