Colchester United Women v Stones Ladies

O F F I C I A L

2023/24

M ATC H DAY

P R O G R A M M E

O F

CO LC H E S T E R

U N I T E D

COLCHESTER UNITED WOMEN vs STONES LADIES

W O M E N

Sunday 29th October 2023 Kick-off: 2.00pm Essex County Women's Football League Division Two

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2023/24 FIXTURES

DATE

OPPOSITION

VENUE

COMPETITION

Sunday 10 September

Chelmsford City Reserves

Away

ECWFL Division Two

KICK OFF/RES 11-0

Sunday 17 September

Blackmore

Away

ECWFL Division Two

17-0

Sunday 24 September

Sudbury Sports

Home

ECWFL Division Two

6-1

Sunday 1 October

Barking Reserves

Away

ECWFL Division Two

10-2

Sunday 8 October

Halstead Town

Home

ECWFL Division Two

10-0

Sunday 15 October

Frontiers

Away

Essex County Cup

3-0

Sunday 22 October

Hedinghams United

Away

ECWFL Division Two

3-0

Sunday 29 October

Stones

Home

ECWFL Division Two

14:00

Sunday 5 November

Rayleigh

Away

ECWFL Division Two

14:00

Sunday 12 November

Corinthians

Home

Cup

13:30

Sunday 19 November

Toby First

Away

Essex County Cup

13:30

Sunday 26 November

Chelmsford City Reserves

Home

ECWFL Division Two

14:00

Sunday 3 December

Blackmore

Home

ECWFL Division Two

14:00

Sunday 10 December

Sudbury Sports

Away

ECWFL Division Two

14:00

Sunday 7 January

Barking Reserves

Home

ECWFL Division Two

14:00

Sunday 14 January

Halstead Town

Away

ECWFL Division Two

14:00

Sunday 21 January

Harwich & Parkeston

Away

ECWFL Division Two

14:00

Sunday 28 January

Hedinghams United

Home

ECWFL Division Two

14:00

Sunday 4 February

Stones

Away

ECWFL Division Two

14:00

Sunday 11 February

Rayleigh

Home

ECWFL Division Two

14:00

Sunday 25 February

Great Danes

Away

ECWFL Division Two

14:00

TBA

Harwich & Parkeston

Home

ECWFL Division Two

P-P

TBA

Great Danes

Home

ECWFL Division Two

P-P

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HEAD COACH

LUKE WORLEY

October has been really successful for the team as a whole, with us competing on two fronts this month, with the first steps into the BBC Essex Women’s Cup also being taken this month.

I really have been encouraged by the players' growth and desire to be involved week in, week out. We have unfortunately lost Kira for the remainder of the season which is a loss to the squad as she was a great part of the playing team, but we will be happy to see her staying involved with the team during matchdays and any social activities that we will be involved with. But that does then present itself with the opportunity to add a new player and we have done that, with the addition of another young exciting prospect in Ruby Vinton who I have previously had the pleasure in coaching when she was playing at U15s level in the JPL. So as a coaching team we are excited to see her now gel with the team and no doubt she will pick up the pace after seeing her gain Player of the Match last week in our league win at Hedinghams.

Results have been good, and I am also extremely proud of how the team performed when we faced Frontiers Ladies who are two leagues above us and currently four wins out of four in the league. This really does show we can go toe to toe and push ourselves. I am unsure however if that would be possible for the full season at this stage,

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"WE MANAGED TO BE PATIENT AND REALLY TOOK OUR CHANCES WHEN THEY PRESENTED THEMSELVES" but the 90-minute match we played against them really pushed us and we had to be both physically aware but also mentally aware of their strengths and areas they could hurt us. On the day though, we managed to be patient and really took our chances when they presented themselves and we are excited for another testing match against a team we faced in pre-season, Toby FC. Thank you must go to those supporters who we have started to see follow us both home and away and we are really grateful for that support at such an early stage and long may it continue.

Luke

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FRONTIERS LADIES COLCHESTER UNITED SUNDAY 15TH OCTOBER 2023

0 3 IMAGES: STEVE PAGE

The women continued their undefeated streak with a sixth win away at Church Langley, securing a second round place in the BBC Essex County Cup. After a sketchy start facing a pacey, physical opposition, the U’s got into rhythm and had more command of the game as the minutes passed. However it wasn’t until well into the second half before the U’s took the lead, courtesy of an Emily Ager goal from outside the box.

