Saturday 27 March
Sheffield United Junior Blades 1 v 3 Maggies
Reporter Billy Deardens
The Maggies final game of the season saw them travel to the red & white side of the city. United started the liveliest creating a number of chances, but strong defending & good goalkeeping kept the scores level. That all changed after eight minutes when Carly Rowlands broke clear of the United defence, & calmly finished from the edge of the box to give the Maggies the lead. This pushed the girls on & they started to take the game to United. Ten minutes later the Maggies doubled their lead when a good cross in to the box from Emily Dearden appeared to be covered by the United keeper, unfortunately she slipped & the ball bounced in to the back of the net. Although United pressed to get themselves back in to the game the Maggies defence were solid & kept the Blades at bay. Ten minutes before half time the unthinkable happened, when a good move by the Maggies saw Carly Rowlands shoot from twenty yards, again the keeper was behind it but allowed the ball to go through her fingers & in to the net. The luck that had deserted the girls all season was back & the Maggies went in at half time three goals to the good.
United came out strong in the second half, creating wave after wave of attacks, but again the Maggies defence were outstanding & refused them the space to get a good shot at goal. It was a good twenty minutes in to the half before the girls created any serious threat to the United goal such was the United onslaught. Even though United had most of the play the Maggies created the better of the chances, Carly Rowlands being denied a hat trick from a finger tip save from the United keeper. United eventually found the net with ten minutes remaining, but as in the rest of the game, they found the Maggies defence in great form & were unable to add to the score line. Another great all round performance & a win at last on the last day of the Maggies season. The pick of the bunch being Jessica Barringer, whose brilliant defensive display earned her the Player of the Match award.
Although the girls finished bottom of the league they showed great character throughout the season, never giving in & eventually earning a win their performances deserved. As one parent commented, “they’ve played better football this season than last years promotion one, they just didn’t get the luck they got today”. To keep a full squad for every game, when the girls were getting beaten most weeks, is a credit to them & they should feel proud of the improvements they have made this season. They have received so many encouraging comments from both opposition managers & supporters, Well Done Girls
Up The Maggies!!



Saturday 20th March
Maggies 0 v 7 Doncaster Rovers Belles
Reporter Billy Deardens
The Maggies last home game of the season saw them welcome the team favourites to finish league champions. The Belles were well on top at the start of the game with the Maggies defending well but never getting the ball in to the opposition half. A number of missed chances by the Belles kept the scores level as the Maggies battled hard. A rare Maggies attack almost resulted in the girls taking the lead, but the chance hit the side netting. Just when it started to look like it could be the Maggies day, with the Belles missing chances, the deadlock was broken & the Belles never looked back.This was a brave fight from the Maggies who faced, on this performance, by far the best team this season. No-one could be blamed as the Belles scored some excellent goals, both with the creativity & finishing. A good if not harsh lesson for the Maggies, who although never really threatened the Belles goal, didn’t deserve the score line to be as high playing some excellent football at times themselves. Again, a good squad performance with some outstanding work from a number of the outfield players. However, the Player of the Match went to keeper Amy Lindop whose handling & kicking was excellent throughout the game.


 

Saturday 13 March
Handsworth 1 v 1 Maggies
Reporter: Billy Deardens
A bright warm day, at last, saw the Maggies looking to continue their good work from the previous week. Handsworth started on top, but the Maggies defence held firm & the girls worked their way in to the game. Both teams played some good football, up to & around the box, but neither side were able to find that cutting edge to break the deadlock Half time came with the score 0-0.That all changed within a minute of the re-start, Handsworth came forward & a scuffed shot seemed to be going just wide but the ball struck the post & bounced in off the unfortunate Maggies keeper. Again all the hard work seemed to count for nothing as the luck deserted the girls, but within a couple of minutes the Maggies were awarded a penalty for hand ball. This was the chance to draw level quickly & build on. However, the opportunity was lost when a poor spot kick was struck straight at the Handsworth keeper, who saved easily. The girls lost their way for a couple of minutes but re-grouped & started to take the game to Handsworth. Ten minutes after the penalty miss, Hayley Hirst turned quickly just inside the Handsworth box & fired the ball across goal to find Gemma Tollerfield at the back post. She calmly side footed the ball home to equalise for the Maggies. The girls pressed for the winner forcing a number of corners but the Handsworth defence some how held out & the final score line remained even. A point at last & one fully deserved. Any one of the 15 man squad could have got the Player of the Match award, but this went to Gemma Tollerfield, for getting the goal that finally got the Maggies their first point of the season

Saturday 6th March

Maggies 1  v  2 Killamarsh

Reporter Billy Deardens

The Maggies first home game since November saw the girls entertain near rivals Killamarsh. A bright opening from the Maggies saw them put the Killamarsh defence under some pressure. The girls deservedly took the lead, if not some what fortunate, when a cross come shot by Carly Rowlands, wide on the right wing, left the Killamarsh keeper flat footed as the ball sailed in to the back of the net. Both sides worked hard to find the net but some good defending, by both defences, &  excellent saves by the keepers kept the score line the same at half time. The Maggies deserving the lead.

