14 Feb 2010

Burgess Hill 5 - 1 Rottingdean Village Ladies

(Chrimes [2], Z Wheatcroft [2], Plummer)

With the County Cup Final just 4 days away, Burgess Hill were looking to put in a convincing performance against Rottingdean Village Ladies. Burgess Hill were expecting a difficult encounter but were left somewhat relieved when Rottingdean arrived with a depleted side. The first half of the game was a very scrappy affair with both teams struggling to get any sort of stronghold on the game. It seemed Burgess Hill were lacking their usual energy and drive all over the pitch with both teams limited to distance shots on goal. Emma Chrimes, Leigh Farley and Emma Skilton all watching half-chances well saved by the visiting keeper. As the half wore on, frustration started to set in and with neither side capitalizing on their opportunities, the first half finished goalless. At the start of the second half, Burgess Hill made a triple substitution with Jade Bubb, Jane Quilley and Hayley Moore being replaced by Charlotte Lea, Jo-Ann Wheatcroft and Zita Wheatcroft respectively. It was hoped that the introduction of fresh legs would give Burgess Hill the boost they so desperately needed. And indeed it did, with almost her first touch of the game Z Wheatcroft found the bottom of the net from an almost impossible angle. After the opening goal, you could see the confidence begin to grow throughout the Burgess Hill team but Rottingdean were not going to go down without a fight. Rottingdean soon found themselves level after some good counter-attacking football and the scores were once again level.

In the 65th minute, Burgess Hill were awarded a free kick just outside the area. Farley played a superb ball into the box and Chrimes headed the ball into the back of the net to regain the lead. As Rottingdean legs started to tire, Burgess Hill capitalized with three quick goals in the last ten minutes. Both Chrimes and Z Wheatcroft got their second goals of the game and Plummer rounded off a much improved second half display with a fine solo effort.
Another win sees Burgess Hill well in contention for the league title if they can keep their winning run going. Despite some good passing moves, it was a frustrating game for all to watch, but team spirit and the desire to win saw Burgess Hill through a difficult game. The team can now look forward to their County Cup Final, this Thursday, against Albion Community Ladies.

Team: Helen Bashford, Alison Fairhall, Jane Quilley (C) (Jo-Ann Wheatcroft), Gayle Vowels, Jade Bubb (Charlotte Lea), Emma Skilton, Hayley Moore (Zita Wheatcroft), Natalie Bagwell, Leigh Farley, Hayley Plummer, Emma Chrimes.

7 Feb 2010 Burgess Hill 13 - 2 Maresfield Village (Chrimes [10], Plummer [2], Farley) Burgess Hill warmed up for their place in the final of the Women's Challenge Trophy with an impressive 13-2 win over Maresfield Village Ladies FC. The game got off to a scrappy start with neither teams really stamping their authority on the game. Emma Chrimes, playing as lone striker, soon started to cause Havoc in the opposition penalty area with a pace and movement a real threat to the Maresfield defence. As the game wore on, it was clear that Maresfield were struggling to deal with Chrimes, allowing both Hayley Plummer and Emma Skilton to support her in attack from the wings. Skilton played Chrimes through on goal, who outpaced the entire Maresfield defence and slotted the ball into the back of the net. Natalie Bagwell was well in control at the heart of the midfield with both Hayley Moore and Leigh Farley pushing forward in a 4-5-1 formation. Before long Burgess Hill found themselves three goals to the good as Chrimes grabbed her first hat-trick of the game, her second goal coming from a great ball from Jade Bubb. With Burgess Hill seemingly cruising, Maresfield capitalized on some unusually sloppy defending to bring the score to 3-2. With the game now hanging in the balance, Chrimes weaved her magic once again to give Burgess Hill a two goal advantage going into the break.

