Cambridge City improve during second half of opening-day defeat to Watford

An under-cooked Cambridge City Ladies suffered a 2-0 opening-day league defeat at Watford Ladies Development, despite a spirited second-half performance from a team that featured 10 new faces, writes Robert Coe.

A difficult pre-season with late managerial changes meant the Lillywhites were slow starters, which in turn allowed the home team to take the lead. A change of formation at half-time worked as Stewart Nicholls’ side had chances to equalise but were dealt a sucker punch when Watford doubled their lead against the run of play.

The hosts started the stronger in the Eastern Region Premier Division encounter and City found it difficult to get out of their half.

Nevertheless, City had the first chances with shots by Sophie Billing and a long-range effort by captain Jade Barratt, the only remaining player from last season.

Watford came back though, and with City unsuccessfully appealing for handball in the box, Rebecca Lovelace picked up the loose ball and guided her shot into the bottom right-hand corner to open the scoring.

In response, City almost equalised on the stroke of half time when Barratt sent in a dangerous free kick which was well saved on the goal line.

After the break Nicholls tweaked the formation and moved Natasha Coe – a recent loan signing from Cambridge United – into the middle of attack and she soon caused the Watford goalkeeper to hurry her clearance with a dangerous ball over the top.

Barratt looked to have levelled on 53 minutes with her shot aiming for the top corner before being saved by the Watford goalkeeper’s fingertips, before Isobel Hayes then had an another effort on goal.

City had started the half on top but the home side doubled their lead when Jessie Yawitch found herself unmarked on the six-yard line to score from a corner on the hour.

Nicholls said: “We have only one first-team player from last season. It has been really difficult with relegation last season and a change in management quite late into pre-season.

“With so many changes, we are working hard to get the team to gel together. I thought we started a little off the pace, but picked it up after ten minutes and started to play some nice football and created some chances. I thought we were unlucky to come in at half time 1-0 down.

“The second half was better. We picked up the intensity and were working hard to get a goal, I thought we were starting to get on top.

“As we are a completely new team of players, we are looking to finish in the top half of the league.”

City will host Royston at The New Croft in Haverhill on Sunday (25 August).