Late leveller seals friendly draw at Coach Road
United Women earned a deserved draw against a young but highly talented Birmingham City U21 side, with Sarah Stacey once again taking the headlines after scoring her third goal in two pre-season matches for the Gulls.
However, it was the overall team performance and the manner in which United controlled large parts of the game that will have pleased manager Ryan Perks most, with his side rarely looking in trouble against a technically gifted Birmingham outfit.
United started the brighter of the two sides and created the first opportunity of the afternoon when a loose ball from the Birmingham defence fell kindly to a United attacker. She struck first time, but her effort sailed over the crossbar as the visitors managed to clear the danger.
The Gulls continued to apply pressure during the opening stages, with Birmingham struggling to deal with the experience and physicality of the United side. The game began to open up after the 15-minute mark, as the visitors started to find their rhythm and enjoy spells of possession.
Birmingham looked dangerous from distance and caused problems from set pieces, but United’s back four stood firm, absorbing the pressure and clearing their lines effectively.
The visitors began to enjoy a spell of possession as they looked to find a way through the United defence, but credit must go to Perks’ players, who limited Birmingham to only half chances and dealt comfortably with their attacking threats.
United should have taken the lead around the 20-minute mark when a Birmingham defender failed to clear inside her own penalty area, instead drilling the ball into the path of an onrushing United player. The ball ricocheted off the attacker and agonisingly wide of the far post, with the Birmingham goalkeeper left rooted to the spot.
The remainder of the first half saw both sides exchange spells of possession, with neither team able to find the breakthrough as both defences continued to stand strong.
Birmingham started the second half brightly, creating two early chances, but thankfully for United, both efforts went comfortably wide of the target.
United then had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 57th minute. A vicious cross was delivered into the box, beating the Birmingham defence and leaving both Beth Everson and Sarah Stacey with the freedom of the six-yard box. However, neither player could get the required touch to turn the ball home.
Half-time substitute Connie Pengelly was next to go close for United following a drinks break. A clever chipped pass found the striker just outside the Birmingham penalty area, but her first-time volley drifted narrowly wide of the left post.
Pengelly would go close again moments later when another chipped pass found her in space. She connected well with a volleyed effort, but the Birmingham goalkeeper was able to make a comfortable save.
With the game seemingly heading towards a goalless draw, Birmingham struck first in the 81st minute. A free kick on the edge of the United penalty area was delivered towards the back post, where a BCity player reacted quickest to turn the ball home from close range.
The goal was harsh on United, who had defended superbly up until that point.
With a result they deserved at risk, United pushed forward in search of an equaliser. The closing stages were dominated by the Gulls, who created a number of chances and continued to apply pressure on the visitors, particularly from set pieces.
Just as it looked like Birmingham would hold on for victory, United found their reward. As the clock ticked towards full time, a powerful low effort from the edge of the visitors’ penalty area was driven towards goal. The Blues goalkeeper could only palm the ball away, and it fell perfectly into the path of Stacey, who made no mistake, calmly firing into the empty net.
The goal sparked celebrations and secured a deserved draw for United, who had more than matched their talented opponents throughout the afternoon.
While Stacey will take the plaudits for another pre-season goal, the performance as a whole will give Perks plenty of encouragement as United continue their preparations for the new campaign.
Report by Martyn Norman
