AFC Fylde Women returned from Teesside empty-handed on Sunday after a 3-1 loss to Middlesbrough Women in Stockton-on-Tees.
The Boro Women made a blistering start by scoring twice inside the first ten minutes. Lauren Robson broke the deadlock in the third minute, before Ellen Turnbull headed home from Robson’s corner to double their lead moments later. Just before the half-hour mark, the Coasters found a way back into the game as Iszy Binks scored a spectacular goal directly from a corner to halve the deficit.
After falling behind early on, Fylde remained firmly in the contest and continued to knock on the door for an equaliser. Shortly after the interval, Karri Chan was denied by the foot of the post as Middlesbrough scrambled to clear their lines. And Fylde’s task was made even harder a couple of minutes later when Turnbull bundled in a third from a corner to extend the hosts’ advantage.
The Boro Women were in the ascendancy for much of the second half, but they were prevented from adding to their tally thanks to the heroics of Skye Kirkham in the Fylde goal.
Among the changes to Fylde’s starting eleven, Ella Holt made her debut in defence, while there were also starts for Minnie Rogers and Mia Hyland.
On an overcast afternoon, the Coasters made a bright start as skipper Holly Kelsh-Ridge took a free-kick from just outside the box and curled her shot narrowly over the crossbar.
From the resulting goal kick, Ellen Packham launched a long ball through the middle and Robson raced clear before rounding Kirkham and sliding the ball into an empty net. Despite Kirkham’s best efforts to narrow the angle, Robson showed excellent composure to evade the challenge and steer the ball into the goal.
Robson then turned provider in the ninth minute when her left-sided corner found Turnbull inside the six-yard box, and Turnbull shrugged off Roger’s challenge to head past Kirkham from close range.
The Coasters created several openings after the early setback. First, Katie Bowers Folan almost played in Kelsh-Ridge, but her run was curtailed by the offside flag. A few minutes later, Imogen Borrowdale managed to get a shot away, but it flashed just over the crossbar.
In the 28th minute, Iszy Binks stepped up to take a corner on the left-hand side. Her inswinging delivery sailed all the way into the far corner of the net, evading everyone inside a packed penalty area. Binks wheeled away in celebration as the Coasters had given themselves a lifeline.
Fylde survived a scare shortly after as Middlesbrough struck the woodwork twice within a matter of seconds. Robson’s free-kick almost looped in, but Kirkham reacted well to push it onto the crossbar. After Turnbull’s follow-up came back off the post, Armani Maxwell’s effort was blocked at close quarters.
It meant that Fylde headed into the break trailing by a single goal.
Half-Time: Middlesbrough FC Women 2-1 AFC Fylde Women
Shortly after the restart, Fylde came agonisingly close to making it 2-2. Catching the Boro defence off guard, Chan spotted Ruby Cook off her line and fired towards the far corner. Cook managed to push Chan’s goalbound attempt onto the base of the post before Grace Boyes could hook the ball clear. It was a big let-off for the hosts, who kept their lead intact.
To make matters worse for the visitors, Middlesbrough quickly added a third as Turnbull grabbed her second of the afternoon in the 54th minute. A floated corner from the right reached Turnbull at the back post, who stuck out her left leg to direct the cross into the net.
Kirkham was called into action on several occasions in the closing stages of the game. In the 62nd minute, Kirkham got down well to gather Robson’s drive from the edge of the box. And in the 77th minute, Kirkham made a perfectly timed sliding challenge to deny substitute Sharna Wilkinson a clear sight on goal.
As the referee blew the full-time whistle, Middlesbrough claimed successive home victories to continue their unbeaten start to the season. Fylde joint managers Jake Williams and Steve Mainwaring were left to reflect on a disappointing result for their team, who will be working hard to get back on track over the coming weeks of September.
Full-Time: Middlesbrough FC Women 3-1 AFC Fylde Women
The Coasters are back on home soil this weekend as Stockport County Ladies are the visitors to Kellamergh Park. This home fixture takes place on Sunday 8th September, with kick-off at 2.00 pm.
Middlesbrough FC Women: Cook, Packham, Towers, Turnbull, Mett (75′ Wilkinson), Maxwell (70′ Dale), Robson (70′ Skelton), Giles, Bell, Burn, Boyes
Unused substitutes: Wareham, Foster
AFC Fylde Women: Kirkham, Binks, Holt, Rogers (76′ Sanchez), Tindall, Hyland, Kelsh-Ridge, Borrowdale, Chan, Bowers Folan (89′ Hamer), Carabott (46′ Duffell)
Unused substitute: Pendlebury
Report by Scott Jones
