Match Report: Point on the road in season opener
FA Women’s National League Division One North: Middlesbrough FC Women vs Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies
On a day which was massive for women’s football, the league fixtures had paired up a Teesside derby for the opening game of the season. The two sides met twice last season with Middlesbrough winning their home fixture 3-1 but Norton reversed that score line at Station Road with goals coming from Bianca Owens, Holly Manders and Erin Boyle. This season’s Teesside derby saw a lot of changes for the home side with their now semi-professional status, plus new management in the dugout and only 1 player in the starting line up who played for Middlesbrough last season, so today’s encounter was going to be a different challenge for Norton. In the Norton side, new signings Sophie White and Anna McArthur were both in contention for their first experience of National League football.
The game started with a new look Middlesbrough having a lot of the ball in their own half but rarely causing Norton’s back line any problems. With defences on top for the first twenty minutes, there was very little to report on. Twenty five minutes and Katie Ormerod beat the full back out wide but in the act of crossing she was fouled. A free kick was awarded in a dangerous area but Ormerod’s delivery was held by the Boro ‘keeper.
Thirty-five minutes on the clock and the first major incident of the match saw Boro go down to ten with an off the ball incident. The incident saw Erin Boyle removed from the game and taken straight to hospital with what turned out to be a broken collar bone. Her replacement Maddie Myers went up front with the tricky Katie Ormerod moving to left wing back.
In first half stoppage time Norton had a big chance to take the lead when Maddie Myers broke clear with what looked like only the ‘keeper to beat but some excellent recovery defending from the Boro centre back blocked her shot. The loose ball fell to Sophie Tierney but her shot was saved by the ‘keeper.
Half Time: Middlesbrough Women 0-0 Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies
The second half saw Boro start the brighter of the two teams and the first shot on target saw the Boro midfielder bring a good diving save from Kelsie Moore. Norton went up the other end and a bit of individual magic from Katie Ormerod saw her dance past two players on the edge of the Boro area before unleashing an unstoppable shot that bounced off the crossbar with the ‘keeper beaten. Boro responded with a chance of their own when a delightful cross was somehow volleyed over from close range.
Norton made their second change with Estelle Clark replacing Sophie Tierney, who had returned from a long term injury, in the middle of the park. Boro had another big chance when the midfielder broke Norton’s offside trap and was clear on goal but an excellent challenge from Georgia Rae stopped her in her tracks. Norton won a free kick right on the edge of the area when Sophie Hodgson was fouled. Kate McGuire stepped up but fired the free kick over the bar. With 75 minutes on the clock, Ash Coyle entered the fold to replace a tiring Katie Ormerod.
In the 77th minute a long distance free kick was easily saved by Kelsie Moore. A minute later Moore was called into action again with a great diving save down to her right, tipping the shot wide for a corner. Norton made a fourth change with 16 year old Anna McArthur coming on for her competitive debut replacing Sophie Hodgson in the front two. With both sides looking leggy no further chances were created and the game ended stalemate. An excellent point on the road for Norton in the season opener.
Norton Team Kelsie Moore, Izzy McEwen, Georgia Rae, Vicki Burton, Kate McGuire, Erin Boyle (Maddie Myers 40’), Sophie Tierney (Estelle Clark 66’), Sophie White, Chloe West, Katie Ormerod (Ash Coyle 75’), Sophie Hodsgon (Anna McArthur 82’) Subs Not Used: Rachel Chisnall
Full Time: Middlesbrough FC Women 0-0 Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies
Player of the Match: Georgia Rae