A THUNDERBOLT BY COOKE BEATS THE BLADES

On a day of doubles the blues women won at home after phenomenal strike on her home debut from Shannon Cooke. The BCFC Women’s OSC also re-launched with a new lead on Sunday, this one game helped to double the member numbers and enthuse people. The Blues gained all three points against a really tough outfit in Sheffield United who are fighting for the lives in the relegation zone. But if you want to win a game then that goal was good enough to win any game, we have scored some belters against Sheffield United in the past with the likes of Martha Harris wonder strike from last year all Lucy Quinn’s last-minute thunderbolt to win it 2-1 but these goal tops all of them the technique from Shannon was unreal. There were too negatives from today’s game the first that we didn’t kill the game of and the second was a dismissal of head coach Amy Merricks which her suspension will take place at the Blackburn Rovers game. Team news Emily Van Egmond made her first start in a Blues shirt Oliwia Szperkowska made her first league start in goal after the news that Lucy Thomas was out for the season and academy goalkeeper Poppy Irvine came into the squad for the first time as a substitute goalkeeper.

FIRST HALF 

Blues started of really well and the first chance came in the first minute when Christie Harrison-Murray shot just went over the bar.

Then in the 10^th minute it was Harrison-Murray again, but her shot was saved by Sian Rogers.

And yet again the next chance fall to Christie Harrison-Murray but her shot like the first went over the bar.

Then a brilliant save from Rodgers in the 19^th minute from a header from Shannon Cooke to deny her a first goal for the club.

Then in the 23rd Sheffield United had there first chance of the game when Maria Farrugia won a free kick by the edge of the box and the Malta International took the free kick and went wide.

Then a minute later Lucy Quinn cross just missed Tegan Mcgowan has she tried to get to the ball.

Then in the 27^th minute a Cooke ball over the top found Simone Magill who was one on one with Rodgers but her shot went wide of the post. 

Then in the 33rd minute Blues took the lead when the ball was played to Shannon Cooke who then took a touch by the halfway line and hit a thunderbolt into the top corner an unbelievable strike from the West Ham loanee no goalkeeper in the world could have saved that.

HALF TIME BLUES WOMEN 1-0 SHEFFIELD UNITED WOMEN

SECOND HALF 

The first chance of the second half came to Blues when Lucy Quinn who hits the post from a tight angle.

Then it was Lucy Quinn again with a header that went wide of Sian Rodgers goal in the 49^th minute.

Then it was Rebecca Mckenna turn to have a opportunity and she almost got her first for the club when her shot was brilliantly saved from Sian Rodgers in the 51st minute.

Then in the 55^th minute it was Tegan shot just went wide and then in the 57^th minute Tegan did but the ball into the back of the net, but it was ruled for offside.

Then in the 64^th minute Rebecca Holloway’s shot went over the bar.

The last two chances of the game came for Lee Geum-Min whose shot went over the bar in the 83rd minute & then Neve Herron a minute later shot went also over the bar.

The one sour note of the game was in the 88^th minute when the referee Levi Gray gave a straight red card to Amy Merricks.

FULL TIME BIRMINGHAM CITY WOMEN 1-0 SHEFFIELD UNITED 

MY THOUGHTS ON THE GAME 

Blues finally get there first win at St Andrews@Knightheadpark in 2025 but there had to work for it but like I said in my last blog against Sunderland it’s all about winning games at this stage of the season and hopefully returning to the WSL but there will be many twists and turns from now to the end of the season. But if you going to win a 1-0 game of football todays strike from Shannon Cooke was defiantly a winner for goal of the season and if anyone can go any better than that strike then fair play to you. After the disappointing results before and after Christmas this was a Blues performance heart and grit and determination and there wanted to hold on to that 1-0 lead although there was some nerve moment’s Blues stay on top going into the international break for February. Also, I was so delighted for Oliwia Szperkowska who has been under same criticism after her performance against Sunderland. Remember she has only played the cup games, and no league starts until today and after a few shaky moments she did well. Also, it was brilliant to see an amazing crowd to at St Andrews@Knightheadpark  everybody was having a great time and going back home with three points in the bag.

MY PLAYER OF THE MATCH 

It has to be Shannon Cooke not just for that wonderful strike but her all round game she was strong defensively really sound and has great pass on her and fully deserves it. It’s amazing that people were criticizing the signing of Cooke on social media now she probably had the last laugh with that strike. But also, I had to go for Rebecca McKenna worked amazing down the flanks and on another day, she would have got a goal. 

UP NEXT 

It’s a International break now on are next game will be a trip to Blackburn Rovers on the 2^nd of March and its a 14:00 kick off.

you can join the BCFC women’s OSC. By filling in the details on the following link – https://www.bcfcosc.com/club/birmingham-city-women-supporters-group/

STEPHEN GILL KRO