SARRI AT THE DOUBLE HAS BLUES CUT DOWN THE FOREST

After the disappointing  performance from last Sunday losing to Charlton Athletic Blues were back to the best Monday evening against a Forest side who are settling in well in the WSL2 goals from a brace from Veatriki Sarri and a fourth goal from Batcheba Louis got us all three points in what could have been a tricky test for Blues put came out in flying colours. Amy made two changes from the loss to Charlton bringing back Lucy Quinn & Shannon Cooke but also on the bench was the returning Lee Geum-Min. 

FIRST HALF 

The first chance of the game came for  the hosts when  Chantelle Boyd-Hlorkah shot from outside the box goes wide.

Then Forest  had a brilliant chance in the 10^th minute when Garcia shot was saved from Thomas in the 10^th minute.

Blues first chance of the game came in the 19^th minute when Blues broke up play it felled to Lucy Quinn whose chip went over the bar.

Blues were getting to grips in the game and in the 25^th minute Blues were so close  to taking the lead following a free kick which fell to Lucy Quinn outside the box and her shot went just past the post.

Then in the 25^th minute Blues had another chance when Chelsea Cornet hold the ball  it deflected to Ji but her shot went wide of the post.

Then it was Forest turn to have a  attack when the dangerous Chantelle Boyd-Hlorkah shot was straight at Lucy Thomas in the 30th minute.

The next chance of the game came in the 37^th minute when Chelsea Cornet’s shot went over the bar.

And then Blues were so close to taking the lead in the 39^th minute when Lily Crosthwaite turned inside of the box and her shot just went over the bar.

But Blues did took the lead in the 40th minute when Christie Harrison-Murray broke up play  and collided with Frey Thomas the ball came to Sarri and brilliant place it pass Emily Batty to make it 0-1 to the blues.

HALF TIME NOTTINGHAM FOREST WOMEN 0-1 BIRMINGHAM CITY WOMEN

SECOND HALF 

The first chance of the second half came for Blues when Sarri went on a brilliant run but her shot went wide in the 52^nd minute.

In the 59^th minute a great counter attack by Blues when Lily Crosthwaite run the length of the pitch and found Christie Harrison-Murray whose shot was saved by Batty.

The first attempt for Forest when Chantelle Boyd-Hlorkah took aim from 25 yards and brought  at the best out of Lucy Thomas who tipped it wide for a corner in the 61^st minute.

The next chance of the game came for the host from a free kick when former Blues player Mollie Green took aim but went over the bar in the 70th minute.

In the 79^th minute Shannon Cooke let fly just going over the bar.

But in the 81^st Blues doubled the lead when Batcheba Louis broke free of the defence rounded the goalkeeper and her shot was handled on the line by Forest’s and a second yellow card for Jessie Stapleton . Veatriki Sarri stepped up confidently  and slot it pass Emily Batty to make it 0-2 for the blues.

The next chance came for Forest when Vivienne Lia  shot inside the box was straight at Lucy Thomas in the 87^th minute.

The next opportunity came for Blues when Louis turn inside the box and her shot was turned away for a corner in the 88^th minute.

But in the 91^st minute Louis got her fourth of the season when the returning Lee Geum-Min played her through and slot it pass Batty into the far corner

The next chance came for Blues in the 94^th minute when Rebecca Holloway shot was saved from Batty for a corner from the resulting corner Martha Harris volley went wide.

FULL TIME NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0-3 BLUES WOMEN

MY THOUGHTS ON THE GAME 

Like I said in my last blog against Charlton one thing i cant criticise about Amy and her team is when we do have a setback we respond well and yet again she & the players  have come up with flying colours against a tricky Nottingham Forest side under Carly Davies who would have gone above us if there had won tonight  and are one my dark horses to get into the WSL. For us we need to see performances like this every game we cannot turn it on and off like a tap if we want to win the WSL2 Title we need to be at it at every game. And under Amy we got someone who can get a reaction on a regular basis but just like last season there will be plenty of twists and turns which will involve every club in the division. Shoutouts go to Lily Crosthwaite and Veatriki Sarri who were for of quality tonight and Lily especially always giving her all in a blues shirt and will sweep it up at the end of season player awards this season. Another positive was seeing Lee Geum-Min back on the pitch after her injury and getting the assist for Louis goal. And on my final point well done to the fans a crowd of 1220 on a Monday night was brilliant.

MY PLAYER OF THE MATCH 

 I have to go for Veatriki Sarri the Greek international was sensational.

UP NEXT 

We back home at StAndrews@KnightheadPark this Sundayplaying Portsmouth and its a 14:00pm Kick Off

STEPHEN GILL KRO