Cottage Farm Ladies
The Ladies train on Mondays and Thursdays at Belgrave High School starting at 6.00pm in summer months, and at 8.00pm on Thursdays at Belgrave High School in winter months.
Reports:
30/4/2006 - APS 1 - 2 Cottage Farm Ladies
This was never going to a game of good attractive passing football due to a deeply rutted pitch which made control of the ball and passing the ball extremely difficult indeed. But it did make it an even contest which could have gone either way. Cottage tried hard to pass the ball around and in some phases succeeded but the pitch was always going to stop that happening for any spells. So the game became a hard working battle. APS took the lead after about 30 minutes when a mis-hit pass was intercepted and the APS striker ran through to score. Cottage were not in the mood for giving up though and just before half time APS cleared the ball out to Kate Harker 25 yards out who coolly lobbed it into the top corner, a very well taken goal.
The second half was more of the same, Alex Dockray in goal produced yet another fine stop to deny APS and the defence were also in determined mood and held firm. The hard work of the whole team eventually paid off when Vicky Cobb fed a delightful ball through to Clare McGarrigle in her last game, who superbly volleyed a lob over the APS keeper for a splendid finish. A great finish to a good game and a good season and a fantastic way for a quality player like Clare to finish her career. Player of the Match: Clare McGarrigle.
23/04/2006 - Coleshill 2 - 0 Cottage Farm Ladies
A much improved display by Cottage Farm after the last rather poor performance. From the kick off, there was a very solid look to the team with everyone working hard to deny their high flying opponents space. The Cottage Farm Ladies team were also determined to play some good passing football and the support of their team mates in possession was very good indeed which allowed some very good passing phases. This allowed for a very good end to end game as both teams looked to play an open game. Coleshill opened the scoring 5 minutes before half time when a diagonal ball caught the Cottage Farm defence square for the only time in the game. The start of the second half saw Cottage Farm put Coleshill under intense pressure as they searched for the equaliser. In fact they did everything but score as time and again they got through on goal. Coleshill got a second late on in the game after a breakout from defence. Cottage Farm can count themselves unlucky not to have got something from the game as their overall play certainly deserved some reward. Well done girls, lets maintain these high standards. Player of the Match: Zoe Pugh (running on rocket fuel or was it Paddy Shandy?)
05/03/2006 - Florence Ladies 0 - 1 Cottage Farm Ladies
Cottage Farm had a long journey to play their first League encounter of the season against last week's opponents, Florence Ladies. With another hard-fought encounter on the cards, two enforced changes were made with Clare McGarrigle and Lucy Cooper coming in. This time, however, the Ladies really seemed up for the game and more determined to get a result. Right from the first whistle, they got stuck in to the tackles and played some very good football. The passing was much better and produced some good moves. The defence of Leanne Baker, Nat Davis, Steph Parker and Susan Blabey looked very secure and restricted Florence to long shots in the first half. The midfield of Zoe Pugh, Vicky Roe, Clare McGarrigle and Kayleigh Hewitt was more solid and more organised and worked hard to contain their opponents and also in getting forward to support the forward duo of Emily Cotterill and Lucy Cooper who were both proving a handful for the well-organised Florence defence. Indeed, this week, the Florence keeper had more work to do, albeit mainly long shots. Midway through the first half, Vicky Roe rolled a ball back out of the box to Kayleigh Hewitt wide on the left who struck the ball first time to swing it in to the far corner of the net. The rest of the first half continued in the same vein as both sides worked hard to break the other down.
The second half was more of a defensive effort by Cottage Farm as Florence applied a lot of pressure. The sticky pitch, which was inevitable after the snow had been cleared from it in a splendid effort from the Florence ground staff, sapped the strength and energy of the players. Keeper Alex Dockray showed what a good keeper she is as she stopped a series of efforts on to her goal and the defence remained resolute and determined to keep their lead which they duly did. As the tiredness crept in, so the passes went astray and heaped more pressure onto the team. But they stood firm and recorded a fine win in probably the best performance of the season against the previously undefeated and very good Florence team. A very good display and a real team effort showing what a great spirit there is in this squad.
