Cottage Farm Ladies 2nd Team 

  The Ladies 2nd Team on Mondays at Belgrave High School starting at 6.30pm in summer months, and at 7.00pm on Mondays at Queen Elizabeth Mercian School in winter months.

Reports: 

14/03/2004 - Cottage Farm Rangers returned to winning ways following a battling performance on a wind swept sloping Stoke-on- Trent pitch. Just prior to kick off the heavens had opened, but as if it had been pre-arranged the game kicked off with blue skies and sunshine and kicking down hill into the wind Rangers  took the lead with a fine left footed lob over the keeper by Kate Young. After that we should have had a sack full of goals, but then just prior to half time the home team drew level with a controversial goal - something to do with the offside law and not interfering with play. Then early in the second half the home team look the lead. However, that appeared to galvanize the Rangers players and they started to take the game to their opponents.  Then the 'pack' was re-shuffled with Kirsty Gardner taking up a striking role and in the 65th minute and 73rd minute she put Rangers on the winning track, with two excellently taken goals. There were the usual scary moments in the closing minutes, but Rangers hung on for a well deserved win. The Player of the Match went to Becky Sharred who covered every blade of grass in the defence.

15/02/2004 - This was Cottage Farm Rangers first since the 21 December, due to a combination of poor weather and player availability. So it was with some trepidation that the ladies looked to kick start their season again after such a long layoff. However, Rangers were soon the more dominant team from the kick off and slowly started to take control of the game with strikers Leanne Crawford and Kirsty Gardner causing the Walsall defence all sorts of problems. So it was no surprise when in the 25min Kirsty Gardner crossed the ball from the right for Leanne Crawford to put Rangers one nil up. After that it was all Rangers. Then two minutes into the second half Kirsty made another telling cross from the right, which the keeper could only parry and Leanne was on hand to make it two nil. After that Rangers should have killed the game off, missing a handful of chances in front of goal. Invitiably, Walsall then got a goal back with about 20 mins to go and despite a few scary moments, Rangers held on for a much deserved win, which moves them up to seven the in the table. Players of the Match were: Kirsty Gardner and Jodie Marsh.

21/12/2003 - Another very good performance saw the Ladies 2nd team hold Etching Hill to a 1 - 1 draw. In fact with a little more control in front of goal, they could quite easily have taken all 3 points. Leanne Crawford, Kate Young and Jodie Marsh all looked dangerous, as they outpaced Etching Hill's defence, only to find the Goal-Keeper in very good form. Kate Young scored Rangers goal after 32 mins and with a bit more luck could have had 2 more by half-time. A rare slip in defence let Etching Hill in on the hour to level the scores, but the improving Louise Kane, Becky Sharrad and Kate Tromans, made sure that they did not get through again. An excellent game to watch, played in the right spirit.

14/12/2003 - Cottage Farm Rangers ladies are in seventh heaven following a scintillating game of football. The result is all the more pleasing as it comes on the back of a poor run of results and will be a great confidence booster for the players, which they can now go and build on. Right from the kick off the players were on top of their game and their team play was brilliant to watch, with lots of passing and moving and challenges on the Wolverhampton goal. This was rewarded with a brilliant opening goal in the 20th minute from Kate Young who lobbed the ball over the keeper from 18yds. By half time it was 3- 0. If anything the football from Cottage Farm Ladies was even better in the second half (thats confidence for you) and was rewarded with four more quality goals, which included a stunning left foot volley from 18yrds by central defender, Sam Kerr. At the final whistle it would have been unfair to single out one player as the Player of the Match as every player was deserving of the same, so that accolade goes to them all. 

05/10/2003 - Despite the scoreline, this was a very much improved performance by Cottage Farm on their last two games and for much of the game they were holding their own against a good Kingshurst side. It was only towards the end of the game that the majority of the goals were conceded. On the day there were fines performances by emerging goalkeeper, Sarah Bullard, some solid defending from Sam Kerr and the skillful, Emily Grey.

20/09/2003 - After last weeks promising start to the season the team certainly didn't do themselves justice in a game which saw them lose by five goals to nil, but had we taken our opportunities in front of goal then who knows what the scoreline would have been and thats not taking away a number of fine saves from the Harrier's keeper.