Her Team Her Dream

On Sunday, Andrea and I were joined by my mother-in-law and niece for our second visit to the Wham Stadium to watch the Accrington Stanley Women FC First Team in action. This time, it was a top-of-the-table clash in Division One North, with Accrington Stanley sitting in 3rd place and facing 2nd-place Penrith AFC Ladies. Penrith entered the match in an uncharacteristically poor run of form, having suffered two losses and a draw in their last three games. In contrast, Accrington were riding high on an impressive eight-game winning streak.

The game got off to a flying start for Accrington, as Erin Lavelle opened the scoring within the first minute. She picked up the ball on the left edge of the box and coolly slotted it past the Penrith goalkeeper. Just eight minutes later, Grace Hindley doubled the lead, this time cutting in from the right and sliding the ball under the keeper to make it 2-0. Accrington continued to dominate possession, with their wingers showcasing exceptional pace and control. On the 25th minute, Millie Dooley came close to adding a third, but her powerful shot was tipped over the bar by an outstanding save from the Penrith keeper. However, from the resulting corner, Jazmin Atterwood, found the back of the net, extending the lead to 3-0. Jazmin nearly added another just two minutes later, but her shot narrowly missed the target.

The goals continued to flow as Millie Dooley applied relentless pressure on the Penrith defense, winning the ball just outside their penalty area. With impressive composure, she turned and fired a precise shot into the net, extending Accrington’s lead to 4-0. Just before halftime, Accrington earned another corner. The ball was delivered into the box, and despite the Penrith keeper getting a hand to it, the ball fell to Melissa Adamson, who calmly slotted it home to give Accrington a commanding 5-0 lead at the break.

After halftime, the match took on a more competitive edge as Penrith came out with renewed energy and determination. They pressed higher up the pitch, won more aerial battles, and significantly raised their intensity, making the second half a much tighter affair compared to the first. It was a gripping spectacle, as both teams pushed hard, testing each other’s defenses. Penrith executed some excellent offside traps to prevent Accrington from adding to their tally. A potential sixth goal for Accrington was disallowed, despite the ball finding the back of the net. The second half also saw a series of impressive saves by Accrington’s goalkeeper, Justine Elliott, who played a crucial role in preserving a well-earned clean sheet.

Huge congratulations to Accrington Stanley Women FC on an outstanding victory and moving up to second place in the table! It was a stellar performance from the entire team—well done!

Heading into this match, I hadn’t done much research into the specific rules of the game—I thought I had a solid grasp of football’s basics. So, I was genuinely confused when one of the Penrith players received a yellow card and was subsequently sent off the pitch. For a moment, I wondered if the referee had shown the wrong colour by mistake. After a while, my curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to look it up. That’s when I discovered the concept of the “sin bin.” While I assume most of my readers are familiar with this rule, as someone who hasn’t been involved in grassroots football before, it was entirely new to me. I’ve since taken the time to read more about it on Sin Bins | England Football.

Personally, I think this is a fantastic rule! It’s always bothered me how referees are treated in football—not just by players, but by pundits, the media, fans, and pretty much everyone. Being a referee is an incredibly challenging role, filled with immense pressure, and they’re only human. Mistakes are inevitable. For me, that’s just part of the game—sometimes decisions go your way, sometimes they don’t. Learning to accept that reality is crucial, and showing dissent toward a referee isn’t an appropriate reaction. The sin bin rule feels like a step in the right direction, promoting respect and accountability on the pitch.

One other thing I’d like to mention—while I was there supporting Accrington Stanley, there were some standout players from Penrith that I’d love to recognise by name. However, I’ve struggled to find the information I need. This isn’t a criticism, as I know there’s a lot of hard work behind the scenes, and I’m admittedly spoiled by how well Accrington Stanley shares their updates. 

That said, as someone new to this league, I think it would be really helpful to have access to details like squad numbers and player listings for each team. It would make following the games more enjoyable and recognising players much easier!