Women's Under-19s suffer defeat at Birmingham

Our Women’s Under-19s were left frustrated as Birmingham City escaped with maximum points after a 3-1 win in the Professional Game Academy League on Wednesday.

Despite a strong opening from us on a bitterly cold afternoon in the midlands, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock through Jess Bryer just after the quarter-of-an-hour mark but, in stoppage time of the first period, a well-struck strike from defender Beatrice Cunnison got us back on level terms.

However, our hard work was undone seven minutes after the restart when Roni Molendo-Payne bundled home from close range to reinstate the Blues’ lead. We searched for an equaliser for the remainder of the second half - Rania Oukriss and Cunnison both going close to a leveller - but, as we pushed forward in the closing stages, Molendo-Payne went up the other end with four minutes left in normal time to net her second goal of the contest and ultimately wrap up the three points for the home side.

Head Coach Sabiha Jamal welcomed the return of Under-16s full-back Amie Bush into the starting XI, while fellow Under-16s forward Daria Ordean was named in amongst the substitutes, who came on to make her first appearance for the Under-19s in the final 20 minutes of the contest.

The two sides traded early opportunities at Knights Head Performance Centre, Cunnison recovering well to deny Bryer as she went through one-on-one with Erin Radbourne while Cruz Fuller-Fagan’s effort on the half-volley from the edge of the box was saved low by Lily Felgate. However, despite a controlled start from us in the opening quarter-of-an-hour, we find ourselves behind in the 17th minute as Dewver Thompson’s cross into the area picked out Bryer, who finished with a low first-time drive that bounced off the inside of the far post and into the back of the net.

We tried to respond after falling behind, Fuller-Fagan denied by Felgate once again after advancing behind the backline before, from the outside of the left area of the box, Holly-Mae Elmes curled a free-kick over the bar. Felgate was called in action once more to deny Fuller-Fagan, as the forward latched on to Elmes’ header into the box, she turned and struck an effort towards goal, but the Blues’ shot stopper reacted quick to get a strong hand on the ball.

Tayliah Abrahams fired over the bar from distance for the hosts but, in the second minute of stoppage time of the first half, we got ourselves back on level terms when Lucy Barraclough delivered a ball from the halfway line into Cunnison's feet on the edge of the box, she took a touch to set herself on her right foot in the area before firing low into the bottom corner. However, after deservedly getting ourselves back on level terms, we fell behind once again nine minutes after the restart when a corner from the right was eventually bundled home by Molendo-Payne from close range, despite strong appeals for a foul on goalkeeper Radbourne in the build-up.

Having to lift our spirits for a second time in the contest to searched for another equaliser, we carved out a few opportunities, with Poppy Neill curling wide from outside of the box while Oukriss was denied at the near post by Felgate. The home side, though, continued to be a threat and came the close to extending their advantage when Abrahams headed over the bar at the back post after a deep corner from the right. With eight minutes left in normal time, we felt we should have grabbed a leveller when Bush’s corner slipped through the hands of Felgate and the ball landed at the head of Cunnison, but the defender had to react quickly and under pressure from a number of defenders, she sent her header narrowly over the bar in what was our best chance of the second period.

Then, as we continued to push forward for that all-important, the home side capitalised at the other end as Molendo-Payne, who originally saw an effort saved by Radbourne seconds before, sent a powerful effort from inside the area that stung the palms of our shot stopper but could only direct the ball into the roof the net, as our young side were condemned to their first defeat in four league games – stretching back to the opening weekend of December.

"We’re disappointed with the result because we know we didn’t do enough"

Reflecting on the result, Sabiha said: "We’re disappointed with the result today because we know we didn’t do enough. We had a few chances to take the lead, very similar to the performance last week. We let our standards slip, I think we got complacent, which leads to us losing control and then we concede goals that we know we can do so much better at. We need to learn from today, including our behaviours to react in the right way, as we now look to prepare for a big cup game next week."

Match data

Goals: Birmingham – Bryer 17, Troughton 54, 86; Spurs – Cunnison 45+2.

Venue: Knights Head Performance Centre.

Weather: Cloudy with a cold breeze, four degrees.