26/02/2006 - Cottage Farm Ladies 0 Florence Ladies 2
Rangers took on Florence in the League Cup knowing they had a hard game in front of them, Florence had not lost yet this season. Rangers showed good pace early on, but came more under pressure and went a goal behind after 37 minutes, Alex Dockray made a good save, but could not hold the ball and Florence collected the rebound. Florence then added a controversial second on half time, when Alex Dockray appeared to be tackled while in possession of the ball. The second half saw Rangers get back into the game more, but neither team could manage a shot on target. Player of the match; Kate Harker
19/02/2006 - Dudley Utd 7 Cottage Farm Ladies 2
Rangers were down to their last 11 players today, with several senior players missing. A very much revamped side and a debut for reserve goalkeeper Hannah Barratt made it a difficult away game. Rangers never really got going in the first half, and were four down after 35 minutes. They then started to pass the ball better and pulled one back on half time with a well taken goal from Vicki Cobb. The second half started better, with Rangers pressuring the Dudley back four. After 52 minutes, the pressure told as Nat Davis connected with a corner, to head home. Rangers then kept the pressure on Dudley, and nearly got a third, only to be denied by the keeper. Dudley then broke away and added a 5th, which ended the contest, as Rangers went on the back foot and appeared to run out of steam. Player of the match: Nat Davis
05/02/2006 - Wrockwardine Wood 0 Cottage Farm Ladies 2
In a hard fought game on a very difficult pitch, Rangers took all three points, thanks to two superb goals from captain Emily Cotterill. Rangers were just about on top for the first half, going in two nil up. However, after the break, Wrockwardine increased the pressure on the Rangers defence. Only good goal-keeping from Alex Dockray and defending from the back four, helping Rangers to keep a clean sheet. Players of the match Leanne Baker and Alex Dockray.
29/01/2006 - Cottage Farm Ladies 8 - 1 Burton Albion Ladies
The Ladies had a good comprehensive win in this friendly with Burton Albion Ladies from the Staffordshire County League. With some of the more regular starters having a bit of a break to try some of the younger and more recent additions to the squad, the Ladies played some very good football at times, proving what the coaches have said. We learned that we have another good full back in the making in Leanne Baker who had a very good game in her first outing in this position giving the her opposite number no chances at all. We learned that Susan Blabey is not only developing really well as a full back, but could also make a very good centre back as she attacked the ball extremely well. We learned that Lucy Cooper takes her chances very well in front of goal, that Vicky Roe has all of the abilities required to play in the centre of midfield, and the fitness to go with it, that Zoe Pugh can do a good job in a wide midfield position, that Emily Cotterill and Vicky Cobb link up very well up front, that Kate Harker can score some cracking goals, that Claire McGarrigle is a class act in the centre of midfield, that Nat Davis is rock solid in defence, that Jo Fowler can link play up as good as anyone, that Kayleigh Hewitt can run rings around some good players and that we have a very good goalkeeper in Alex Dockray. All in all, a good day's work and we all learned a lot from it. Keep it up Ladies!
22/01/2006 - Darlaston Town Ladies 2 Cottage Farm Ladies 0
Rangers played well, in this tight game and were unlucky not to be in front at half time. Strike partners Emily Cotterill and Zoe Pugh could have netted two goals each. The second half was much the same, except for two great strikes from Darlaston, which settled the game. Player of the match Emily Cotterill.
However, the game was soured, with Rangers players being informed of the premature death of one of it's former players, Ami Cook. Ami left the team to go into the army, but was recently diagnosed with bone cancer, and unfortunately died on Thursday, aged just 18. The whole Rangers team and the Club have been saddened and shocked by this news, and would like to take this opportunity to send their condolences to Ami's family.
