Boldmere St Michaels 2 Imps 0

Boldmere St Michaels 2 Imps 0

A spirited performance was not enough to take anything away from Boldmere St Michaels in the FA Women's National League Division One Midlands.

The opening minutes of the contest saw a tight affair, as neither side could find an attacking spark.  

The hosts took the lead with the first chance of the game after eight minutes, as a blocked shot from Gabby Maia fell kindly for Abbey Bevan, who rolled the ball home.  

Lee Mitchell’s side responded well and looked the more threatening to get an equaliser. A Maddi Green free kick from 25 yards tested the hands of home goalkeeper Whiteman.  

Leah Hardy went close on 22 minutes, as her half volley from distance forced a fingertip save from Whiteman.  

Boldmere doubled their advantage against the run of play just before the half hour mark, as Maia found the bottom corner from inside the penalty area.  

Maia went close to grabbing her second of the game, but Poppy Irvine was equal to the striker’s effort after 39 minutes.  

The second half saw a long-range effort from Jade Formaston fly over the bar after five minutes. A similar strike from a similar distance from Formaston, saw Irvine equal to the effort, and the danger cleared minutes later.  

Faith Horner picked up a yellow card for stopping an attack illegally. The resulting freekick saw Irvine tested again, from Anna Wilcox.  

Lucy Farrow had an excellent chance just before the hour mark but could only force a smart save from Whiteman from inside the box.  

Jemima Footitt was introduced with just over 25 minutes to play as Toni McHamilton made way.  

Footitt was involved immediately as she got her head onto the end of Green’s cross at the back post but could only find the hands of a scrambling Whiteman across her goal.  

Leah Hardy was close to pulling one back for the Imps with just over 10 minutes remaining. Her right footed curling effort left Whiteman stranded but flew just past the far post.  

As the game ticked into added time, Formaston saw her header from a corner rise up and over the bar. 

Footitt got to the ball before Millie Kirk on the right wing, earning the Boldmere defender a yellow card. From the free-kick, Leah Hardy could only find the hands of Whiteman.