By Jeff Burnige at St Paul’s
Millwall Lionesses returned to winning ways with a competitive single-goal victory over Saltdean United in their London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division clash at St Paul’s last Sunday.
Manager Jack Wheeler rotated his squad with five changes from the derby defeat to Dulwich Hamlet, and was expecting a difficult match against a recently strengthened Saltdean, who were fresh from their 5-0 thrashing of Aylesford.
The opening half confirmed that feeling, and the more mature Saltdean enjoyed the better possession and movement through midfield. Some sides tend to find it awkward to play against a much younger team, and the young Lionesses found some of the decisions against them a little disappointing.
They were competing hard, but there were few chances at either end. There was a blow for the hosts when Emma Squirrel was helped off with a serious knee injury. She was replaced with Milly Penfold on the left side of midfield.
After the break, Saltdean were not allowed to stay on top, as the Lionesses’ fitness and sheer desire showed. The home goalkeeper, sixteen-year-old old Serena Head, and the back three of Millie Connell, Amy Nash and Poppy Payne were solid, as was Sophie Chapman, who moved into midfield for this game.
The Lionesses were in the ascendancy when they suffered another blow. They were reduced to ten after an accidental collision between two players who were both focusing only on contesting a bouncing ball. They were both winded, but the referee decided to punish Lioness Kaydence Kabadaki with a red card.
If anything, this energised the young Lionesses, and they went in front on 68 minutes with a twelve-yard strike from Chapman.
Wheeler made substitutions after the goal, with club captain Libby Stubbs reinforcing the defence, and a fourth sixteen-year-old on the day, Shireen Alimi, causing more problems up front.
In the end, it was an excellent three points for the Lionesses. They are fifth in the table with 29 points from eighteen games.
The Lionesses’ focus turns to L&SERWFL League Cup action next, as they travel to play Dartford in the semi-finals on April 3. Kick-off is 2pm.