Chelmsford boss bemoans inexperience after relegation

CHELMSFORD manager Lisa Baillie has blamed her side's demise on a lack of experience after the Essex side were consigned to relegation following a 3-1 defeat at Clifton.

Her side have been battling it out with Ipswich all season to avoid the drop, but the East Anglian side's 2-0 victory over Poynton condemned Chelmsford to the drop.

 "We have lost too many players over the last couple of years, including three internationals and another three or four through retirement," she said.

"Half of this season's team were 16 or 17-year-olds and we just didn't have the experience to cope.

"We are very hopeful of returning to the Premier Division but we have to keep the squad together and most importantly of all we need a goalscorer."

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Goals from Leisa King and a Lizzy Aldous gave Ipswich only their second win of the season, taking their points tally to eight.

And despite Libby Knifton's equaliser in the 19th minute for Chelmsford, they conceded further goals from Carla Dunnett and Carys Hopkins to leave them on four points and seal their fate.

Ipswich will now battle it out with the winners of the Conference East, North and West divisions in the play-offs to decide which two teams will play in the Premier Division next season.

At the other end of the table, Bowdon, who have already wrapped up the league title, continued their astonishing 100 per cent record with a 2-1 win over Slough, thanks to Sara-Jo Coakley and Tina Cullen strikes.

In the race for the coveted European place, rivals Olton & West Warwicks and Canterbury drew 2-2 to leave the birth wide open going into the final game.

Cathy Gilliat-Smith's opener for Canterbury was cancelled out by Denise Marston-Smith and Holly Chipman goals, before a Mel Clewlow penalty corner ensured the points were shared.

Lucy Brown and Amy Sheehan scored as Leicester and Trojans played out a 1-1 draw.

DAVID BOXER