Football: Jersey’s women narrowly beaten by Sheffield Utd

Saturday 25 November 2017

Jersey’s women’s football team suffered a 2-1 loss to Sheffield United Ladies, despite Eve Watson’s goal on her last appearance before leaving the island to go travelling.

First-half goals from captain Rosa Neary, and Jen Pearson either side of Watson’s strike, gave the visitors the win at Springfield.

Morning walk on the beach before this afternoons game. #ForgedInSteel #twitterblades pic.twitter.com/cds5yuNk2y

— SUFC Ladies (@SUFC_Ladies) November 25, 2017

The friendly was the first match in permanent charge for joint managers Jodie Botterill and Daniel Seviour, and they saw their side go close to opening the scoring when 17-year-old Megan Wood’s looping cross-come-shot was well saved by goalkeeper Georgia Ibberson.

Soon after though the visitors were ahead as Neary’s close range effort was deflected in.

United had won 2-1 at the famous Bramall Lane ground when the teams met for the first time back in April, and this was another closely contested fixture.

Tania Marsden should have doubled the lead but shot wide when through one-on-one, before Jersey skipper Watson pulled the hosts level midway through the half with a superb 25-yard strike. 

Pictured: Eve Watson in action (Credit: Adrian Topley)

Pearson’s header somehow found its way in to put Sheffield United ahead again and then Sophie Bell’s shot hit the crossbar as the Yorkshire outfit started to dominate territory and possession.

In a scrappy second half Pearson went close to her second, only to see her effort hit the bar with Marsden putting the rebound wide.

After a long delay for a knee injury to Leanne Le Feuvre, who was stretchered off into a waiting ambulance, neither side could find any fluidity although substitute Ines Cipriano thought she had equalised with the last kick but the offside flag was up.

“I think we had a really, really solid performance,” said influential Jersey midfielder Libby Barnett, who is joining Watson on her travels.

Barnett proud despite Jersey loss against Sheffield Utd 

“This was our first game since Gotland, so to bring the team together for a couple of weeks of training and put on a performance like that is definitely something to be proud of.

“When we come came back I want to be involved in a playing or coaching capacity, it’s never going to be far from my heart.”

Jersey have no further fixtures penned in and must now wait to see if the women’s Muratti can be reinstated after it was controversially cancelled last season.

Picture Credits: with thanks to Adrian Topley.