Stone Dominoes LFC 3 – Kidsgrove Ladies 1: The Dominoes returned to the top of the table on goal difference as their title-chasing season enters the final sprint. Last Sunday, they knew they were up against a tough side, though, in top-four Kidsgrove Ladies. But a strong team display saw them home.
Stone started strong with Hannah Woolful-Smith and Vikki Garner coming close to scoring. Kidsgrove played a 4-3-3 formation which left central midfielders working hard in the middle. However when in possession Stone managed to get the ball wide and kept the ball on the floor as they were against a strong wind. Stone looked dangerous in the air so set pieces and corners were worrying for Kidsgrove. A Kerry McCourt corner came in and a goalmouth scramble left central defender Hayley Mason able to put Stone into the lead. Vikki Garner and Hannah Woolful-Smith chased down much of the Kidsgrove defenders’ attempts on a long ball which kept Stone up in the Kidsgrove half, a great effort considering the wind was against the Stone team.
Stone made a few changes during the break and began creating chances again. Kidsgrove were still very much in the game, however, and equalised after a golamouth scramble. Stone reacted immediately and soon after the kick-off Stone had regained possession and were attacking the Kidsgrove defence. After a long range shot from Holly Fowell was parried away by the keeper the chase was on between striker Laura Baskerville and two Kidsgrove defenders. Baskerville managed to get her foot to the ball first, calmly slotting it past the Kidsgrove keeper and giving Stone the lead. Baskerville, playing in the number 10 role, played some quality and creative football, slotting the ball through the Kidsgrove defence for the strikers to run on to, as well as taking on defenders herself. Bask is an important player in the Stone set-up and certainly makes an impact whenever she is on the pitch.
Stone needed to keep up the hard work and determination in order to keep on top of the game, which all players did. When it came down to it, the whole team worked back and pulled together as a team. On a Stone attacking break Jules Kendrick was on the ball on the edge of the box, Kendrick laid the ball off for winger Kerry McCourt to cross in, however with the wind in her favour McCourt managed to pull off a wonder goal with the outside of her right foot curling it over the keeper’s head and making the final score 3-1.
Player of the match was midfielder Lauren Ward for her work in the centre of the park. League leaders Shrewsbury dropped points against Brereton, which now puts Stone Dominoes at the top of the league on goal difference.
[box type=”info” align=”aligncenter” ]Fancy some Easter Sunday football? Stoke Town visit Stone Dominoes – 2pm kick-off – at Wellbeing Park in Yarnfield. Get behind the team’s title-chasing season if you can![/box]
