30/01/2023
Well done Maddie Myers ⚽️⚽️⚽️👍🏼👌🏼
NERWFL Northern Division
Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies Reserves Vs Bishop Auckland FC Ladies
Norton had their first outing since 13th November as they welcomed Bishop Auckland to Station Road. New signings Katie Pierce, Katie Ormerod and Belle Smith all came into the squad, with the two Katie’s making their debuts from the start.
Starting XI
Hannah Helm
Jordan Moore
Kelsie Moore
Emily Joynes
Caitlin Jones- sponsored by ITS (Industrial Technology Systems Ltd)
Ellie Hamilton
Jess Thomas- sponsored by Preston Farm Pharmacy & Bespoke Motor Works Ltd
Katie Pierce- sponsored by Hyare news - Premier
Robyn Wrigley- sponsored by Broadoak Kitchens Ltd
Maddie Myers- sponsored by RLS Construction
Katie Ormerod
Substitutes
Mia Brannigan- sponsored by Teesside Rigging & Lifting
Jess Tucker- sponsored by allGym
Jade Featherstone
Alicia Swales- sponsored by Mill Lane Laundrette
Belle Smith
It was a rapid start, as with just 43 seconds on the clock the first goal was scored. Katie Pierce got on the ball and played a lovely through ball to Katie Ormerod. The keeper did well to close Ormerod down and the save fell to Robyn Wrigley on the left and she cut inside and fired home. 1-0
Norton looked to move the ball quick and build on the opening goal but it was the visitors who scored next. Norton failed to get on the ball in the midfield and the Bishop striker played the ball out to the left via a deflection and the winger broke with pace to square for the striker to tap home and the game was all level with less than 10 minutes on the clock. 1-1
The equaliser was a wake up call for the hosts and they got onto the ball better and started to play better football. It wasn’t long until the lead was restored when in the 13th minute. Katie Ormerod drove inside and found Jess Thomas, she played square to Ellie Hamilton who put the ball over the top for Myers and she raced away from the defender before placing the ball home. 2-1
With just over 20 minutes on the clock Myers got her second and Norton’s third as Pierce pressed high and won the ball off the right back managing to it forward to send Myers away and she lifted the ball into the top of the net over the outrushing keeper. 3-1
Katie Pierce was having a great debut, throwing herself into tackles and constantly looking to get on the ball and she almost got her opening goal as a Katie Ormerod cross was half clear to Pierce and she struck a side foot half volley from 20 yards which hit the bar, spun into the air before hitting the bar again and bouncing behind and away from danger.
Again Pierce was involved in the fourth goal. She picked the ball up inside the Norton half and turned the Bishop player. Her through ball was initially cut out by a defender but only for it to hit Myers and she was able to bring it down and race away before calmly finishing into the bottom right corner to complete her hat-trick. 4-1
Moments later it was almost a very similar goal. Pierce did well in a tight space and was able to twist away from a defender and play the ball over the top. This time it was Katie Ormerod on the end of it and she charged forwards to beat the defenders to the ball. Drove into the box and fired left footed but was the effort was inches wide of the post.
Norton’s fifth came just after the half hour mark and it was a counter attack goal. Bishop had a throw high in the Norton half which was intercepted by Wrigley. Pierce picked up the ball and set it to Thomas she played a first time ball out wide to Wrigley on the left who in turn played a first time ball forwards to Myers. The forward ran 30 yards and into the box before finishing and adding another goal to her tally. 5-1
With just under 35 minutes played Myers added her fifth and the sixth for Norton. Once again new signing Katie Pierce was instrumental in the build up. Chasing back to challenge the Bishop player, Pierce won the ball and sent a ball over the top into the left channel. Myers was alone with three defenders but in the goal scoring mood no one was stopping her as she raced into the box and fired high into the back of the net. 6-1
In the 37th minute Katie Pierce got the debut goal her performance deserved. Wrigley played inside to Myers who set the ball back to Hamilton. She squared the ball to Thomas. Thomas lifted the ball to Pierce, who had found a pocket of space 25 yards out, a touch to bring the ball down followed by a touch out the feet was all that came before a well placed strike high into the top corner. 7-1
Myers had time to complete a double hat trick before the break. Again Norton pressed well and Jones won the ball in a strong tackle. She released Ormerod down the right and her cross was met on the volley by Myers. The keeper saved the initial effort but the ball landed back to Myers to fire the rebound into the empty net. 8-1
The final chance of the first half fell to Katie Pierce looking for her second. A free kick from around 25 yards out which was fired just over the bar and the whistle was blown for half time.
