Lincoln v Blues Ladies Match Report

Here is a match report from yesterday’s ladies match.

Lincoln 1 v 1 Blues Ladies

Birmingham moved five points clear of Arsenal at the top of the WSL table after a fiery affair with Lincoln saw both teams reduced to ten players.  Leanda Little and Heather Scheuber were both dismissed in the second half, but the Blues fought back from the loss of Scheuber to earn a vital point through a Rachel Williams penalty.

Birmingham were forced in to a change from the side that beat Bristol Academy on Wednesday night, with Stef Curtis replacing the injured Karen Carney, while Marie Hourihan, Jade Moore and Izzy Christiansen were still unavailable after picking up knocks against Doncaster Rovers Belles last Saturday. And the Blues appeared to be missing the quartet, as Little put the hosts ahead with a header.

Things had been slightly over physical in the first half and the referee was in danger of losing control of the game until he produced a couple of yellow cards towards half-time.
 
Lincoln deserved their half-time lead after controlling the first period. Apart from the early goal, Lucy Staniforth saw her toe poke come back of Birmingham ‘keeper Hall’s body. Seconds later Sue Smith forced Hall into another save with a shot from the left.
 
Blues leading scorer Rachel Williams levelled it four minutes into the second half after her shot had been handled in the penalty area.
 
With many expecting Birmingham to step it up after that, the Lady Imps didn’t allow this to happen. The physical stuff, while not quite as bad as the first half, continued though and Lincoln’s Little was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 65th minute.
 
Birmingham substitute Scheuber, on for Curtis at the interval, was dismissed after picking up two bookings inside 32 minutes of that substitution, but if David Parker’s side can put in more performances like this then the league title is very much a realistic target.

Blues are next in action on Wednesday night as they host Everton, who will be full of confidence after beating Arsenal this afternoon.
 
 
Lincoln: Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Daly, Bradley, Stoney, Allen, Harris (Horwood 81), Staniforth (Barker 90), Smith (Cantrell 75), Clarke, Little.
 
Bookings: Sutcliffe, Stoney, Little.

Red card: Little
 
Blues: Hall, Weston, Harrop, Stanton, Bassett, Dunia, Williams (Wright 89), Curtis (Scheuber 45), Potter, Westwood, Ballard.
 
Bookings: Williams, Scheuber.

Red card: Scheuber

Attendance: 274

Paddy Day
Match Day Press Officer