15/01/2006 - West Bromwich Albion LFC 6 Cottage Farm Ladies 0
Although the score line looks emphatic, Rangers made Albion work hard for their victory. In a game Rangers knew would be difficult, they played some of their best football of the season. Heroic goalkeeping from Alex Dockray and brave defending from Vicky Roe, Steph Parker, Nat Davis and Sue Blabey in the back four, kept Albion down to three goals, until the last 20 minutes, when Albion's better fitness paid dividends. In a game where the whole team played to their full potential, it was difficult to give player of the match to any one player, but the Albion Manager singled out Nat Davis as his player of the game.
08/01/2006 - Wolverhampton Utd 1 - 1 Cottage Farm Ladies
The Ladies took their unbeaten run to seven games in what can only be described as a lack lustre performance on a very heavy pitch. From the start they were on the back foot as Wolverhampton did all the attacking and but for some excellent work from Alex Dockray in goal, they could easily have been three goals down. The second half showed a marked improvement where the Ladies began to string some passes together, got a better shape and the defence sorted themselves out. Despite this, Wolverhampton took the lead but the introduction of substitute Claire McGarrigle further injected an improvement and Cottage Farm gained the upper hand. The equaliser followed from a Vicky Cobb corner which was flicked on by Kate Harker for Nat Davis to run in to head home. The Ladies did create two or three more chances to take the three points which were not taken and to be honest it wasn't deserved. Players of the Match: Nat Davis and Susan Blabey.
18/12/2005 - Cottage Farm 1 Knowle 0
Rangers moved into the Quarter-Finals stage of the Birmingham County Cup, for only their second time, thanks to a Nat Davis goal coming to their rescue after 30 minutes. Rangers had taken control early on, on a very hard, frosty pitch but resolute defending by Knowle kept Rangers at bay, until Nat Davis picked up a loose ball from a corner and slotted it into the corner of the net. The rest of the game followed the same pattern, with Rangers in control, but unable to break down the Knowle defence. Player of the Match: Susan Blabey.
11/12/2005 - Cottage Farm Ladies 5 Wolverhampton Utd 1
Rangers made it five games unbeaten and moved up to 3rd equal in the league, with an excellent performance against Wolverhampton. Last weeks hat-trick hero Zoe Pugh, got another hat-trick this week, making seven goals in two games. There were also outstanding performances this week from Jo Fowler, Alex Dockray and Kayleigh Hewitt, but the whole team played well. The other goals came from Emily Cotterill and player of the match Kate Harker. The difference is that the Ladies are beginning to play as a team and support each other much more and the improved performances are bringing improved results. There is no league game next week as Rangers are in the last 16 of the Birmingham County Cup, at home to Knowle.
04/12/2005 - Cottage Farm Ladies 5 Coseley Town 2
A good start this week, with Zoe Pugh scoring after just 4 minutes. Unfortunately, as in previous weeks, Rangers sat back and partly due to a reshuffled defence, allowed Coseley to score 2 goals before half-time. Second half saw Rangers up the pace dramatically. The back 4 sorted themselves out and never really looked in too much trouble. Leanne Baker, playing her first game at right back, showed that she will be an asset in the future. Midfield improved, with Clare McGarrigle playing her first game in 6 weeks, and Jo Fowler , Katie Harker and Kayleigh Hewitt, supplying the front two with some good quality passes. Zoe Pugh scored a second half hat-trick, 4 in all, and Emily Cotterill with another good goal gave Rangers an eventually comfortable 3 points. This overall, was a big improvement on previous weeks. Rangers have now got more points at this stage of the season, than the whole of last season.
Hopefully, we can now move on, and with the possibility of a couple of new players coming in to strengthen the squad, this will be a springboard for the rest of the season.