Half Time
Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies Reserves 8-1 Bishop Auckland
Norton came into the break pleased with the first half performance but the message was to not slack off and keep the performance levels up. Two changes were made at the break as Caitlin Jones and Robyn Wrigley were replaced by Mia Brannigan and Jade Featherstone
Norton almost started the second half exactly the same as the first as the opening minute of the second period they found themselves stealing the ball from the away side kick off and Ormerod drove forward before chipping a ball to Featherstone in the box only for the freshly introduced player to have her shot well saved.
Norton seemed to switch off for a short period of time following this and it was costly in terms of goals against. In the 50th minute Featherstone tried to play the ball back to Helm but didn’t put enough on the ball allowing the Bishop forward to get on the ball and slide it beyond Helm. 8-2
Just minutes later and Norton lost the ball high in the Bishop half. Joynes stepped in to try win a challenge due but due to the lack of Norton shape the back three were out numbered and two passes saw the forward on the ball in the box and completing her hat trick. 8-3.
Norton’s mad 10 minutes continued and they conceded a fourth goal in the 55th minute. Losing possession from their own throw in, the home side failed to win the ball and clear on multiple occasions and the ball was hit from 40 yards over the head of Helm. 8-4.
This seemed to be the final wake up call for Norton who started to look after the ball better. They went to the other end of the pitch with some lovely football which resulted in Myers squaring to Featherstone who fired home only to be judged offside and the goal disallowed. Norton enjoyed plenty of possession following the opening 10 minutes and regain control of the game despite creating a limited number of chances.
In the 66th minute a third change was made as Belle Smith, the third debutant of the day, came on for her first senior appearance replacing Emily Joynes. Smith didn’t let any debut nerves get in the way and was solid at the back making some excellent challenges when called upon.
Norton had plenty of the ball and limited the Bishop to a few shots from distance but nothing that troubled Helm in the Norton goal. Equally, for all the possession and good play Norton rarely troubled the Bishop keeper. The best chance came with just under 15 minutes to play when Myers won the ball in the penalty area and instead of looking to add her seventh she set the ball to Featherstone who could only fire at the keeper.
In the 80th minute Jess Tucker came on the replace the tiring Katie Ormerod who had worked extremely hard in her opening Norton game. In the 85th minute Kelsie Moore floated a free kick into the box. Myers challenged with the keeper and ended up down in the box. After pause in the game and assessment it was deemed Myers was unable to continue and was replaced by Wrigley. In the 87th minute Norton made a final change as Alicia Swales replaced Jess Thomas.
The final few minutes of the game saw Norton create one chance but Tucker’s cross was collected by the keeper and not long after the whistle blew for full time. A comprehensive first half performance had sealed the point but Norton will certainly be disappointed with the opening 10 minutes of the second period which saw them concede 3 goals which were all avoidable. But overall a performance with plenty of positives to take into the next game away to Chester-le-Street United
Full Time
Norton & Stockton Ancients Ladies Reserves 8-4 Bishop Auckland
Player of the Match
Katie Pierce 🏆
Thoughts from the manager:
“We can come away from the game very pleased and proud of our performance, especially first half. Yes it’s disappointing to concede the goals in the way we did and that is something we will need to do better with. But overall it was a game with way more positives compared to negatives. For 80 minutes I believe we controlled the game and had a daft 10 minute spell after the half time break which lessened our dominance. I thought all 3 of the new players settled in really were and were excellent. Katie Ormerod worked tirelessly creating chances and was unlucky not to get a goal of her own. Belle came on for her senior debut and didn’t look out of place at all, she was winning headers and battles against a very good forward and she will only get better as she trains and plays more. The final one of the three was Katie Pierce, a player we have brought into the club after a look of recommendation. She showed her talent today. She controlled the game in the midfield and showed her physicality not backing out of any challenges. The performance overall is something we have to build on going into next week and the remaining games as we look to push for a finish as high as possible come the end of the season.”
Team Sponsor: Skelton Coaches
Training Kit Sponsor: Active Body Conditioning Centre
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