With games being called off left, right and centre it was a minor miracle that today’s Arnold Town Ladies game passed the half nine pitch inspection.
Having failed to perform to the standards the players had set themselves the week before, the home game against Ellistown WFC was the perfect opportunity to put the last result right.
The only change in the side saw Emily Nelis miss out with injury and Ciara Button replacing her with the usual back five of Emily Hallam in goal, Tina Potter at right back, Chay Davey and Claire Potter in the centre and Charley Norman at left back. With the wind in Arnolds favour for the first half, the defence had little to do although to Ellistown’s credit, they got as many players forward on every counter attack but faced a fierce gale alongside a tough defence that was back to its best today.
With the wind advantage, the midfield pair of Ciara Button and Jen Lorimer saw plenty of the ball but were just unable to place the killer ball through the well organised Ellistown defence, but when they did get the ball through it was either saved or run through to the keeper. The trio up front however kept going whilst others may have become frustrated. Molly Parker and Chloe Jordan provided the width with last weeks goal scorer, Natasha Leach down the middle.
Half-time saw it all square, but strangely enough manager Andy Ingle felt the wind against them would help Arnold’s passing and he was to be proved right. Ten minutes into the half, having weathered a storm of pressure from the visitors, the ball was cleared out to the right side where Molly Parker beat her player, got to the bi-line before picking out Natasha Leach in the middle who had time to control, compose herself before crashing the ball home to open the scoring.
This was a real game changer as it lifted Arnold and saw alot more of the ball and certainly more chances created than the last two games. Space was now opening up and the second goal soon followed when Chloe Jordan was put clean though. Having never scored a senior goal, the sixteen year old confidently took the ball into the box before lashing the ball into the back of the net to add another positive tick to her first season at this level.
Changes were made as Jay Willows completed another 60 minutes in her come back and Charley Norman picked up a minor knock. Their replacements saw Lottie Swinscoe make her first appearance for the first team this season and return from an injury collected at the end of 2015. Kellie Hart moved into the left back position and showed real composure when playing the ball forward and stopping any Ellistown counter attacks.
Molly Parker worked hard as always and whilst chances came and went, she managed to end her mini goal drought with a one – two with Natasha Leach before curling the ball round the keeper and into the far corner.
In the end fairly comfortable against an experienced side who battled to the final whistle. A really nice way to show that last week was only a minor wobble and the players responded as well as was hoped.
Now on to Wednesday where the first team travel to Mansfield Town for an evening kick-off with the location and time to be confirmed.
Team: Hallam, Potter T, Davey, Potter C, Norman, (Hart), Lorimer, Button, Jordan, Willows (Swinscoe), Leach, Parker
Do you recognise this man? 
Pam Loyal, pictured, left, from 
Nuru Hedayati-mehdiabadi, pictured, left, from 