Two further goals from Cassie Craddock-Ball and Lindsey Morgan in added time secured the victory, with the U’s facing Toby FC in round two of the cup on 19th November.

After comfortable wins so far this season, the U’s were under no illusion as to the challenge this county cup match would present.

This was confirmed in the opening minutes by an early free kick and relentless pressing by Frontiers through the middle of the pitch. The U’s appeared a little unsettled as a result, mostly shown through hasty passing in places and through-balls proving too weighty for forward Ruby Greenleaf to reach as they skipped along the wet grass.

However, the women found their form around fifteen minutes in, looking more comfortable on the ball and employing the passing play that supporters have come to expect this season. As more minutes passed, few attacking motions got past a solid back four consisting of Deben Howlett, Jac Craddock-Ball, Sophie Farrow and Niamh Gamble, despite good motions of play from Frontiers; Numbers nineteen, thirty and ten in particular required the U’s defence to stay alert at all times, with any wayward or soft passes being punished immediately.

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Swift counter-attacks from the U’s became more polished and less predictable as the half unfolded, with the pace of Ager and Hayleigh Jenkins enabling balls to be sent in from either wing; Morgan also proved to be an active supply line to Greenleaf, the pair having several moments of great play; but for quick closing down from Frontiers’ keeper and welltimed challenges from the defence, the balance of attacks suggested a scoreline in the U’s favour.

End-to-end play continued for much of the first half, although the U’s appeared to have more promising opportunities on goal with several shots just missing their target, a Howlett attempt ricocheting off the bar and a potential penalty waved away by the referee.

Jenkins and Craddock-Ball also saw several shots narrowly miss their target which on another day may have found the net. Spirits were high on the back of these attacks, along with corners and further attempts from Jenkins, and the atmosphere continued to suggest a U’s goal was on the cards. However it was Frontiers that would find the net first after a neat break through the back four allowed Frontier’s number thirty to force a save from keeper Jamie Newstead, who was standing in for Devall and Clark who are both nursing injuries. The ball bounced favourably for the striker to follow-up and hit the ball home, despite the linesman flagging offside before the first strike. A lengthy discussion with the ref ensued before the decision was finally upheld, leaving the score at nil-nil. This denial appeared to trigger an increase in physicality from both teams, with frustration among the home team appearing more obvious at times. The U’s were guilty of the odd late challenge, although as half-time approached it was even in terms of both teams working hard for possession.

With Frontiers staying on pitch for their team talk, head coach Luke Worley took the visitors back to the changing room and brought out a team visibly keen to ramp up the pressure against the strong wind that was behind them for the first half.The U’s continued to take advantage of the blistering pace of Ager and Jenkins on the wing, both hugging the touchline to spread play as wide as possible. This in turn exposed vulnerability through the middle, with Greenleaf again being the target for

through-balls from Morgan and Gamble similar to that seen in the first half. A strong headwind holding up aerial balls made a huge difference to deliveries that ran out of pitch in the first half, hinting a U’s goal could appear.

Frontiers however continued to battle hard, especially employing accurate diagonal balls to the right wing that challenged Ager and Farrow.

As Greenleaf became more of a target player for U’s crosses and Frontiers defenders, Worley introduced Kenza Chieowit-Munns to the action, replacing Thalia Adams who herself had been a strong feature in the U’s midfield. This proved to be an effective substitution, reducing the focus on Greenleaf and enabling similar pace and agile footwork. With no let-up from Frontiers who were quick to close down attacks from the sub, the U’s had to again revert to the wings. This opened up a few attempts at goal from Ager who, together with Jenkins, continued to beat the defence for pace.

Taking attention away from the U’s forward again in the seventieth minute, a supply from Gamble deep in the U’s half was held in the air by the constant headwind, falling nicely for Greenleaf to force the keeper to the left of the goal. The resultant loose ball saw Ager unleash a curling lob over the keeper, putting the visitors in front.

Heads stayed up for the home team though, as a barrage of corners and wing attacks threatened an equaliser for several minutes. Goal line clearances and a handful of scrambles around the box suggested a momentary loss of composure among the U’s, but strong guidance from Craddock-Ball and Howlett in particular regained the team’s composure and got balls out of the danger area and towards the opposite end. Greenleaf’s constant

battling predictably took its toll and was replaced by an equally-quick and impressive Ella Cahill who applied pressure to the back line especially on the right of the pitch . As the ref indicated an injury time of ten minutes to be played, this control of the game opened up an opportunity for Cassie Craddock-Ball to replicate Ager’s finish with a near-identical lob and secure a well earned two goal lead.