In the second half, Burgess Hill came out all guns blazing and found themselves 7-2 up within the first 10 minutes of the restart. Chrimes grabbing all 3 goals to take her tally for the game to 7. Plummer was having an impressive game down the left and her performance warranted a goal. She was to get her reward when she intercepted a poor goal kick to blast the ball in the back of the net. Bagwell and Hayley Moore were replaced by Camilla Chapman and Charlotte Lea respectively as Burgess Hill continued to press on the Maresfield backline. Chapman made an immediate impact as she raced down the right hand side and placed the ball perfectly for Chrimes to get her 8th goal of the game. With plenty of time still to go, it seemed Chrimes was heading for double figures. 2 more goals either side of a brilliant shot from Leigh Farley and a second for Plummer saw Chrimes score 10 goals in one game! With the game all but over, Fiona Setford replaced Jane Quilley and was unlucky to see her shot well saved by the visiting keeper.
With a final score of 13-2, this wasn't a game about defending. However, the Burgess Hill defence did well to stay concentrated with so many goals going in at the other end. Both Bubb and Alison Fairhall had impressive games in defence with Gayle Vowels reminding everyone how effective she can be in attack as well as in defence. Credit must go to the Maresfield team, who despite the score line, carried on till the end. Burgess Hill can now look forward to a league game at home to Rottingdean before embarking on their first appearance in the Sussex County women's Challenge Trophy. Well done girls!

Team: Helen Bashford, Alison Fairhall, Gayle Vowels, Jane Quilley (Fiona Setford), Jade Bubb, Hayley Plummer, Natalie Bagwell (Camilla Chapman), Leigh Farley, Hayley Moore, (Charlotte Lea), Emma Skilton, Emma Chrimes.

31 Jan 2010

BURGESS HILL LADIES INTO THE FINAL!!!

Burgess Hill 3 - 2 Crawley Down (AET)

(Chrimes, Farley [2])

After a very rusty performance in last weeks League Challenge Cup semi-final, Burgess Hill were looking to get back to winning ways and reach the final of the Women's Challenge Trophy.
The game got off to a very competitive start with both teams looking to stamp their authority on the game. Burgess Hill spent the first 15 minutes camped in the opposition's half trying the find the early breakthrough. Emma Chrimes, playing as the lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation, was hassling the Crawley Down defence and saw her first real opportunity saved by the keeper. But it wasn't long before Burgess Hill got the breakthrough that their pressure deserved; Natalie Bagwell played a delightful lob over the backline which Chrimes nonchalantly placed in the back of the net. 1-0 to Burgess Hill! Leigh Farley was working hard as the defensive midfielder, allowing both Bagwell and Hayley Moore to support in attack and before long Bagwell almost played Chrimes in again, this time, her header just towering over the bar. Hayley Plummer, playing left wing, found herself in acres of space and shot narrowly wide from a tight angle. With a one goal advantage, Burgess Hill were happy to see out the half as both teams continued to press.
Crawley Down came out much a newly inspired team and were soon piling the pressure on the Burgess Hill back four. Burgess Hill had been forced into making a defensive substitution as Jade Bubb was carrying an injury; Farley was placed at left-back with Camilla Chapman coming on into midfield. This left a very solid back four of Alison Fairhall, Jane Quilley (C), Gayle Vowels and Farley to which Crawley Down had to try and get passed. However, Crawley were to get their reward as a decent corner was headed into the goal from 5 yards. This was to be the last action keeper Helen Bashford was to see as ,due to illness, she was substituted for Charlotte Lea. Bagwell was forced to stand in between the posts for the remainder of the game, this releasing Farley back into the midfield. With the scores level, the tie was hanging in the balance with both teams creating chances. Zita Wheatcroft was having an inspired game on the right of midfield, supplying Chrimes and Plummer with plenty to chase up front. Persistent attacking led to Crawley giving away a free-kick just outside the area. Farley whipped a great ball over everyone and into the back of the net to give Burgess Hill a 2-1 lead.
Before Burgess Hill had time to settle, Crawley Down's number 6 glided her way through everyone, rounded the keeper and scored a quite brilliant individual goal. This came as a massive setback to Burgess Hill after conceding within 30 seconds of the restart. With nothing to pick between the teams, it was inevitable that the game would go to extra time.
Fiona Setford was brought on for Chapman, who was just returning from injury and who had had a massive impact on the team, as Burgess Hill looked to put some fresh legs on the pitch. With both teams creating a number of chances in extra time, it seemed the tie could go either way. Chrimes, Quilley and Setford all had shots well saved by the Crawley keeper and Wheatcroft was unlucky with a determined run towards the end of the first period. But with just minutes remaining, Farley and Plummer combined well down the left before Farley unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top-right-hand corner to seal the victory and put Burgess Hill Ladies into their first ever cup final!
A massive well done must go to the whole team, great determination and team spirit saw Burgess Hill win a tough fixture and the team can now look forward to the final on 18th February against Albion Community.