27/11/2005 - Cottage Farm Ladies 3 Tamworth 3
After last weeks dramatic Cup Tie, this week saw the two sides play each other in the League, and again, they could not be separated. Tamworth started the stronger, racing into a 3 -0 lead after 35 minutes. Rangers then decided to start playing, and pulled 1 back just after half time when Jo Fowler scored from a 30 yard free kick. Rangers now started to gain some composure, and where awarded a dubious penalty, which they missed. Minutes after, Rangers pulled another goal back, after a goal mouth scramble, the ball came to Emily Cotterill, who managed to bundle it over the line. Both midfields were made to work very hard, with Tamworth Sarah Gunn and Rangers Kate Harker and Nat Davies covering every blade of grass. With only 5 minutes to go, Rangers had a series of three or four corners, and from the last of these, Emily Cotterill rose unmarked to head into the top corner of the net from 10 yards. Rangers then pressed hard to gain the advantage and although had 2 or 3 chances, could not break the deadlock. This was again, probably a fair result in the end.
Players of the Match: Emily Cotterill and Katie Harker
20/11/2005 - Staffordshire County Cup: Tamworth Ladies 2 - 2 Cottage Farm Ladies aet, Cottage Farm won 5 - 4 on pens,
What a fantastic advert for the game of football, this game had everything! Cottage Farm started off very well and dominated the first 30 minutes and could and possibly should have been out of sight, but they weren't as a number of clear chances went begging partly due to some good goalkeeping and partly due to some not so good finishing. Tamworth to their credit though rode the storm. In the second half, the game became very open and a real end to end affair with chances at both ends. Tamworth took the lead when a quick break left the defence exposed and they converted their first really good chance. Cottage Farm again showed their spirit and stormed back and after skipper Emily Cotterill was bundled over in the box, up stepped Jo Fowler to convert a good penalty. The game just got better and better and although it wasn't the best football being played, the game didn't lack in excitement, a typical cup tie. Inevitably the game went to extra time and Tamworth took the lead again after a good build up. Into the second period of extra time and just as it looked like Cottage Farm were struggling, they came back with a very good goal when they broke from defence down the left and Zoe Pugh played Kayleigh Hewitt in who finished superbly into the bottom corner. This game was not going to finish quietly. It went to penalties and with two Tamworth penalties being missed, you would have thought that it was game over. Oh no, Cottage Farm then missed two also. It took up to the seventh set of penalties before Steph Parker stepped up to convert hers following Jo Fowler, Vicky Roe, Kayleigh Hewitt and Zoe Pugh to win the tie. Player of the Match was full back Vicky Roe who was everywhere, produced the tackle of the match, probably had more shots on target than anyone in the first half and barely put a foot wrong all game.
This game was a credit to every player on the very heavy pitch, a game full of excitement, a fantastic cup tie played in a great spirit and refereed superbly by Bob Orchard. Well done everyone!!
13/11/2005 - Cottage Farm Ladies 0 Dudley Utd Ladies 0
Rangers played well to earn a point from a Dudley team who have only lost once this season. Rangers, with only 11 fit players left, gave a creditable performance, with the defence playing some of the best football all season, again typified by Vicky Roe's performance, also there was an encouraging first game for Leanne Baker in mid-field. The game was end to end throughout and was helped by excellent refereeing from Peter Barrow, allowing the game to flow. Rangers were unlucky not to take all three points in the end, but a draw was probably a fair result. Player of the Match Vicky Roe.
06/11/2005 -
30/10/2005 - Cottage Farm Ladies 1 Wrockwardine Wood 1
A good all-round team performance saw Cottage Farm take a point from their visitors. Wrockwardine Wood had the early pressure and went ahead after 25 minutes. Cottage Farm stepped up a gear after this and after a good move on the right, a cross into Emily Cotterill saw her hit a shot on the turn into the bottom right corner. The second half saw the home side take more control and only good goalkeeping stopped them securing all three points. Players of the Match were Vicky Roe and Letty Turner-Rowley.