Despite encouragement from Frontiers’ captain and a large crowd on the touchline, the home team looked resigned to the defeat, with more U’s attempts working their way through a previously solid midfield. The recently-added fresh legs of Leah Pope, Karys Paton and Rosie Mowatt further bolstered the U’s strength and as each minute passed the balance of play rested increasingly with the visitors.

As the hour mark approached following more minutes added for substitutions, Cahill delivered a superb cross into the box after setting up her own sprint on the right wing. The ball found Morgan in the centre of the area for a composed finish to seal the deal.

The U’s battled hard for the win against a tough opposition resting near the top of the league, but ultimately the score was a fair reflection of the game.

Very physical and needing to adapt to a constant change of attacks, the U’s now return to training for their next league match against Hedinghams United at the weekend.

Colchester United Women starting XI: Adams, Ager, Ball, Craddock, Farrow, Gamble, Greenleaf, Howlett, Jenkins, Morgan, Newstead Subs: Cahill, Chieowit-Munns, Pope, Mowatt, Paton Player of the Match: Greenleaf

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HEDINGHAMS UNITED COLCHESTER UNITED

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SUNDAY 22ND OCTOBER 2023

The U’s continue to dominate the division after another comfortable victory last weekend.

Goals from Kenza Chieowit-Munns, Ruby Greenleaf and Hayleigh Jenkins continued the U’s undefeated record, but a heavily-defensive home team prevented more balls finding the net.

The U’s got off to a seemingly quick start with a shot from Ella Cahill in the opening seconds narrowly missing its target, suggesting a pace that supporters and players have come to expect. However, Hedinghams soon established their own rhythm, sending balls wide to either wing for fast counters and keeping Rosie Mowatt and Jac Craddock-Ball busy. Three minutes in, debutante Ruby Vinton showed her impressive turn of speed to intercept a number of diagonal

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grass-cutters from Niamh Gamble, suggesting it would only be a matter of time before the left-winger would be able to send in a cross. Greenleaf soon had a delivery from Vinton that made its way to the bottom left of the goal, only to be tipped around the post by the outstretched arm of the Hedinghams’ keeper.

As the match approached the five minute mark, Chieowit-Munns was successful in rolling the ball in from the edge of the box, putting the U’s in front and appearing to establish a comfortable way forward. However, Hedinghams were relentless in their attempts to counter, often relying on aerial balls to bypass a solid U’s back

line to feed the wings and a nippy striker. Karys Paton, Craddock-Ball and Mowatt were wise to each attack though, either comfortably using each other to get out of trouble and send the ball back for another U’s attack or allowing Jamie Newstead to have rare touches of the ball, herself donning the Number One shirt for another stint between the sticks while Devall continues to recover from a broken finger.

Greenleaf and Vinton impressed with link-up play a number of times through the first half, at one point requiring the home keeper to make another fellstretch save. Quick reactions from the defence prevented the U’s taking full

advantage of rebounds from the keeper following harder shots, Cahill and Caitlin White both missing out to brave blockages. A resultant corner in the twenty-seventh minute found the head of Paton which just missed its mark, but further represented play that rested mostly in the home team’s half.

The thirtieth minute brought with it an increase in physicality from Hedinghams along with an unsuccessful penalty call from Cahill after being brought down in the box.

Despite the difference in tactics, U’s attacks continued for the remainder of the half, including a final shot from Chieowit-Munns requiring another save.

As the half-time whistle grew nearer, Hedinghams appeared to put more focus on keeping the deficit to a single goal by increasing the defensive line and blocking out U’s successive attacks. On occasions where the ball was won and a counter was on the cards, a thin attacking formation meant Hedingham’s striker had a lot expected of her, with the U’s regaining control during each motion. Newstead standing well outside her box for much of the half contributed to cancelling out any opportunity for lofted throughballs to upset proceedings.

Multiple substitutions at the start of the second half brought Jess Clark into goal and Hayleigh Jenkins, Deben Kenza ChieowitMunns was on target

Howlett, Leah Pope and Jodie Morgan outfield in place of Newstead, White, Paton, Mowatt and Cahill. The fresh legs and difference in playing style unsettled Hedinghams in the opening minutes, effectively eliminating the wide play and Route One options that were employed in the first half. While the home team were still adjusting to the difference, a through-ball from C Craddock-Ball found a gap in the defence for Jenkins to run onto in the 6th minute, supplying a comfortable finish for Greenleaf.

