Cambridge City lose by single goal to Watford Development in Eastern Region Women’s Premier Division encounter

Cambridge City Ladies remain rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Region Women’s Premier Division after a disheartening 1-0 home loss to Watford Development on Sunday, writes Robert Coe.

Crucially the Lilywhites failed to create any goalscoring chances of note, even though they matched the opposition for effort and endeavour – and now a second relegation in two seasons is looking a distinct possibility.

After the euphoria of the recent Women’s FA Cup run, manager Stewart Nicholls must look to raise the morale of the squad after this latest disappointment, as well as also finding a way for his young team to create chances in front of goal.

“For me, it was a must win game,” he said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t match the tempo of the Wroxham or Stevenage game.

“Our training this week was poor, and unfortunately, it showed today. We need this young squad to understand they can’t show up in ones and twos, they need to be a team every week.”

City started well, keeping possession and passing the ball confidently, and striker Faith Harrison was denied by the advancing goalkeeper in the first minute. They also had loud shouts for a penalty waved away before captain Jade Barratt hit a long-range shot that was comfortably saved.

However, against the run of play in the 11th minute the visitors scored with their first foray into the City penalty area with a simple passing move that exposed the Lilywhites’ centre-back pairing.

And despite dominating large parts of the game City, went down the tunnel at half-time in arrears and things did not change too much during the second half.

Nicholls added: “There were still a lot of plus points and we need to build on them. It didn’t quite click for us today in the final third. But we had enough chances to get the points.”

City host Bowers & Pitsea on Sunday (17 November).