FA Women’s Super League 2
The New Den, South Bermondsey
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £2.00
Attendance: 732
Match Rating: 3
At the conclusion of my afternoon game at Bedfont & Feltham, I decided to race across London to take in the 6.30pm match at The New Den, for what would be my first visit there since 1995. Time promised to be a bit tight, but with a following wind meeting connections en route, I made it with almost half an hour to spare in the end.
The New Den is about a 15 minute walk from South Bermondsey train station, and there was a rather strange feel to proceedings this evening. This match was part of a double header, after the men’s game in the afternoon. After purchasing a ticket for this game, spectators entered the stadium through a side door, and virtually all catering outlets were closed. Only the lower section the main stand was open for this game, as cleaners went around the other stands whilst the match was in progress, and the PA system was not used at all, nor were the floodlights turned on even when it became quite dark towards the end. But the stadium is a reasonable looking if bland modern all-seater stadium, with four similarly looking, two tiered stands. A full colour 22 page programme was produced for this game and was quite an interesting read.
Millwall Lionesses came into this game in sixth place in the division, with one win and two draws from their opening four games, whilst Yeovil Town Ladies were in fourth place, having won two and drawn 1 of their four league games.
On a sunny evening, Millwall had the better of most of the first half, doing much of the attacking without ever really threatening to score. Yeovil looked dangerous on the break and they went into the break in the lead thanks to a goal a minute before half-time. Sarah Wiltshire played a low diagonal ball upfield which a defender failed to cut out, and Helen Bleazard ran onto the ball, took it around the keeper before firing low into the net.
It was slightly harsh on Millwall to be behind at the break, but in the second half, Yeovil looked a much more dominant team, and on 70 minutes they doubled their lead when Ann-Marie Heatherson fired in a great strike from just outside the area into the top corner. They almost scored their third on 78 minutes when the Millwall keeper fumbled the ball but the loose ball was hooked onto the bar, and three minutes later, a glancing header went just wide, as Millwall were looking increasingly tired and resigned to their fate. Yeovil put the result beyond all doubt on 82 minutes. A header from a cross drew a great save from the Millwall keeper, only for Heatherson to stab the rebound home. Yeovil scored a fourth which was very harsh on the home side three minutes from time without another superb goal. Wiltshire ran onto a long ball before thumping a shot on the half-volley over the keeper and into the net.
Yeovil probably deserved the win as they looked the better team for all of Millwall's huff and puff, but the scoreline did reflect the more clinical nature of Yeovil's play.
It was slightly harsh on Millwall to be behind at the break, but in the second half, Yeovil looked a much more dominant team, and on 70 minutes they doubled their lead when Ann-Marie Heatherson fired in a great strike from just outside the area into the top corner. They almost scored their third on 78 minutes when the Millwall keeper fumbled the ball but the loose ball was hooked onto the bar, and three minutes later, a glancing header went just wide, as Millwall were looking increasingly tired and resigned to their fate. Yeovil put the result beyond all doubt on 82 minutes. A header from a cross drew a great save from the Millwall keeper, only for Heatherson to stab the rebound home. Yeovil scored a fourth which was very harsh on the home side three minutes from time without another superb goal. Wiltshire ran onto a long ball before thumping a shot on the half-volley over the keeper and into the net.
Yeovil probably deserved the win as they looked the better team for all of Millwall's huff and puff, but the scoreline did reflect the more clinical nature of Yeovil's play.
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