Salford Ladies Football Club

Salford slow to start as Middlesbrough,
Rochdale and Tranmere start with a bang!

Salford welcomed Bradford City to Littleton Road on the opening day of the new season. Not much between the two teams last year, both claiming home victories and with the home side eager to get the season off on the right foot the game was strategically poised for an interesting ninety minutes.

The early exchanges were very tight as Bradford started to settle the better of the two sides and began to have some early rhythm in their game, breaking down the Salford right flank on a couple of occasions and having some half chances. An early scare for Salford came when a ball crossed from the Bradford right fizzed across the Salford penalty area but fortunately for the Salford defence the forward could not convert. The Salford midfield struggled to gain control of the midfield as the away sides determination began to show, not giving Salford any room to play, several times catching the home side in possession, quickly winning the ball back and hitting Salford on the break. Bradford took the lead in the twenty-fifth minute. With the Salford forward caught in possession on the half way line, the Bradford fullback broke down the home sides right flank, with the defenders backing off and unchallenged the Bradford winger swung in a dangerous cross which was poorly dealt with by the Salford defence. A poor header down to the feet of the Bradford forward who struck a sweet half volley shot in to the top corner of the net. A good finish but poor all round defending by the home side made the chance easier. 0-1  

Bradford continued to press and their hunger grew as the home side struggled to get out of first gear. Another break down the Salford right, again badly defended with four Salford players uninterested in making a tackle the Bradford winger found herself in the penalty area and took a strike at goal. Claire Harrop threw her body at the ball to get some kind of block on the shot but the ball struck a trailing arm and the referee had no choice but to award a penalty. The Bradford skipper stepped up confidently and struck the ball to the Salford keepers left. Fantastic save by Joanne Phillips to keep Salford in the game.

Five minutes later Bradford broke again, some lapsed defending and the Bradford forward was clear of the Salford defence and bearing down on goal, another fantastic stop by the Salford keeper to keep the home side in the game.

Just before the break Salford had their first chance a well worked corner found the feet of Sarah Howden who showed great vision to pull the ball back to the edge of the penalty area for Chelsea Scholes to strike a low hard shot at goal, helped on by Charlotte O'Connor's flick the Bradford keeper some how managed to turn the ball away for a corner. Things looked a little brighter for the home side. Half  Time 0-1.

Salford started the second half in the best way possible. A good pass into the feet of Anne Beagan who's neat flick on allowed Caroline Price to run on to the ball. Holding off the defender the Salford forward finished superbly across the Bradford keeper to level the game.1-1

The home side struggled to gain control of the game with Bradford still having the better of the chances. Salford's best chance to take the lead came when a good pass into midfield from Charlotte O'Connor found the feet of Abbie Wynn, who checked to the right and struck a fierce shot from the edge of the area, which just missed the top corner of the net. Salford had some half chances after but nothing clear cut. Late on Bradford broke through the Salford defence, again through the middle and with the Bradford forward bearing down on goal and certain to score Joanne Phillips made another fantastic save to keep the scores level. Salford pressed in the later stages but some bad decision making in good area's of the pitch denied the home side of any further chances. Full Time 1-1.

Player of the Match

Joanne Phillips

Fantastic performance from the Salford keeper.

Final Thought