15 Nov 2009

Burgess Hill 7 - 1 Eastbourne Ladies

Chrimes 4, Plummer 2, Quilley

After having the last two games fall victim to the great British weather, Burgess Hill looked to continue their winning ways in the Women's Challenge Trophy against Eastbourne Ladies, a team Burgess Hill had beaten 10-2 in the league already this season.
Burgess Hill got off to a great start, catching Eastbourne cold and after just seven minutes, Burgess Hill found themselves 3-0 to the good! Emma Chrimes was terrorizing the back four with her pace and determination, allowing Leigh Farley and Natalie Bagwell plenty of possession in the centre of midfield. From a goal kick, Farley headed the ball straight into Chrimes path, who belted the ball into the back of the net for the first of her four goals in the game. Hayley Plummer, strike partner to Chrimes, was soon in on the act as Zita Wheatcroft played in a lovely cross from the right for Plummer to put in the back of the net for 2-0. Eastbourne were struggling to get out of their own half as Z Wheatcroft delivered an inviting corner, which Jane Quilley put in the back of the net. This was a great goal by the ever present captain who so often digs Burgess Hill out of trouble in defence.
With Burgess Hill sitting comfortably, it seemed the team took their foot off the pedal, allowing Eastbourne more possession than they should have had as the first half wore on. Goalkeeper, Helen Bashford, however was still yet to be tested as Bagwell and Plummer both had efforts saved by the Eastbourne keeper. Hayley Moore, playing on the left of midfield adapted well to the task and even found herself in a good position to shoot, but it was just wide of the post.
In the second half, Burgess Hill picked up their game and soon found themselves 4-0 up, a clearance from Bashford fell to Z Wheatcroft who, once again, delivered a perfect cross for Chrimes to power the ball into the goal with a diving header. Bagwell, playing even though feeling unwell was replaced by Emma Skilton early in the second half as Burgess Hill continued to press the Eastbourne backline.
A lapse in concentration however gave Eastbourne a glimmer of hope as keeper Bashford failed to take an easy catch and the Eastbourne striker capitalized to make the score 4-1. Gayle Vowels had a very solid game at the back along with Jade Bubb, who worked hard from left back in both attack and defence. Bubb's long throws often cause concern for the opposition and both Chrimes and Plummer carved out scoring opportunities courtesy of Bubb's throw ins. Alison Fairhall was enjoying a lot of space at right-back and was unlucky to watch her shot from 20 yards go just wide of the post.
Skilton was dominating the midfield in an impressive second half performance and played the killer ball into Plummer who gratefully accepted and placed the ball into the corner of the goal for her second goal of the game. With the game all but over in terms of the result, Skilton hit the crossbar with a decent shot from well outside the area before performing miracles at the other end as keeper Bashford was outwitted by a clever chip from the quick Eastbourne forward. It seemed like a simple tap-in for the Eastbourne forward but Skilton somehow managed to put the ball out for a throw. For her performance in the second half, Skilton deserved a goal but it wasn't to be as Chrimes scored two goals in the last ten minutes, assisted by Z Wheatcroft and Farley respectively.
Another good performance from the whole team, defensively sound and at times, very composed in front of goal. After an unexpected break, it is always hard to continue a winning streak but Burgess Hill carried on their run of form in style. Well done girls!

