East Anglian Championship match at Bury Town FC - 26/02/09
The Suffolk Ladies team won this match, which had been switched from St Ives FC at the last minute to give Suffolk an unexpected home fixture, by 3 goals. This put them level at the top of the table with Norfolk on points, but with Norfolk having superior goal difference.
In the 6th minute, a break down the right by Everett took her clear of the defence and provided space for a low cross which Kuch held, but then let go. Bass was on hand to prod home the first goal. This slip by the keeper only served to inspire her as the Suffolk players continued to press and after 12 minutes, Parnell burst through the centre of the ‘home’ defence with only the keeper to beat. However, Kuch dived to save well, and repeated this, 2 minutes later, when Cartwright was clean through. A pattern was emerging, with Suffolk dominating play, creating chances, only for the keeper to bring off a fine save each time. Mid-way through the first half, an early low cross from Parnell was met by Bass who shot just wide from close range. Then Blake met a cross from Parnell, and although her shot was on target, she had met her match in Kuch who executed another fine save.
Just after half an hour, the game took a surprising turn when Hunts equalised through Ovendale, whose speculative shot was deflected past a shocked Lunn in the Suffolk goal. The shock was that Hunts had shot at goal – up until then their players had seen little of this goal. Both teams used a substitute with 10 minutes left of the half, but the normal pattern was soon resumed as Bass showed the full-back a clean pair of heels and broke down the right. She cut inside, but her angled drive was well saved by Kuch. Bass then tried her luck through the centre, but was tripped just outside the box. Everett pulled her free-kick wide. Bass then fed Everett with a through ball, but Kuch did well to save a well placed low drive. She then blocked well from Bass, who had cut through the centre of the defence, and as the ball fell loose for Parnell, she retrieved her position quickly to save again. So, in the final 6 minutes of the first half, Suffolk had 4 shots saved or blocked by Kuch and a free-kick placed wide, but as the whistle signalled half-time, the teams were level at 1-1.
Suffolk introduced a second substitute at the start of the second half, and returned to the assault on Kuch. In 4 minutes, another Bass shot was saved. 2 minutes later, Parnell had a goal disallowed for pushing. Then Skillen burst through a static defence, who were rescued once again by a great save from Kuch. Bass twice went 1 on 1 with the keeper, who came out on top on both occasions. All this within 12 minutes of the half, and then Parnell broke through the left channel, but shot wide – the only way, it seemed, to stop the keeper saving! With 30 minutes left, Suffolk introduced a third substitute. A corner from Parnell was drilled low through a crowded box, and for once Kuch was unable to reach it. However, a full back cleared off the line.
Mid-way through the half, a speculative lob from 15 yards by Bitten deceived Kuch and somehow the ball found the corner of the net, to give Suffolk the lead. Then Parnell broke down the left, cut in and drove across the keeper, but wide of the far post. Bass took a long clearance in her stride, shook off the defenders and squared for Skillen to shoot from close range – but again Kuch denied the goal with a great diving save. With 12 minutes left, Suffolk finally found the net from a 1 on 1 with the keeper as Bass beat her from close range with a well placed shot. 2 minutes later Bass completed her hat-trick when she met a low cross from the left and passed it beyond the keeper. With now less than 10 minutes left, Bass went looking for more goals. She broke down the left, cut in, but shot the wrong side of the near post and next minute she scored again, only to see it cancelled for offside. Hunts had time for a final flourish, just to keep the Suffolk defenders on their toes, but Skillen had the last effort on goal when she burst through the Hunts defence. Off course, Kuch pulled off another fine save as the referee blew the final whistle.
It had been a fine open match, which Suffolk could have won by 10 or more goals, but for a magnificent display of goalkeeping by Kuch.