23/10/2005 - Coseley Town 0 Cottage Farm Ladies 2
Cottage Farm's impressive away form continued with a good win at Coseley. The score suggested a close game, but the Ladies hit the bar 6 times and the post 3 times, Coseley did not manage 1 shot on target. The defence were in control, the midfield were dominant and the attack were always dangerous. It took 2 superb goals, one from Emily Cotterill who turned 3 players and placed her shot in the bottom corner, and a first goal ever, for player of the match Vicky Roe, who hit a 35 yard screamer, which the keeper never even moved for, to seal the game. A much improved team performance this week
16/10/2005 - Willenhall Town 3 Cottage Farm Ladies 0
After last weeks disappointing performance, Cottage Farm, having had to make several changes, played with a lot more spirit against an in form Willenhall side. The defence was a lot more solid and could not be blamed for the goals conceded as all three were good goals, not errors. Cottage Farm also played some good football at times and with a bit more luck in front of goal, the score could have been a lot closer. Good performances from sweeper Emily Cotterill and from midfielders Kate Harker, Kayleigh Hewitt and player of the match Clare McGarrigle.
09/10/2005 - Cottage Farm Ladies 0 - 4 Coleshill Ladies
What a difference a week makes, after last week's good win, Cottage Farm put in probably their worst performance of the year. Despite holding the League leaders to 0 - 0 at half time, Cottage Farm struggled in defence and failed to put together any decent moves of note. Within five minutes of the re-start, the defence succumbed to the inevitable and the first goal very quickly became four. A re-organisation and some hard work by certain players and some impressive saves by Alex Dockray in goal prevented any more goals, but after gifting all four to an impressive, hard-working and determined Coleshill side, Cottage Farm need to do some serious thinking before their next match.
Player of the Match: Susan Blabey.
02/10/2005 - Atherstone Ladies 1 - 6 Cottage Farm Ladies
Cottage Farm Ladies kept their unbeaten away record intact with an emphatic win at Atherstone. Goals from Natalie Davis 2, Katie Harker and a hat-trick from Zoe Pugh proved to be too good on the day.
25/09/2005 - Cottage Farm Ladies 1 APS 0
11/09/2005 - Cottage Farm Ladies 2 Willenhall Town Ladies 4
A 15 minute spell in the first half, gave Willenhall 3 goals, which Rangers could not come back from. Although they managed to bring it back to 2 - 3 after 10 minutes into the 2nd half and now playing the better football overall, they got caught on the break with 5 minutes left.
Although the result didn’t show it, the Ladies played better football all round this week. Only the odd lapse in concentration letting them down, and a few decisions that also went against them.
Player of the match: Clare McGarrigle.
04/09/2005 - Tamworth Ladies 2 - 4 Cottage Farm Ladies
The new season started with a local derby between two even teams on a very hot afternoon. With the breeze at their backs, Tamworth applied the early pressure as Cottage Farm were slow to get going. However, the defence and midfield held firm to repel the early Tamworth attacks. The pressure eventually told when from a corner, an attempted clearance from a Cottage Farm player ended up in her own net. This then spurred Cottage Farm into action as they at last got their passing game going and from only the second time they put some passes together, Emily Cotterill put Vicky Cobb through who coolly chipped the keeper as she came off her line. They then proceeded to play much better for the remainder of the half.
The second half started as a very even contest but again Tamworth took the lead when a loose piece of play resulted in Tamworth breaking through to retake the lead. Cottage Farm then applied the pressure as they searched for the equaliser which came when a corner was cleared out to Claire McGarrigle whose left foot shot was blocked but the ball broke back to her and she made no mistake with her right. Cottage Farm continued to press and a good move down the right between Vicky Roe, Vicky Cobb and Karen Moss resulted in Karen tucking the ball away giving Cottage the lead. The game then became more open as Tamworth pressed for the equaliser but Cottage Farm tried to finish it off and kept pressing. Alex Dockray in goal came and claimed the ball well from a corner and the play suddenly broke to the other end where pacy Kayleigh Hewitt was brought down in the box. Vicky Cobb coolly stepped up to make the game safe.
A good, battling performance from Cottage Farm in a typical derby match. Player of the match was Susan Blaby although in truth it was a solid performance by everyone with the promise of better football to come.