Blades edge our Women’s Under-19s in seven-goal thriller
Our Women’s Under-19s were pegged back twice as Sheffield United ran out 4-3 winners in the Professional Game Academy League on Wednesday afternoon.
In an action-packed first half at the Blades’ training ground, Grace Breen handed us the lead with an excellent free-kick but that was quickly cancelled out with a stunning strike from Alexandra Rigg after just 20 minutes. Rigg grabbed her second of the afternoon to give her side the advantage before Rania Oukriss converted from the penalty spot to bring the scores level on the stroke of half time and net her second goal in as many games.
We regained the lead 10 minutes into the second period through Grace Bellwood - her 15th goal of the campaign - but the hosts fought back once again to turn the game into their favour, Mollie Austin finding an equaliser before Abigail Jones struck in the closing stages to earn her side the victory in our final away game of the season.
On a lovely, sunny afternoon in south Yorkshire, the first moment of note coming just after the 10th minute when Rigg's curling effort was routine for Erin Radbourne but with our first opportunity of the game, we took the lead on 16 minutes and it was something that we have come accustomed to see from Breen this season, sending sent a low, powerful shot from a central free-kick, around 25 yards out, into the bottom corner.
But that was short lived as, at the other end, Rigg produced an even better strike to bring the scores level as from the right edge of the box, she sent a first time effort into the far top corner before Rigg quickly had her second of the afternoon to give her side the advantage, intercepting Radbourne’s pass through the middle and lofting it over our shot stopper and into the back of the net.
Rigg was inches away from sealing her hat-trick by the 37th-minute, but Radbourne was on hand with a strong hand to tip her free-kick over the bar. As we approached the closing stages of the first period, Ruby Mace found Daria Ordean out wide, she raced inside and played a lovely ball into the feet of Oukriss who was brought down inside the box. The midfielder stepped up to take the spot-kick and calmly slotted away to send us in level at the break.
We started on the front foot after the restart, Ruby Gaitely firing narrowly wide from the edge of the box before, 10 minutes into the second period, we regained the lead. After some excellent pressing from Mace saw her win possession inside their half, she slid the ball through to Bellwood to go one-on-one with the hosts’ shot stopper and she showed composure, curling low into the bottom corner.
The Blades responded well after falling behind, Isobel Stewart unable to find the target from just outside of the area, but they managed to find the leveller once again in the 70th minute with Rigg turning provider this time, producing a low cross from the right into the middle and Austin got in front of Radbourne to slot home.
Then, seven minutes remaining of normal time, the home side completed the turnaround for the second time in the contest, Jones seeing her initial cut back blocked by Holly-Mae Elmes but she was able to force the ball home on the rebound. Rigg came close to grabbing her hat-trick in stoppage while, at the other end, Bellwood was unable to direct Eloise Summers-Mee’s cross on target, as the Blades escaped with maximum points in our penultimate game of the season.
Line-ups
Starting XI: Radbourne, Neill (Northwood 80), Elmes, Breen, Hills, Mace, Gaitely, Oukriss, Summers-Mee, Bellwood, Ordean (Deria 64). Substitutes (not used): Mylam, Bird.