BCLFC 0 Chelsea 1
By Mark Farnell
One moment’s lack of concentration was all that separated the sides in an evenly fought contest played at Stratford Town.
Blues withstood their hosts in the early exchanges and a Sally Stanton shot for the hosts was well saved on 35 minutes by England keeper Siobhan Chamberlain.
Moments later former Blue Eni Aluko looked to be through on goal before being closed down by Michelle Hickmott.
A Heather Scheuber cross shot was tipped over for a corner and at the other end England ace Leanne Sanderson’s shot was well saved by Sue Wood in the Birmingham
goal.
The Chelsea breakthrough finally came on 40 minutes when a careless pass was intercepted by Brooke Chaplen just outside the area. She fed the ball through to Aluko who shot low into the right-hand corner.
Birmingham chased an equaliser and Amy McCann was almost through on goal before being stopped by a crucial tackle.
The second half began with intense pressure from big-spending Chesea.
Free kicks were conceded by both teams but Blues began to fight back and Katy Ward was replaced by Milly Durrant whose fresh legs on a warm day upped
the tempo.
Chelsea remained a threat and only good work from Faye Cardin and a good save from Wood from the resultant corner prevented a Chelsea second.
A Durrant pass found McCann but her shot lacked the power to beat the outstretched arm of Chamberlain.
Welsh forward Durrant and Blues sub Keeley Lowe kept up the pressure late on but failed to find a way through.
Teams, BCLFC: Sue Wood; Faye Cardin, Kerys Harrop, Jenni Foster, Michelle Hickmott; Katy Ward, Heather Scheuber, Sally Stanton, Maz Gauntlett; Amy McCann, Becky Hall. Subs: Keeley Lowe, Chloe Foster (unused), Milly Durrant, Kate Moran.
Chelsea: Chamberlain, Stoney, Davies, Asante, Perry, Chaplen, Smith, Buet, Rafferty, Sanderson, Aluko. Subs: Owen, Susi.
