Lincoln City Women were knocked out of the FAWNL Plate by struggling Sheffield FC thanks to a couple of early second-half goals.
Both sides came into the game desperate for a change in form. It was a welcome break from league action, as Lincoln had suffered two successive defeats and Sheffield FC were winless in their last three.
Lee Mitchell’s side returned to Moorlands, where they beat Northampton Town convincingly early on in the season. They sat 7th in the league, but would be hoping for better fortunes in the FAWNL Plate.
Sheffield FC sat bottom of the FAWNL Division One Midlands, having failed to register a single point or goal since August. That being said, Lee Mitchell was desperate not to underestimate the opposition in his pre-match comments.
First-Half:
It was a first-half that lacked quality, fitting of a game between two out of form teams. Lincoln City started the brightest of the two, with Maddi Green almost breaking the deadlock in the opening five minutes.
She picked up the ball from a misplaced Leah Kellogg pass, but couldn’t make the Sheffield FC goalkeeper pay as she put the ball wide of a gaping goal.
The Imps continued to create as Faith Horner fired a shot from long-range and Ella Thompson-Moulding headed the ball into the back of the net.
However, her celebrations were cut short as referee Gavin Rice controversially disallowed the goal for a foul on goalkeeper Kellogg.
The visitors had their first chance as the game went past 20 minutes. Caitlyn Douglas hit a shot from range, but Lana Timson was able to tip it over at a safe height.
Chances were few and far between during the half. Lincoln’s top goalscorer Toni McHamilton looked to add her sixth of the season, but Kellogg was equal to a long-range effort.
As the half came to a close, McHamilton again had her eye on goal, but fired a free-kick well over the bar.
Lincoln almost pierced the Sheffield goal from a corner as the sides played out a few minutes of additional time. Despite the Imps best efforts, it remained goalless at the break.
Overall, it was a half that lacked true quality in-front of goal, but it was one that Lee Mitchell’s side had the better of.
Second-Half:
The second-half began in stark contrast to the first. Sheffield FC scored in the 51st minute as Sam Brooks found space on the Lincoln City left and lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Timson, who could only watch as the ball landed in the back of her net.
The second goal came only five minutes later, as centre-back Millie Fugler headed home an Amy Pashley free-kick from distance.
In between the two goals, Alice Wood came on for her home debut, replacing Faith Horner, and Neve Hincks replaced Millie Quaintance.
The other side of the 60 minute mark, Lincoln began their search for a lifeline in the FAWNL Plate. Chantelle Robinson scuffed a shot wide and Thompson-Moulding had a header cleared off the line.
The Imps worked hard to find a goal, but the two early second-half goals by Sheffield left Lee Mitchell’s side with a mountain to climb.
The lively Maddi Green sent a ball over the top to McHamilton, but she couldn’t control the ball as she was sent one-on-one with goalkeeper Kellogg.
McHamilton had another great chance, in the 75th minute, as the ball came towards her in the centre of the box. It was a piece of last-ditch Sheffield defending that stopped Lincoln’s top-scorer from tapping the ball into the open net.
Following the great period of play just after the break from Sheffield the game returned to the flow it had in the first-half. Lincoln had the better of the chances, but were unable to find the goal that would make a contest of the game.
Hincks had a shot saved late on, but for all the chances they created Lincoln City were unable to find a goal.
Lincoln City Women 0-2 Sheffield FC Women
Lee Mitchell’s side fell to a third consecutive defeat as Sheffield FC made their way into the second-round of the FAWNL Plate for the first-time in their history.
It was a tale of two teams who were out of form heading in, but the bottom of the table visitors were able to overturn their recent results and put their name in the hat for the next round.
It was Sheffield’s first victory at the Moorlands & Railway Sports Club, as an early second-half flurry was enough to seal the victory.