Killamarsh came out fighting in the second half & started to create more chances. Mid way through the half they had turned the game around to lead 2-1 with two well taken goals. The Maggies kept their heads up but could not find a way back in to the game. Another defeat, but yet  again a good all round performance from the girls that deserved at least a point especially after the first half efforts. No one worked harder for the cause than Sharni Lewis, which earned her the Player of the Match Award.

Saturday 13th February

Rotherham 4  v  0 Maggies

Reporter Billy Deardens

After last weeks excellent performance the Maggies were looking to carry on their good work. Early indications showed that it was to be another great performance ,with the girls having the majority of the play. Rotherham slowly got to grips with the Maggies attacks & forced their way in to the game. Some good football from both teams saw chances at either end, but neither team were able to find the breakthrough & the score remained goal less at half time.
From a Maggies point of view the second half was a non starter. All the old bad habits that had gone in recent games returned to haunt them. At the start of the half a  bad clearance by a Maggies defender went straight to a Rotherham forward on the edge of the box & although the shot was not a good one the Maggies keeper allowed the ball to go through her hands & nestle in the corner of the net. Worse was to follow in the shape of 3 more Rotherham goals, again bad defending & some dubious refereeing decisions the downfall of the Maggies. A 40 minutes the girls will quickly want to forget, although there were still some good performances. Non more so than the Player of the Match, Lucy Sheedy, who defended well & never gave the ball away. 

Saturday 6th February

Sheffield Wednesday 3  v  1 Maggies

Reporter Billy Deardens

After 2 months without a league game the Maggies were back in action, away to the current league leaders. The girls had the advantage of the slope in the first half & started brightly. However, Wednesday soon started to show why they are top of the league creating 1 or 2 good chances, one of which gave them the lead. The Maggies battled hard & some excellent defending kept the score line to just the one goal. As the half wore on the Maggies pushed forward, creating their own chances. It was from one of these that the   Maggies got a deserved equaliser. A good run down the left wing saw Emma Softley clear of the Wednesday defence, she looked up to see Hayley Hirst free in the middle. A perfect pass was finished first time by Hayley. Both sides pressed for the lead but at half time the scores remained level.

The Maggies started the second half as they had finished the first, causing Wednesday problems. Another great Maggies move saw Emma shoot from the edge of the box. It seemed to be heading for the back of the net, but Wednesday’s stand-in keeper managed to get a hand to the ball & it bobbled agonisingly wide of the post. This proved to be the turning point as Wednesday upped their game & minutes later took the lead. It wasn’t long before that lead was increased & the game out of the Maggies reach. The girls battled hard to the end, coming close to reducing the deficit on a number of occasions. An excellent all round team performance, showing they can compete with the best. Any one of the girls could have won the Player of the Match award, but this went to Carly Rowlands for her non stop work in midfield.

Saturday 5th December
Barnsley 3 v 0 Maggies
After last weeks trip to Barnsley in the cup, it was back there again this week, for the league encounter. The Maggies started well playing some nice football & keeping the Barnsley attacks to a minimum. It was a very even encounter with neither team getting the upper hand. That all changed twenty minutes in to the game, when a Barnsley attack was cleared well by the Maggies defence, unfortunately the midfield were caught napping allowing a Barnsley player to pick up the loose ball & fire in to the corner of the net. Worse was to follow five minutes later when a rare mistake by the Maggies keeper allowed a cross to slip from her grasp & there was a Barnsley forward to tap the ball home. As in previous games the girls battled away & could have scored at least one goal before half time, but for some great Barnsley defending & a save from their keeper.