Team: Helen Bashford, Alison Fairhall, Jane Quilley (C), Gayle Vowels, Jade Bubb, Hayley Moore, Natalie Bagwell (Emma Skilton), Leigh Farley, Z Wheatcroft, Hayley Plummer, Emma Chrimes

26 Oct 2009

Burgess Hill Ladies 3 - 1 Horsham Sparrows

(Plummer [2], Stringer)

BURGESS HILL STILL UNDEFEATED!! Burgess Hill faced Horsham Sparrows for the 2nd time in a row, this time looking to keep their 100% record in the league. After making hard work of the 5-3 victory last week, Burgess Hill knew that this game would not be easy.
The first half got off to a scrappy start with both teams struggling to keep possession. Burgess Hill seemed to be lacking some confidence and this showed as passes went wayward. Natalie Bagwell returned in the centre of midfield alongside Hayley Moore, and they both worked tirelessly trying to get a hold on the game. Emma Skilton was deployed upfront with Susan Stringer in a new look front line and it wasn't too long before Burgess Hill started to put some pressure on the Sparrows goal. Stringer tore through the Sparrows defence with her pace and saw her shot parried away into the path of an advancing Hayley Plummer, who put the ball in the bottom corner. 1-0 to Burgess Hill!
Burgess Hill were settled at the back with Jane Quilley marshalling the back line of Jo-Ann Wheatcroft, Gayle Vowels and Alison Fairhall well. With only a slender lead, Burgess Hill were put under a fair bit of pressure themselves as keeper Helen Bashford watched a Sparrows free-kick hit the upright and bounce out of play. The game was pretty even and Burgess Hill were forced into an early change when J Wheatcroft was forced off with injury. Jade Bubb replaced J Wheatcroft as Burgess Hill reshuffled to allow Bubb to play in her normal left-back position. Burgess Hill were not affected by this early change as both Skilton and Bagwell saw shots go wide of either post.
In the second half, Burgess Hill looked to get a more comfortable lead. Z Wheatcroft found herself with lots of space on the right and Bagwell often picked her out with her range of passing, causing the Sparrows defence all sorts of problems. Moore was busy stifling any attacking moves from the opposition and with just 5 minutes of the second half played; Burgess Hill quickly turned defence into attack with Vowels and Bubb linking up well before allowing Bagwell to play Stringer in on goal who finished emphatically to double the score line.
With the game seemingly out of Horsham Sparrows grasp, Burgess Hill enjoyed a lot more possession and Plummer, Bagwell and Skilton all had shots saved from the busy Sparrows keeper. Bubb was replaced by Emma Chrimes for the last 10 minutes of the game and her impact was almost immediate as Chrimes surprised the Sparrows defence with her pace and unselfishly played Plummer in to grab her second goal of the game. With the game won, Burgess Hill took their foot of the pedal and were punished as the Horsham Sparrows striker scored a much deserved goal, after keeper Bashford failed to deal with a cross from the right.
This was another victory for Burgess Hill to keep them 2 points clear at the top of the table with at least one game in hand on their opponents. Credit must go to the versatility of both Vowels and Skilton, who found themselves playing in defence, midfield and up-front throughout the game as Burgess Hill continue to experiment with the team tactics. Another assured display in defence along with a dominant midfield display in the 2nd half will only help to improve the team's confidence in the lead up to Burgess Hill's toughest test so far this season against Rottingdean on 1st November. Keep it up girls!

18-Oct-2009

Burgess Hill 5 - 3 Horsham Sparrows

(Plummer, Stringer [2], Z Wheatcroft, own goal)

BURGESS HILL LADIES THROUGH TO NEXT ROUND OF CUP!

Burgess Hill Ladies made hard work of a determined Horsham Sparrows side who have won just one game in the league this season. With a couple of players missing, Burgess Hill were down to one substitute for the first round of the Women's Challenge Trophy. The game got off to a frantic start as both teams tried to settle into the game. Horsham Sparrows were first to make a mistake, leaving Hayley Plummer through on goal, however she failed to connect and played the ball straight to the Sparrows keeper. Gayle Vowels was unlucky to be caught offside as Burgess Hill started to put some pressure on the Sparrows defence. But after beating the offside trap, Vowels played a great cross into Zita Wheatcroft who shot well over.

