Birmingham City
Blues Trust
Blues 4 All
Blues made it a great week with back-to-back wins over Reading & now a very determined Lewes side under the leadership of former Blues boss Scott Booth whose side are fighting against relegation and if the show half the fight what their shown today their will catch Reading up those two points . Goals from Charlie Devlin & Claudia Walker who I am so pleased for getting the goals that puts Blues into the top three with a game in hand over Crystal Palace who are in second place. But the moment everybody will be talking about will be the return of Siobhan Wilson in the 89th minute after all the hard work she has done a proud moment for Shiv.
FIRST HALF
The first chance of the game came for Lewes when some great play between Aimee Claypole and Jacqui Hand who was then through on goal, but her effort was wide of Lucy Thomas goal in the third minute.
Blues first chance of the game came in the 12th minute when Charlie Devlin shot went wide of Sophie Whitehouse goal.
And then in the 14th minute Hand had another attempt at goal but this time it was deflected and didn’t trouble Thomas.
And then in the 23rd minute the break through came with some great defending from Lewes especially coming from Hannah Godfrey clearing of the line but it ended up with Charlie Devlin and she side footed the ball home past Sophie Whitehouse to make it 1-0 for the girls in blue.
Then in the 43rd minute Blues should have doubled the lead when Jade Moore’s effort was blocked then player of the match on Wednesday night Lily Agg’s header was stopped on the line by Grace Riglar.
HALF TIME BLUES 1-0 LEWES
SECOND HALF
After half-time can Blues come out of the traps and put more pressure on Lewes and their shore did when Jade Moore’s cross was turned home by Claudia Walker in the 47th minute.
Then in the 56th minute Moore could have got a goal herself when Devlin’s freekick was headed by Moore, but Whitehouse did well to tipped it over the bar.
Then in the 67th minute Lewes could have pulled one back when a corner came in & Hannah Godfrey headed over the bar and was injured after the header with Gemma Lawley.
Then in the 89th minute the minute all Blues fans wanted to see the return of Siobhan Wilson coming back from her ACL injury and start away she was into the action when she picked up the ball of a Lewes defender and found Libby Smith whose chip went wide of the post.
FULL TIME BLUES 2-0 LEWES
MY THOUGHTS ON THE GAME
A great couple of days for the girls in blue with back-to-back wins scoring six & conceding nothing but it was always going to be hard especially against Lewes with what there are fighting for to stay in the championship and at times caused us some problems but when Walker scored that second just after half time it was a huge side of relief. Also, the return of Shiv in the 89 minute was the icing on the cake . The fans’ favorite got the welcome she deserves after what she has been through . Everybody knows the situation about ACL’S in the women’s game and how we can improve the numbers of women in football not getting that injury . With Leah Willamson, Shiv and former Blues player Lily Simpkin having a hat trick of ACL’S something has to be done about the situation in the women’s game.
On the positive side it was great to see Claudia Walker back on the goal sheet . You can see what it means to her playing for the Blues, her work rate is unreal and has always been a good replacement for Jade Pennock. And the Wizard Charlie Devlin with some of the things she does with the ball is unreal especially that nut meg she did to one of the Lewes players unreal and her goal was class. Also was great to see a good turn out for Womens Football Weekend over 1000 fans inside St Andrews this afternoonthese girls and boys are the next generation of supporting the girls in blue.
MY PLAYER OF THE MATCH
It has to be Charlie Devlin I think she was back to her best and we did miss her at the start of the season with her injury when she signed for the club on a permeant bases from Leicester City in the summer her goal was a brilliant side footed shot pass Sophie Whitehouse to make it 1-0. Also, a big mention for Neve Herron who was immense today she is getting better and better for this club.