With Barnsley having the advantage of the slope in the second half, many would have expected the same score line as last week, or worse for the Maggies. However the girls proved how their game is improving week after week, & although Barnsley had more of the attacking play, the Maggies showed they were still capable of creating their own chances. It took a great run & finish by the Barnsley left winger, in the last minute, to give Barnsley their third goal. This was harsh on the Maggies who battled well all game & more than matched the opposition. The defence, in particular, were outstanding with the Player of the Match going to Hollie Macdonald for her excellent defending at the heart of the Maggies back four.

Saturday 28th November
Barnsley 5 v 0 Maggies
The Maggies made the long trip to Barnsley for the second round of the cup. With a number of girls injured, ill or on holiday the Maggies had a bare 11, a number of who were suffering with injury or illness, themselves. The match started evenly with both teams playing good football. Barnsley had the advantage of the slope & soon began to make it tell forcing the Maggies back. The Maggies defended well for long periods but some excellent finishing from Barnsley saw them go in at half time 3-0 to the good.
The start of the second half saw Barnsley again on top scoring 2 goals & putting the game beyond the Maggies reach. However, the girls battled away & produced some excellent moves that deserved at least a goal, but it wasn’t to be, & the Maggies bowed out of the cup for another year. Credit to all 11 players who battled to the end, especially those suffering with injury or illness. The Player of the Match went to Jessica Barringer for some great defending, who along with the rest of the defence, produced an excellent display.

Saturday 21 November

The second half started much as the first with the girls looking for the equaliser. However it was Worksop who doubled their lead when their winger made a run in to the box & calmly placed the ball in to the corner of the net. A few of the Maggies heads seemed to go down after this set back & Worksop looked the more likely to score. Just when it seemed their was no way back for the girls they were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. Emma Softley hit a great effort, & although the keeper got a hand to it was unable to stop it crossing the line. The girls were back in the game, but for all their hard work & effort were unable to break a solid Worksop defence. Any one of the Maggies squad could have got the Player of the Match, but the award went to Emily Dearden for her consistent performances over the last few weeks.   

Saturday 14 November
Worksop 1 v 0 Maggies
The Maggies started brightest playing some great football in very windy conditions. Some good approach play could not be converted in to goals as time & time again the ball would just not “run” for the girls. One prime example being midway through the half a Maggies corner was not cleared by the Worksop defence, & the ball was fired goal wards through a ruck of players & destined for the net, but the ball struck the keeper on the line & shot to safety. As the half wore on Worksop started to create one or two of their own openings & Amy Lindop, the Maggies keeper, had to be alert to smartly save a goal bound effort. With just minutes remaining of the first half a ball over the top of the Maggies defence saw a Worksop forward break clear to score, again bad luck struck the Maggies with the Amy slightly losing her footing as she went to save the effort.
The girls again started the second half playing some good football, with a number of passes just evading the forwards. For all their efforts the girls couldn’t find the goal that their football deserved & as the match wore on Worksop gained control of the match, with the aid of the wind, & looked the more likely to score. The girls kept their heads high & with a bit of luck would have gained their first point of the season. The Worksop manager praising the girls & admitting they deserved a point, & a Worksop supporter commented it was some of the best football he had seen from a team all season. Well done again girls for a battling performance in difficult conditions. The Player of the Match went to Hollie Macdonald who was outstanding in defence.

Saturday 7th November
Maggies 2 v 6 Sheffield Wednesday
The Maggies welcomed the league leaders for their third home game on the trot. Wednesday started brightly & it was no surprise that they led 2-0 within 10 minutes. The Maggies slowly got a hold on the game & started to cause Wednesday a few problems. Midway through the half they got themselves back in the game when a run down the right by Carly Rowlands saw her pass in to the box, where she found Emma Softley. Emma could have shot but saw Hayley Hirst in a better position, & she made no mistake, although the keeper did get a hand to the ball. Both teams were playing some excellent football in a competitive but friendly game. With half time approaching a great long range effort by a Wednesday forward restored their two goal cushion. Unfortunately for the Maggies worse was to follow when a well worked goal gave Wednesday a flattering 4-1 lead at the break.The Maggies kept their heads up at the start of the second half & were more than matching their opponents. Wednesday’s experience began to tell & two more goals killed the game, but the girls refused to let their heads drop. With five minutes remaining a free kick for the Maggies, in their own half, was knocked over the top of the Wednesday defence, which allowed Hayley Hirst to get clear of her markers & she raced on to calmly finish & give the score line a more respectable look. Another great team effort where the girls showed once again they have nothing to fear against a very strong team. A number of girls could have claimed the Player of the Match award, but this was given to Lucy Sheedy, who was playing out of position & hardly put a foot wrong.

