Wycombe Survive The Sirens Call

This Sunday BotP made the short journey down the M40 for the much-awaited meeting of the top two in the Southern region Premier league, and it certainly did not disappoint.
At the start of play home side Wycombe Wanderers sat atop the table having picked up 34 points from their 13 games. The only blemishes on their record so far had both come at the hands of Reading, who drew the away match and then followed it up with a 1-0 defeat of The Chairgirls at Arbour Park. Southampton Women's, their visitors, began the day eleven points adrift but with two games in hand.
The game was the first of four Wycombe fixtures that could well define the league season. Following the home match with The Sirens, Wycombe welcome third placed Winchester City next weekend, then visit Southampton and follow that up at home to AFC Portchester, who are also in the mix because of the sheer number of games they have in hand.
Having scored 60 league goals in their 13 outings, Wycombe have, far and away, the most potent strike force in the league. With 47 of the 60 in the league, the front three of Kayla Potter, Jessica Watkins and Chloe Melton, can pose a problem for any defence. However, with only five conceded on their travels, Southampton have already proven to be a stubborn defensive unit. Having recently lost goalkeeper Leah Etheridge to injury, the re-signing of former Sholing and Saints stopper Grace Jenman, could not have come at a better time for The Sirens.

---

Chloe Melton went close

​They say that defending starts from the front. Well, only four minutes into this game, Southampton proved that old adage to be correct. Keeping players high up the pitch, they were in a position to press the Wycombe defence as they tried to play out from the back. Olivia Glover dispossessed Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins, drove into the box and sent the ball whistling past Erin Radbourne. 0-1.
Whilst Wycombe tried to respond to the early setback, Southampton didn't let them settle into a rhythm, breaking up play well, getting a toe in and generally keeping the Wycombe attack out of the equation. In fact, The Sirens were almost two up after 11 minutes when Manisha Kaur sent a 35 yard free-kick dipping over Radbourne, only for the ball to clip the bar and go over. 
Just past the midpoint of the half, Chloe Ball let ply, sending a shot into the side-netting before, a few minutes later, Kaur again hit the target from way out. This time Radbourne was behind it and saved comfortably.
Wycombe's first major attempt came in the 25th minute when Chloe Melton hit the target but didn't unduly trouble Grace Jenman. Melton then did beat the goalkeeper, meeting a right-wing free-kick with her head, but sending the ball just over the bar. A very good effort and a little warning to Southampton.
The home side were beginning to make a few more inroads at this point, especially down the right where Jessica Watkins was looking to make things happen.
Having said that, Southampton did open up the home defence again on 36 minutes, when Glover was sent through by a precision through ball, only to send her effort wide of the mark. Two minutes later, with the first half-half ticking towards a close, Jenman was finally tested when Laura Hennessey fired a shot in, which the keeper parried for a corner.
There was no doubt that Wycombe were starting to come into the game more as the half continued, but Southampton's defence was standing firm and seemingly relishing the challenge. This was perfectly summed up by Chloe Tedman's roar of triumph when her tenacity caused Chloe Melton to send a cross over the bar.

HT Wycombe Wanderers 0 Southampton Women's 1. The Sirens were superb throughout the half, biting into tackles and making Wycombe work very hard to string passes together. It would be interesting to see if they could keep up the intensity level throughout the 90 minutes. 
During the break I caught up briefly with photographer Andy Wicks, who is now capturing the action for Wycombe. It's always good to chat with Andy, a big supporter of women's football and an excellent photographer into the bargain.

---

Bobby Lynch sent a header just wide

​Four minutes seems to be an optimum time in each half for The Sirens because, just as in the first half, they hit the net four minutes into the second period. Eliska Lynn's precision ball found Oliva Glover on the left. The tricky winger feigned to cut back before taking the ball past her defender, working enough space to send the ball flashing across the face of goal where Danielle Kjaer was running in unmarked to slam home the second goal. 0-2.
This was only the second occasion that Wycombe had conceded twice in a league match. The previous time was at Winchester when they had gone in 2-0 down at half-time, only to come back to win the game with three second half goals. Could they do it again?
To a certain extent, the second goal changed the pattern of the game. Wycombe immediately began to push Southampton back with the visitors looking fairly happy to defend their advantage. Wycombe were beginning to open up a few more chances though. Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins had a sight of goal on 53 minutes but sent her effort over the bar. Five minutes later Jenman produced a fantastic save to keep Wycombe out and then, just before the hour, Chloe Melton had the ball in the net from a right-wing corner, but the referee immediately signalled that she had put the ball in with the use of her arm. To be fair, there was little argument form Wycombe.
A few minutes later Jenman did well to hold onto a Jess Watkins strike and, a few minutes after that, the keeper was relieved to see Kimble's header flash marginally wide after a quick break up the right from Potter. In between those chances, Radbourne had been brave to throw herself at the feet of Ball when The Sirens got forward in an increasingly rare foray.
The incessant Wycombe attacks finally broke the Southampton defence in the 80th minute. Hoesli-Atkins sent over a ball from the left which allowed Kayla Potter to get in front of her defender, beating Jenman to the ball and running it over the line. 1-2.
Wycombe could sense a chance now but when captain Bobby Lynch was unfortunate to see her looping header drop wide of the far post, it was beginning to look like they'd left the comeback a little too late. That looked even more likely when, on 89 minutes, Kimble was sent to the sin-bin after saying too much to the referee. Wycombe were down to 10, and into added time. Cue Chloe Melton four minutes into added time. With the home side pressing forward, centre-half Cat Beaver found herself out on the left, sending over a cross that found Chloe Melton completely unmarked at the back post. Her powerful header left Jenman with no chance. 2-2.
There was still enough additional time for Kimble to re-enter the action. However, there was no more scoring before the referee drew a close to proceedings.

FT Wycombe Wanderers 2 Southampton Women's 2. What a game of football. Two very good sides going for it, with no quarter given. A fiercely competitive contest in which Southampton definitely held sway in the first half. Wycombe took control in the second, but only after going two goals down. In the end, a draw was probably the fairest result. Both sides should be proud of their performance and the fantastic entertainment served up.
The result keeps Wycombe top and ten points clear. However, Winchester's win against Sholing has lifted them into second spot, a point above Southampton. Next weekend Wycombe host Flyers in another top versus second clash. Southampton travel to Arbour Park to take on a Reading side who have won their last four in all competitions, and also won 3-1 at Test Park back in September.

Wycombe Wanderers: Radbourne, Harvey, Lynch(c), Beaver, Kern, Hoesli-Atkins, Hennessey, Hill, Watkins, Potter, Melton. Subs: Caralon, Mulvaney, Wardlaw, Kimble, Baker
Southampton Women's: Jenman, Kaur, Wort, Mear(c), Mills, Ball, Wright, Glover, Kjaer, Lyn, Tedman. Subs: Soares, Davies, Conti, Coulter

Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: N/A

---