First team
A disappointing result at bottom-of-the table placed team Bristol Academy. A 1-1 draw means two big points dropped in the title/Champions League place races, but it is still an excellent improvement to go in the break in second place if we compare to what happened last year when the team had one point at the break. The girls are trailing Chelsea by two points at the mid-season with Notts County hot on their heels one point behind them in third.
Pedro Losa made one changes from the previous game against with Jordan Nobbs injured and replaced by Lianne Sanderson. Siobhan Chamberlain, Vyan Sampson, Kelly Smith and Leah Williamson were also unavailable due to injury.
The starting 11 was:
Emma Byrne; Alex Scott, Casey Stoney, Jemma Rose, Emma Mitchell; Jade Bailey, Lianne Sanderson (Caroline Weir 67) Vicky Losada; Danielle Carter, Natalia Pablos Sanchon (Rachel Yankey 62), Chioma Ubogagu (Carla Humphrey 76).
Chioma Ubogagu scored the opener on the 14th minute from an Alex Scott cross while Nikki Watts equalised for Bristol Academy in the 70th minute.
A full mid-season report will follow this week on Daily Cannon.
Development team
They played their league game against Bristol and will have another game on Wednesday against London Bees, the reserves are in transition with Arsenal ladies looking for a new manager next season and the best reserves players have moved up to the first team and no longer train with the reserves.
The starting 11 was Hollie Augustus, Kelsey Kiely Alice Hassall Asia Harbour-Brown Phillipa Cowley, Frances Steele Alysha Stojko-Down, Charlotte Devlin Georgia Allen Chloe Kelly, Evie Clarke.
The sub used were Abigail Mills, Francesca Boggi and Adekete Fatuga.
Final score: 9-1 with five goals for Evie Clarke, a hat trick for Georgia Allen and one for Frances Steele.
Although the result was good enough, a few players had a poor second half, taking it too easy. They were not respecting the game at all. When the opposition is quite weak, players should not drop their standard and and start playing in an individualistic manner. I was actually disappointed that the coaching staff did not substitute those players early in the second half.
Center of Exellence u17
In their final league game this season they beat Millwall 8-0, they won the LSE league and are now looking to do the double. Their final will be played on Sunday the 31st May at Stratford Town FC, the previous home of Birmingham City Ladies. Kick-off at 12pm due the FA WSL Development League Cup final played straight after that game.
Transfer news
One player, we can’t reveal whom at this point, has indicated she will leave the club during the World Cup break, no official word so far.