Despite being 2-0 down, Hedinghams continued their defensive strategy, often adopting a six-women back line to prevent U’s attacks getting through to goal. A corner to Pope in the fiftythird minute from the edge of the box was unable to break the defence, nor did a superb Chieowit-Munns dribble enable Jenkins to hit the target soon after. While the latter was prevented by another superb save from the home keeper, it showed the U’s would struggle to find a path through the congested goal area.

After another corner found Pope, this time following a header from Howlett, a signature C Craddock-Ball through-ball found Chieowit-Munns on the edge of the box. The resultant crunching tackle allowed a loose ball to fall for Jenkins to send over the keeper from outside the box.

The three-goal lead by the U’s prompted Hedinghams to bring their physicality up more notches, causing the U’s to appeal for free kicks in return for spirited tackles. Shortly after Newstead returned to the pitch in place of Gamble in the sixty-fifth, Greenstead found herself at the receiving end of another zealous challenge from the Hedinghams defence. The reaction from Greenleaf undoubtedly spoke for the frustration of a number of her teammates who had been subjected to questionable encounters by this point, causing the referee to have words with both players. Greenleaf found herself the target for more of the same straight after, resulting in a free kick in the seventy-fourth that perhaps should have also seen a card. Coach Luke Worley opted to bring Greenleaf and Vinton off for the fresher legs of Cahill and White, both retiring players being warmly applauded by the U’s supporters for their efforts on pitch.

Frustration grew among the U’s as the minutes passed, mostly due to a wellchoreographed Hedinghams defence denying countless attacks, but also from feelings that more sanctions could have been awarded. The eighty-fifth minute brought things to a head when a more obvious foul from another Hedinghams defender resulted in the player being given a yellow card after sending the ball up the pitch some time after the whistle was blown.

The closing minutes saw all but a sole striker protect the Hedingham area, the game plan appearing to be keeping the score at 3-0. As the final whistle blew with no added time, the accompanying cheers from home supporters and players suggested their target was met, holding the U’s to their smallest league game goal tally this season.

Despite the possession-to-goal ratio, the win puts the U’s six points clear at the top of the table with a 54 goal difference. They next meet secondplace Stones Ladies at The Garrison on Sunday 29th October.

Colchester United Women starting XI: Cahill, Chieowit-Munns, C CraddockBall, J Craddock-Ball, Gamble, Greenleaf, Mowatt, Newstead, Paton, Vinton, White Subs: Clark, Howlett, Jenkins, J Morgan, Pope Player of the Match: Vinton

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GETTING TO KNOW SOPHIE

FARROW

Previous Clubs: Sudbury, Essex County and Stanway Rovers Position: LB Full-Time Job: Chef Fun Fact: Lover of gaming and favourite superhero is Spiderman

#3

EMILY

AGER

Previous Clubs: Braintree Town Hornet, Colchester United Girls Development Centre Position: Wing Education: Ntec Sport, Criminology and Health & Social Care Fun Fact: Has a pet snake called Charlie

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#11

SITE MAP

ALL PARKING TO BE IN THE OVERFLOW CAR PARK

B L BAL G T O FO ARKIN P

CAR PARKING DIRECTIONS

• Head towards Garrison A Cricket Ground Colchester via Circular Road East off of Circular Road North and Napier Road.

• Do not enter the cricket car park, but follow road to end and bear right after approximately 50 metres • Once there you will see an open playing field • On your left, park on the grass • Entrance through silver foot gate, see blue • Matches to be played on Pitch B • Club house located next to Hockey Pitch: Phoenix Club • Foot gate marked by the orange triangle

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COLCHESTER UNITED WOMEN

1 Rosa DEVALL

12 Hayleigh JENKINS

2 Jacqueline CRADDOCK-BALL

13 Jessica CLARK

3 Sophie FARROW

14 Karys PATON

4 Cassie CRADDOCK-BALL

15 Rosie MOWATT

5 Niamh GAMBLE

16 Jamie NEWSTEAD

6 Deben HOWLETT

17 Leah POPE

7 Ruby VINTON

18 Ella CAHILL

8 Thalia ADAMS

19 Caitlin WHITE

9 Ruby GREENLEAF

20 Jodie MORGAN

10 Kenza CHIEOWIT-MUNNS

21 Lindsey MORGAN

11 Emily AGER

22 Kira WEALLS