Birmingham City began life in the Barclays Women’s Championship with a frustrating goalless draw against Lewes at St Andrew’s on Sunday afternoon.
Chances were few and far between as both teams looked for their first points of the new season. It was a very cagey affair with neither side wanting to commit too much in the first game of the season.
Both teams operated in 3-5-2 formations with 13 debutants between the two sides. Birmingham City included six of their summer signings in the starting 11 – Lucy Thomas, Martha Harris, Siobhan Wilson, Ashley Hodson, Charlie Devlin, and Tara Bourne while Mollie Green was on the bench.
Lewes had seven debutants themselves in their squad, those being Emily Kraft, Sophie Whitehouse, Amber Stobbs, Josie Longhurst, Nat Johnson, Libby Copus Brown and Emma Thompson.
The home side started brightly and controlled the early stages of the game. A header from Hodson in the centre of the box was claimed by Lewes keeper Sophie Whitehouse.
Wilson, who was a considerable threat all game, had the next chance when she combined with fellow debutant Harris. She whipped in a cross from the right which found Wilson’s head but she couldn’t generate enough power and her effort was comfortably saved.
The visitors almost broke the deadlock when Ellie Mason’s header was tipped over the bar by Thomas in the Birmingham City goal.
Izzy Dalton had a couple of sights of Thomas’s goal but her resulting right foot shots were blocked and dragged wide of the right-hand post.
Devlin then went on a mazy run before Whitehouse came and gathered her in-swinging cross. At the other end, Harriet Scott blocked a shot from Stobbs, forcing the ball out for a corner.
As half-time approached, there was time for Kraft to have a shot on goal from outside the box but her effort narrowly missed the target.
Harris had the first opportunity of the second half, charging down the right wing and firing a powerful left-footed drive towards goal but the ball was claimed by Whitehouse.
Thomas was again called into action in what would have been a contender for Goal of the Season. Lewes winger Paula Howells spotted the Blues keeper off her line, swivelling on the ball, she fired a left-footed shot from just outside the box. Thomas got back quickly and tipped the ball over the bar.
The game started to open up in the final stages. With Lewes tiring, it helped the passing possession game of the hosts. Harris looked to profit but she failed to wrap her foot around the ball and on her less preferred right foot, the shot was dragged wide. Christie Murray then hit a teasing cross into the Lewes box, a deflection made it easy for Whitehouse to gather the ball.
Next came the best chance of the game for the Blues. Pennock raced towards the Lewes defence, sliding a neat pass through to Libby Smith but her effort was pushed away by Whitehouse.
Birmingham City searched for a winner and nearly found one through Pennock. A corner caused absolute chaos in the Lewes box and the ball fell the way of Pennock whose strike cannoned back of the crossbar before the ball was cleared to safety.
It’s safe to say Birmingham City would be the more disappointed of the two sides as the promotion contenders chase a return to the top flight. Credit must go to the away side who battled throughout the second half and were worthy of their point.
Next weekend sees Birmingham City travel to The Stadium of Light to face Sunderland while Lewes face newly-promoted Southampton at The Dripping Pan.
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