17FEB07 - CLIFTON LADIES 1 FIREBRANDS 1
by Clifton Manager Martin MacBlain - photos Gary Bray / UNiCOM
Clifton favourites
Honours were even at yesterday's derby game between Clifton Ladies and Firebrands. With Clifton riding high at the top of the league and Firebrands second from bottom, Clifton were undoubtedly clear favourites, but as history has dictated, anything can happen in a derby.
Both side started brightly and made some good attacking play with Sandra Frankland of Clifton almost scoring in the opening two minutes. However, a rare mistake in Clifton's defence allowed Firebrands to capitalse and they scored the opener through an open play goal from Emily Atkinson.
An unlikely victory
This goal spurred Clifton into life and from that moment on the rest of the game was dominated by Clifton with chance after chance going begging. An inspired performance from the Firebrands GK and some wayward finishing from the Clifton forwards meant that as time dragged on an unlikely victory seemed possible for Firebrands.
Performance of the season
Yet with only 3 minutes left on the clock Sandra Frankland scored with a stunning strike from a penalty corner to leave the sides level with a point a piece. Clifton will be disappointed with the overall result but the performance from the team was one of the best displayed this season.
The result means Clifton drop into second place but Firebrands still hold that second from bottom position.
