WHELAN BULLET HEADER SECURES PIES WIN AGAINST LIVERPOOL

NOTTS COUNTY LADIES 1 V LIVERPOOL LADIES 0
WOMENS SUPER LEAGUE @ MEADOW LANE NOTTS COUNTY
10 MAY 2015 5PM

FERN WHELAN IS MOBBED AFTER HER WINNING GOAL FOR COUNTY

[Take a look at the 'we all stand together Facebook page for a few more pictures not used in the blog]
Following yesterdays trip to Wales the blog was on the road but a little more locally and having seen Derby Ladies on a  few occasions this season today was an excellent chance to have a look at two of the top ladies teams in the country.
An entertaining affair was settled on 66 minutes when Alex Greenwoods excellent corner off the left was met by Fern Whelan who sent here powerful header past Libby Stout into the visitors goal.
So it was a 3/4 of an hour train journey to what used to be a regular ground of mine Meadow Lane and the stadium it has to be said since its redevelopment is a fantastic place , with full credit to the club for staging the ladies games, so many clubs stage the games on out grounds.  But here today at Meadow Lane the club and the lady pies took the build up seriously with pa system in full use, scoreboard, mascot and programme all adding to a really good family atmosphere.  This win took NCLFC further towards the summit of The WSL and the club were richly rewarded with a record attendance of 2,057, well done to club and supporters on this and if todays entertainment was anything to go by after the mid season break many fans will be back for more.

ELLEN WHITE BEING TREATED FOLLOWNG AN EARLY HEAD INJURY

LIVERPOOLS MINI KOP BAND

Having first seen some ladies football in the early 90's and then at varying intervals I can tell any of the doubters out there its entertaining and the skill levels are high with fitness massively improved, in fact it all looks very good.  Also having seen the European tournament staged in the midlands in 2013 and England's friendly with Japan at Burton in that year it was good to see the three lions Ellen White playing for County, how hard does she work as a player she runs and runs and runs!  This season the blog has also seen a few of Derby ladies fixtures before Christmas so today was eagerly awaited.
The overall atmosphere is very family orientated with a couple of drum lead mini kops formed for both teams and not an obscenity in the chanting either.

LIBBY STOUT SAVES FOR LIVERPOOL AGAINST A COUNTY ATTACK



Half time advantage at a football league ground was chicken balti pie which was a choice I had not had sine visiting New York Rotherham's ground with Chris Wintle at the end of last season.
Overall the score line was probably just about correct and we saw some superb performance by the players on show apart from White's superb contribution the Liverpool captain Gemma Bonner was dominant in the centre of defence.

MRS MAGPIE

FOURTH OFFICIAL SEAN RICHARDSON

The game also saw the appearance of the NCLFC mascot Mrs Magpie nicely attired in Pink shoes.  On the refereeing front I often find I see the same official quite a few times in close succession and fourth official Sean Richardson fell into that category today after seeing him in the Notts Senior Cup final and last Thursdays u19 HKL final at Staveley.
An enjoyable afternoon watching some entertaining football with both teams looking to provide 90 minutes of quality in which families could really feel at ease watching in a family friendly atmosphere.
The return was a nice quiet train trip to base and hopefully after the break, which is a real shame as the main football season has finished now, the blog will pop along to see another NCLFC game.

THE SCOREBOARD TELLS THE STORY