plenty more pictures HERE

It seemed Burgess Hill had left their shooting boots at home as chance after chance went begging in a frustrating opening 20 minutes. And Burgess Hill were to be punished as Sparrows played some great passing football before pressurizing the Burgess Hill into a costly mistake, leaving keeper Helen Bashford with no chance. Horsham Sparrows were 1-0 up!
Determined not to give in, Leigh Farley and Plummer linked up well and Farley watched as her shot went straight at the keeper from the restart. Emma Skilton was working extremely hard on the right of midfield, both defensively and in attack. But it was the Sparrows who were to capitalize on a poor clearance from keeper Bashford to double the lead, making it 2-0!
Jane Quilley (C) was working hard with her defence of Jo-Ann Wheatcroft, Jade Bubb and Charlotte Lea as Hayley Moore looked to help out defensively in midfield against a good attacking side. Just before the break, persistence from Plummer on the left led to an own goal, with Z Wheatcroft putting significant pressure on the defender and forcing the mistake.
After an inspired half time talk, Burgess Hill were determined to pull this game back and within minutes of the restart Quilley met a corner which the Sparrows keeper saved, albeit unconvincingly. With Sparrows still dangerous on the break, Lea made an important tackle to thwart a dangerous counter attack.
With time ticking away, Bubb played a brilliant through ball to Vowels down the left who then linked well with both Z Wheatcroft and Plummer, who scored to bring the score back to 2-2! Horsham Sparrows heads started to drop and Burgess Hill could sense the win.
However, Sparrows were awarded a free-kick just outside the area and keeper Bashford failed to parry the ball away from a relative simple save, putting Sparrows back in the lead. It was real end-to-end stuff as both teams looked to get through to the next round of the cup. Within minutes, Burgess Hill had pulled the scores level once again, this time Z Wheatcroft placed the ball into the bottom corner after some determined play from Skilton.
With the game in the balance, Susan Stringer replaced Bubb to make her debut for Burgess Hill and it turned out to be an inspired move. Vowels moved to left-back, Plummer went to left midfield and Stringer went up front. Her pace unsettled the tiring Sparrows defence and she scored two fantastic goals in quick succession to finally put the game beyond a battling Sparrows side.
Despite making hard work of the win, Burgess Hill can take some positives from a game that they came from behind on two occasions. It showed a great team spirit, if not a great performance. Burgess Hill can now look forward to playing Eastbourne Ladies at home in the next round…

Team: Helen Bashford, Jane Quilley, Charlotte Lea, Jo-Ann Wheatcroft, Jade Bubb (Susan Stringer), Hayley Moore, Leigh Farley, Emma Skilton, Gayle Vowels, Zita Wheatcroft, Hayley Plummer.

4Oct 2009

Eastbourne Ladies 2 - 10 Burgess Hill Ladies

Chrimes[2], Farley, Plummer[3], Vowels, Z Wheatcroft[2], Skilton)

Burgess Hill Ladies travelled away to Eastbourne Ladies looking to complete an already impressive start to the season with a third win on the bounce. The pitch was extremely narrow and not a patch on the home pitch Burgess Hill are so used to playing on and with strong winds playing a massive part throughout the game, it was obvious it was not going to be easy.
Burgess Hill started well and within the opening 15 minutes, found themselves 1-0 up with a fine solo effort from Gayle Vowels. Vowels almost got a second straight from the restart, however her shot hitting the side netting. Burgess Hill were enjoying a lot of possession with Leigh Farley supporting both Emma Chrimes and Hayley Plummer up front well. Eastbourne had some dangerous players up front and were very dangerous on the break. With the wind on their side in the first half, Burgess Hill were susceptible to the counter attack but the back line of Jade Bubb, Natalie Bagwell, Jo-Ann Wheatcroft and Alison Fairhall held firm.
Burgess Hill, however, were still in control and Plummer played in Farley who placed the ball in the bottom corner to double the lead and get her first goal of the season. Chrimes soon followed suit when keeper Helen Bashford played a long ball to Chrimes. Chrimes rounded the keeper and passed the ball into the back of the net. 3-0! Before half time, Farley just had time to watch a curling free kick well saved by the Eastbourne keeper and the half finished 3-1 to Burgess Hill.
With the wind behind them, Burgess Hill looked to use it to their advantage and Hayley Moore played the ball to Plummer who deservedly got her first goal of the game. Another goal was to quickly follow, this time for Eastbourne as their pacey forward sprinted clear of the Burgess Hill defence and blasted the ball into the back of the net.
Emma Skilton replaced Hayley Moore and made an instant impact, lobbing the keeper from just outside the area making the score 5-2! This game was steadily turning into a goal-fest as Zita Wheatcroft got in on the action after being set up by the ever hard-working Chrimes. One goal for Z Wheatcroft was quickly followed by another as the Eastbourne keeper played the ball straight to Z Wheatcroft from a goal kick and she fired the ball into the back of the net. Jane Quilley and Charlotte Lea replaced J Wheatcroft and Fairhall respectively in order to put some fresh legs in defence.
With time running out, Burgess Hill produced a fine team passing move and Plummer was at hand to put the ball in the back of the net. With the game all but over, Plummer had just enough time to get her hat-trick and leave the final score at 2-10!
This was a fine team performance in difficult conditions. However credit must go to the Eastbourne side as there heads never dropped despite the score line. The win leaves Burgess Hill top of the league; 5 points clear of nearest challengers. Rottingdean Ladies. Keep it up girls!

