Birmingham City LFC 1 Millwall Lionesses 0

Millwall Lionesses missed out on a valuable three points on their return to league action when they slipped to a one nil defeat against Birmingham City Ladies at Stratford Town FC.
A first half goal from Isabel Christiansen sealing the victory for the home side.
In their first league fixture of 2010 The Lionesses made several changes to the team that had started against Chelsea in their previous match.
Lindsey Morgan came back into the starting XI
, Carly Eagles returned to the squad along with promising teenager Kerrie-Ann Gee, whose impressive performances for the reserves were rewarded by making the step up to the senior squad.
On Sunday it was
Birmingham who started the brighter and as early as the third minute skipper Sally Stanton headed over from a Jo Potter corner with the first real chance of the game.
Millwall nearly went behind on six minutes with an own goal when an under pressure Sinead Boyer headed the ball powerfully towards goalkeeper Claire Lacey at close range leaving Lacey little time to react.
The Blues continued to press Millwall back with both Saulter and Christiansen firing in shots at goal
.
The Lionesses carved out their first scoring opportunity on 15 minutes when keeper Sue Wood did well to keep out Leah Jones' long-range effort.
There were claims from the home side for a penalty from a hand ball
by Sarah Jones, but these were waved away by the referee. 
Birmingham took the lead on 36 minutes when Saulter crossed the ball from the right hand side
and Christiansen made no mistake to volley into the net from six yards.
Having taken the lead The Blues tried to add to their advantage with a chance falling to McCann
whose shot under pressure was saved by Claire Lacey.
Jo Potter was also denied when her long range shot was kept out by the Lacey's fingertips turning the ball over the bar at full stretch.
Millwall almost
equalised on the stroke of half time when smart play between Lindsey Morgan and Victoria Boardman saw the latter play a long ball to the far post which was inches away from the outstretched leg of Leah Jones.
The Lionesses came out into the second period in a far more determined mood and almost immediately made an impact when a shot by Leah Jones was held by goalkeeper Sue Wood.
Frustrated by the defen
sive resolve of Millwall, Birmingham were reduced to firing from distance with first Jo Potter and then Sian Larkin having shots from  30 yards flying wide of the goal.
Millwall made a double substitution 20 minutes from time with Lauren Phillips and Victoria Boardman making way for Jordan Butler and Kerrie-Ann Gee.
Th
is was shortly followed with manager Aidan Boxall's last substitution which saw Emma Beckett replaced by Carly Eagles.
As the game went into stoppage time The Lionesses forced two corners in quick succession but couldn't find the killer touch to get the all important
equaliser.

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Millwall Lionesses: Claire Lacey, Dionne Lennon, Sarah Jones, Sinead Boyer, Meghan McKeag, Emma Beckett (Carly Eagles), Lizzie Edwards, Victoria Boardman (Kerrie-Ann Gee), Leah Jones, Lauren Phillips (Jordan Butler) Lindsey Morgan.