Page 31 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.14 2021-22

The sending off seemed to make the players dig even deeper and that extra determination
kept them very much in the game.
At the end of the match a rare mix-up in the French defence allowed both Sophie Ingle
and Fishlock to have chances of equalising. Somehow, France kept the ball out of their goal. When
the ball immediately returned to the box, Fishlock thought she’d scored for Wales but her effort
struck the woodwork.
France were then able to go on the attack and ran the ball down the other end of the pitch,
where Selma Bacha’s strike from outside the box into the top left hand corner of the goal made it
2-0.
It was an exciting period of play that demonstrated the highs and lows of football, but on
this occasion it Wales who dropped to their knees on the full time whistle.
Following Greece’s surprise 0-0 draw with third placed Slovenia earlier in the day, Wales
remain second in the group and two points clear.
Gemma Grainger was clearly disappointed at the result but incredibly proud of her team.
“We were competitive. We were competing until the last five minutes of the game and we had an
opportunity to equalise with 10 players,” she said. “We were playing one of the top teams in the
world and these are the teams we want to play in competitions. In terms of the way the girls
performed and what we will take from the game I feel quite positive.”
France: Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, Eve Perisset (sub Griedge M’Bock Bathy 81mins), Elisa de
Almeida, Aissatou Tounkara, Perle Morroni, Sandie Toletti (sub Kenza Dali 66mins), Charlotte
Bilbault, Grace Geyoro, Kadidiatou Diani (sub Selma Bacha 66mins), Marie-Antoinette Katoto,
Delphine Cascarino (sub Melvine Malard 88mins). Subs: Solene Durand, Mylene Chavas, Hawa
Cissoko, Marion Torrent, Clara Mateo, Valerie Gauvin, Sandy Baltimore, Viviane Asseyi.
Wales: Laura O'Sullivan, Rhiannon Roberts, Hayley Ladd, Gemma Evans, Esther Morgan,
Angharad James, Natasha Harding, Jessica Fishlock, Sophie Ingle, Carrie Jones (sub Ffion
Morgan 68mins), Kayleigh Green. Subs: Olivia Clark, Poppy Soper, Lily Woodham, Josie Green,
Helen Ward, Elise Hughes, Georgia Walters, Charlie Estcourt, Chloe Williams, Megan Wynne,
Anna Filbey.
(faw.cymru)
The County Leagues….
Gloucestershire League
With Olveston Utd not playing, their two nearest rivals each took an opportunity to narrow the
gap at the top of the table. Pucklechurch Sports moved to within seven points of the O's by
notching their sixth straight win, 5-1 against Gloucester City. Tammi Haynes netted twice along
with Poppy Coles, Chelsea Pearce and Lucy Sparks, whilst Kate Ambrey had the distinction of
being the first player to score a league goal against the Puckles this season. Meanwhile, it was a red
letter day for Longwell Green as they played their first game on their new plush 3G pitch and
facilities at Shellards Road, and they marked it by beating Longlevens 6-1. Kate Michael scored
a hat-trick, Abbie Woodley-Marshall netted twice and Rebecca Jones was also on target, with
Ashleigh Lloyd replying.
There was a surprise result in Division Two as leaders Tuffley Rovers crashed to a 6-2
defeat at the hands of Cheltenham Civil Service, who won their second game of the season.
Gemma Riley scored a hat-trick along with Katie Ashmead, Kaydee Wheeler and an own goal,
whilst Tuffley's replies came from Chloe Taylor and Ellie Windo. Dursley Town meanwhile
moved back into the top three on the back of a 7-1 victory over City of Gloucester, thanks to a
Lucy Jones hat-trick, Morgan Tayler (2), Michelle Watson and Emma Allen.
It was not a good day for the leaders in the league on Sunday as in Division Three,
Bradley Stoke were beaten 1-0 by Mitcheldean SC. Jessie Davies scored the only goal of the
game, to bring an end to Bradley's eight-match winning run in the league. Southmead
Community Sports meanwhile won 4-1 for the second successive week, claiming a notable
success away to Winchcombe Town, and two Leanne Derbyshire goals gave Stoke Lane
Athletic a 2-1 win against Olveston Utd Res, whose consolation came from Molly Bose.
Issue no. 14 - 2 December 2021 womenssoccerscene@mail.com