Saturday 31 October
Maggies 2 v 4 Sheffield United
The Maggies entertained the red side of the city looking to get their first points of the season. An open start to the game produced some good football from both teams. The Maggies were looking good & but for some lax finishing & good goalkeeping were unlucky not to take the lead. That all changed after about 30 minutes of the game, when an excellent run down the right wing by Carly Rowlands, saw her produce the perfect cross for Hayley Hirst to steer a header in to the top corner of United’s goal. The girls kept pressing & looked to be heading for a half time lead, but with just 3 minutes of the half remaining a United corner saw poor marking by the Maggies defence & a United forward fired home to make the scores level at the break.

The girls were looking to start the second half in the same manner as they had started the first. However they switched off & allowed United to take control of the game, who produced some excellent through balls for the United forward. Again poor defending & some good finishing saw United rattle in 3 goals within 30 minutes of the half. Whether United relaxed or the Maggies woke up, the girls started to play the football they had produced in the first half. An excellent move saw the ball reach Gemma Tollerfield at the far post who squared to Hayley Hirst & she made no mistake to give the final score a more respectable look. The Jekyll & Hyde performances continue to stop the girls getting the results most of their play deserves. One player who gave her all & scored two excellent goals was Hayley Hirst & this earned her the Player of the Match award. 

Saturday 24 October
Maggies 3 v 4 Rotherham
Another sluggish start by the Maggies saw them a goal down within 2 minutes after failing to clear their lines from a corner. The game settled down with both sides looking dangerous on the attack. The Maggies should have scored on a couple of occasions but failed to hit the target. Midway through the half another Rotherham corner produced their second goal. This time there was nothing the Maggies could do, as an unstoppable shot, from a short corner, flew in to the roof of the Maggies net. The Maggies kept their heads up & finally got the breakthrough they deserved from yet another corner. The initial corner was laid back to Carly Rowlands who struck a great effort in to the far corner of the Rotherham goal. This spurred the girls on & with 5 minutes of the half remaining Emma Softley finished off a good Maggies move. There was still time for the Maggies to create another opening that should have seen them lead at half time but the effort was fired over the bar & so the teams went in level at the break.
The half time team talk went straight out of the window when two bad defensive errors saw Rotherham race in to a 4-2 lead with less than 10 minutes of the half played. The girls again rallied & good football was being played by both teams. The Maggies fought hard & with 10 minutes remaining Sharni Lewis fired in to the roof of the Rotherham net from 10 yards, after a goalmouth scramble, to give the girls hope. For all their efforts the Maggies couldn’t find an equaliser for the second time, & the Rotherham defence held solid to send the girls to another defeat. Another good performance from the girls apart from the opening minutes of each half. The fighting spirit typified by Sharni Lewis who again gained the Player of the Match award for her efforts. Points can’t be far away if the girls keep playing the football they did today & just cut out the defensive errors.

Saturday 10th October
Killamarsh 1 v 0 Maggies 

The Maggies came out the second half with much more determination & forced Killamarsh back for long periods. Unfortunately the girls best efforts were from long range shots, rarely troubling the Killamarsh keeper. One or two crosses gave the Maggies forwards chances but no-one was able to convert them. A good solid all round performance deserved to bring the girls at least their first point of the season, but once again they finished empty handed. It was a very difficult decision for Player of the Match, with a number of outstanding performances, but Sharni Lewis got the nod for her efforts over the past few weeks.The Maggie’s travelled the short distance to their near rivals for today’s game. Injuries & school commitments meant just 12 players were available for the game. Killamarsh started the brighter but the Maggies defence stood firm. After 10 minutes yet another injury forced the Maggies to re-shuffle the team, with 2 or 3 players having to play out of position. Just when it seemed the girls had re-organised & were looking comfortable a well taken goal by the Killamarsh winger put the Maggies behind, midway through the half. Both teams had plenty of the ball but created very few chances & the one goal was all that separated the teams at half-time.  

Saturday 3rd October
Maggies 1 v 4 Handsworth
The Maggie’s welcomed a side they know well, having had many good battles with one of the teams that also gained promotion last season. The girls started brightly kicking against a very strong wind, but with just seven minutes gone yet another defensive error cost the Maggie’s dear & they fell behind to another early goal. The Maggie’s kept trying to play football in very difficult conditions, that suited neither team. With the help of the wind Handsworth scored another goal before half-time & could have added a third when the ball rebounded back off the post.