Team: Helen Bashford, Alison Fairhall (Charlotte Lea), Natalie Bagwell, Jo-Ann Wheatcroft (Jane Quilley), Jade Bubb, Gayle Vowels, Leigh Farley (C), Hayley Moore (Emma Skilton), Zita Wheatcroft, Hayley Plummer, Emma Chrimes

BURGESS HILL LADIES STAY TOP! ... Burgess Hill welcomed newly formed team Chichester City Ladies II to Leylands Park looking to stretch their early lead in the league to 5 points after just 4 games into the season.
Not knowing what to expect, Burgess Hill found themselves on the back foot in the opening exchanges as Chichester mounted some considerable pressure on the back four of Alison Fairhall, Jane Quilley (C), Leigh Farley and Jo-Ann Wheatcroft. The defence was holding firm until keeper Helen Bashford made a horrible mistake, allowing the Chichester striker a tap-in from 5 yards.
Undeterred by this early setback, Burgess Hill stepped up their game and Gayle Vowels, playing in her familiar left midfield position, fashioned a chance which just crept wide of the post. Emma Chrimes was stretching the Chichester defence with some intelligent runs whilst strike partner Hayley Plummer was getting more into the game as the half wore on. With Burgess Hill camped out in the Chichester half, Natalie Bagwell picked the ball up from 40 yards out and lashed in a magnificent goal to level the score.
Almost from the restart, Burgess Hill won a corner and both Plummer and Chrimes had shots blocked from a determined Chichester City defence. As the half drew to a close, Plummer did everything right apart from score as her shot just from outside the area hit the post to leave the score 1-1 at half time.
Burgess Hill started the second half how they finished the first and Quilley met an early cross with a great header only to see the Chichester keeper pull off a good save. Zita Wheatcroft moved into centre midfield for the second half with Emma Skilton pushing out far right in an attempt get that all important second goal. With Bagwell and Z Wheatcroft combining well in midfield and Skilton playing some fantastic crosses into the box, Burgess Hill found themselves well on top. Bagwell played Chrimes in who shot just wide of the post as Plummer had a ferocious shot blocked off the line. With so much possession, Burgess Hill were indebted to Farley who worked tirelessly to cut out any counter attacks from Chichester as Burgess Hill committed more players forward trying to find that goal that was so well-deserved. However, Burgess Hill were still susceptible to a quick counter-attack and keeper Bashford was required to make a number of smart saves to keep the scores level.
Jade Bubb was brought on for the ever hardworking Vowels as Burgess Hill looked to bring more fire-power into the game. And Bubb made an instant impact, heading the ball cleverly into the net from a Bagwell corner.
This was a very spirited performance to come back from one goal down to beat an impressive Chichester City side and leaves Burgess Hill flying high at the top of the table with maximum points. An encouraging all round team performance that bodes well for the rest of the season. Well Done Ladies!

Team: Helen Bashford, Alison Fairhall, Jane Quilley, Leigh Farley, Jo-Ann Wheatcroft, Emma Skilton. Natalie Bagwell, Zita Wheatcroft, Gayle Vowels (Jade Bubb), Emma Chrimes, Hayley Plummer.