Sheffield Wednesday Ladies await final position after defeat - top scorers and creators named
Rossington secured all three points as Sheffield Wednesday Ladies fell to a frustrating 1-0 loss in their final game of the season on Sunday.
The Owlesses’ campaign drew to a close in exasperating fashion as a second-half goal sealed the points for the home side. It means that Kieron Lee’s side will finish either fourth, fifth or sixth in the North East Regional Women’s Football League South.
It was a very end-to-end encounter from the get-go, with both sides struggling to assert themselves due to the poor standard of the pitch. Despite this, Wednesday looked the better of the two sides, however were missing that crucial quality in the final third.
The sides went into the break level, with a more clinical edge in front of goal required in order to find the breakthrough, though big chances had been few and far between.
The second half followed a similar trend, with the game continuing to be stretched and with lack of quality opportunities for both sides. Wednesday controlled possession, but it couldn’t make it stick in key attacking areas, making it easier for the hosts’ backline to fight them off.
Then, against the run of play, Rossington managed to find the back of the net. It was Alice Linsell who got it, opening the scoring in what had been a pretty even game of football.
One of those days
Though the visiting team pushed forward in search of an equaliser, the game continued in a similar manner to how it had played out prior to the goal - and ultimately Lee’s side were unable to find a breakthrough.
A late chance fell to Jodie Gregory, whose effort looked goal-bound, only for Rossington goalkeeper Niamh Trayner to pull off a wonder save and deny the Owlesses what would have been a deserved equaliser. It was going to be one of those days.
So that was how the game concluded, with SWLFC’s final outing of the 25/26 campaign ending in a narrow and frustrating defeat. It was a disappointing way to finish the season, especially with third place on the cards, but the work rate and determination of this squad couldn’t be faulted. Especially that of Alex Pruitt, who landed the Player of the Match award after a battling individual performance.
With that, a season of up-and-downs came to a close… As things stand, Wednesday Ladies look set for a fifth-place - though that depends on results elsewhere - and that’s a significant improvement on last year.
Across all competitions, it was attacker, Nicole Shaw, who finished up as the club’s top goalscorer with 11 to her name, one ahead of Amy Broomhead (10), while Rachel Norsworthy’s six assists saw her claim the title of top creator. Both Shaw and Broomhead contributed a total of 14 G/A, the highest of anyone in the side, while Imogen Yeardley - with her 20 appearances - went down as the most-used player.
Now, with a busy summer ahead, changes are expected at SWLFC - and they’ll be hoping to climb even further up the table come this time next year.
By Ollie Ledger