With the wind behind them the Maggie’s fought hard to get back in to the game, but the Handsworth defence were holding strong. Midway through the half, quick thinking from Hayley Hirst who took a throw in that found Emma Softley in acres of space, she raced away from the defenders & calmly stroked the ball in to the bottom corner of the goal for the Maggie’s first goal of the season. This spurred the girls on even more & minutes later could have been level when Sharni Lewis followed up a fumble by the Handsworth keeper only to see her goal bound effort saved brilliantly by the keepers out stretched leg. For all their efforts the girls couldn’t find an equaliser & with ten minutes left a rare second half Handsworth attack saw them increase their lead & break the Maggie’s hearts. After last weeks “heroics” a rather subdued performance left the girls still looking for their first points of the season. One or two players being the exception, with Hayley Hirst getting the Player of the Match award for her non stop work & effort 
With a few minutes remaining they added a fourth to give them a rather flattering score line.

26th September
Doncaster Belles 9 v 0 Maggies
Due to illness throughout the squad the Maggies were able to field just 11 players for a game against the early league leaders. 3 or 4 of the girls getting off their sick beds to play. It was always going to be a tall order to get a result, even with a full squad, so the task facing the girls was immense, but one they faced with a tremendous amount of guts & determination. The Maggies fell behind in the fifth minute when a shot rebounded off the bar & bounced on the line, the Maggies keeper clawed the ball out but there was a Belles forward to give them the lead. Worse was to follow a few minute later when a Maggies player had to leave the field of play due to feeling sick & dizzy (the virus striking again!!). With no substitutes the Maggies battled with 10 players & matched the Belles, playing some great football, & just failed to find the net on a number of occasions. The girls were unfortunate to go in at half time 3-0 down, but had shown that they can compete with the best.For 15 minutes of the second half the Maggies defence held firm, but the heat & the fact that a number of girls were still recovering from illness took it’s toll. Two quick goals for Doncaster sealed the game & from then on it was just a case of how many they would get. The final score line of 9-0 doesn’t reflect how well the Maggies battled throughout the 80 minutes with such a depleted team. If they can play with the same drive & commitment, with a full squad, the first win won’t be far away. The team played that well that the Player of the Match went to ALL 11 PLAYERS. Even after such a heavy defeat the girls should be proud of their performance,  12th SeptemberMAGGIES 0  v  4 BARNSLEY The game started at a high tempo, considering the sweltering conditions, with Barnsley having the majority of the play. After just a couple of minutes the Maggies found themselves a goal down, when a mix up in the defence allowed a Barnsley forward to nip in & square the ball to a team mate for an easy tap in. This seemed to spur the girls on & some excellent football, from both sides, created an enjoyable game. Late in the half  the Barnsley left winger broke free of her marker & raced in to the box to fire a perfect shot into the bottom corner of the goal, to give Barnsley a 2 goal half time lead. The Maggies were still in the game & started the second half brightly, but just couldn’t find a breakthrough. After all their hard work a controversial goal ended the game as a contest, when a Barnsley forward ran clear of the Maggies defence, looking yards off-side, but unfortunately for the Maggies it wasn’t seen by the referee who played on, leaving the Barnsley player clear to coolly finish & give them a 3 goal advantage. To their credit the girls kept battling, coming close on a number of occasions to reduce the deficit, but in the final few minutes Barnsley added a fourth. The score line doesn’t reflect how even a game it was, but does show that in the top division you have to take your chances when they come along, as well as defending solidly & not making mistakes, or you will be punished as happened today. A good all round performance by the girls, but not the result, saw a number of players have a chance to earn  the Player of the Match award, but this went to Fabienne Dronfield for her excellent defending.
the management & parents are. Well Done Girls!!

A day more for sunbathing than playing football welcomed the girls to the new season. Having gained promotion last season, the Maggies find themselves in the top flight of girls football, looking to continue their excellent progress over the previous seasons. 

Maggies 1 v 2 Worksop
After last weeks trip to Worksop it was the Maggies turn to host the reverse fixture. The girls started the match brightly taking the game to Worksop, playing some good football. As in previous weeks the luck wasn’t with the girls & chance after chance either flashed wide of the Worksop goal or the keeper was there to make a save. Mid way through the half Worksop had a rare attack, their forward raced clear of the Maggies defence & made no mistake. The girls kept their heads up & again forced the Worksop team back in to their own half. However the Maggies forwards couldn’t find that finishing touch & went in at the break a goal down.