Lincoln Women were beaten 7-2 by Boldmere St. Michaels in their FAWNL Division One Midlands fixture at the Amber Arena and Community Stadium on Sunday.
The Whites travelled down to a high-flying Boldmere side who came into the tie just one point behind the league leaders, Peterborough, knowing a win would mean they end the day top of the pile.
The Mikes were looking to add to their stellar recent record; eight goals in the last three league games for the home side made them the most dangerous side in the division over the recent months.
For the Whites… the tale is one of exact opposites. Reaching the halfway point of the season without recording a win makes for difficult viewing when looking at the league table. Before the game, Head Coach, Alex Brito Nogueira said that he was: “very confident things will turn in the second half of this season; we have good people around us on and off the pitch and we have what it takes to turn it around”.
The First Half
It wasn’t a long wait for the first goal of the afternoon to be fired in as the hosts took the lead eight minutes into proceedings.
Ridhi Ruparelia picked up a loose clearance and looked up to see debutant keeper Morgan Valvo was yet to get back to her goal and her floated effort got the better of the scrambling Whites keeper.
The hosts’ advantage didn’t last long; five minutes later The Whites got their equaliser. Maddi Green with a rocket of an effort from 12-yards got her goal of the season and put Lincoln on level terms with 15 minutes played.
Chances kept falling for the Whites for the duration of the first 45. A huge chance to take the lead came Lucy Farrow’s way in the 23rd minute after Green played a perfectly weighted through ball, but the resulting effort was gathered by the keeper with no real issue.
Lincoln created a few more half chances throughout the remaining first ’45 but nothing that could stop the sides heading to the break all square.
Second Half scramble
What ensued from the 62nd minute can only be described as bedlam. Boldmere grabbed the lead after a shot from distance was spilled by Whites keeper, Morgan Valvo, and Olivia Mitcham was on hand to turn in on the 6-yard-line.
Soon answered, Bella Bogg, two minutes later. A loose Boldmere clearance fell to her feet on the edge of the box and without hesitation, fired one low and hard, beating all those in the penalty area and past the keeper to level things once again.
Goals in the 66th and 68th minute for Boldmere gave the hosts a 4-2 lead with 20 minutes left to play. A mountain for Nogueira’s Lincoln side to scale.
Unfortunately for them, that mountain was soon proved to be too steep for a defeated Whites side; further Boldmere goals in the 78th, 82nd and 90+2nd meant for an unsightly 7-2 scoreline come the final whistle.
Coming up…
For the Whites, now comes a long Christmas break, not returning to action until the new year when they welcome current league lead leaders, Peterborough United, on the 4th of January.
The new year also brings around the County Cup, where Lincoln will be looking to successfully defend their title. The Whites are scheduled to play their quarter-final against Stamford AFC on the 18th of January.