| Match Report |
Following the league re-shuffle, the team were looking forward to pitting their wits against new opposition, Whitchford Colts. Batteries have been regenerated and it is clear some of our players have been practicing over Christmas, with Alfie and Vale in particular showing real signs of improvement. For the first quarter we kicked uphill, with Mia in goal, Albie and Alfie in defence, Samuel (left), Rhys (middle) and Frankie in midfield and Patrick as the striker. We started superbly, playing some lovely football through the thirds and dominating the play. One of these occasions saw Albie win the ball before playing a great pass into Rhys, who broke through the midfield and the opponents defence, aided by intelligent movement from Patrick, before calmly slotting the ball past the onrushing keeper. Patrick played really well in the forward role and was unlucky not to score, the Witchford goalkeeper having a good game. When the replacements arrived, Alex for Sam and Vale for Frankie, the performance levels didn’t drop. It is a sign of Vale’s improvement that one of our greatest threats was from his corners, but it was good work from Alex, winning the ball deep in the opponent’s half, that enabled Rhys to increase the lead. In the last seconds of the quarter Witchford won their first corner and they unjustly halved the deficit when a good delivery to the back post found two players unmarked, one of which scored off the post from close range. Onto the second quarter and again we were kicking uphill. Rhys replaced Mia in goal and Frankie replaced Alfie alongside Albie. Mia played left midfield, with Sam now in the middle (until replaced by Alfie) and Patrick (until replaced by Vale). Alex played as striker. Again we had good control of the game and after some great dribbling from Patrick, Alex fed a pass into Samuel’s path and he got his first goal of the season with a smart finish. Witchford grew into the game, though, playing with players behind our defensive line that was something we were slow to comprehend and deal with. The scoreline was only kept as it was by a penalty save by Rhys following a bizarre award of a penalty. Albie was showing a great deal of confidence on the ball, but was crowded out by four Witchford players and they were able to capitalise. We remained vulnerable to Witchford corners and from another of these Witchford were awarded a second penalty. This time they were not to be denied and half time saw the scores level. Onto the third quarter and Mia returned to goal. Patrick and Samuel were now in defence, with Alfie (left), Albie (centre, until replaced by Frankie) and Alex (until replaced by Rhys) in midfield and Vale looking for goals. The match had now become a much more even affair. We continued to build well from the goalkeeper, with Samuel and Patrick taking up some excellent positions and playing some great passes to move us forward. Vale was unlucky not to open his account for the season, as was Alfie. Unfortunately, one of Mia’s balls to the defence from a goal kick was great, but the speed with which she restarted the game meant that the Witchford players had not retreated and the pressure they were immediately able to affect robbed us of the ball and saw them score. Some generous time keeping also saw us concede again, which wasn’t a fair reflection at all on the quarter. Onto the last phase and Rhys donned the gloves, protected by Vale and Alex. Frankie played left wing and, whilst appointing himself a roaming role, played like a man possessed. Patrick played in central midfield until replaced by Alfie and Mia started left midfield before being replaced by Albie, with Samuel the forward. We were again on top, with Alex adopting a very forward defensive position and Vale playing superbly in defence clearing up any counter attacks. Like Vale, it is a sign of Mia’s improvement with the ball at her feet that we also threatened from her corners and our dominance was eventually rewarded after good work from Frankie saw Sam feed the ball to Patrick who produced a tidy finish. Further chances were created to complete what would have been a deserved comeback, but instead a counter attack saw the lead stretched and there it ended. As always, the result is irrelevant (even if with rub of the green we would have won today) and I was immensely proud of they performed, individually and as a team. Real improvements are being made by all of them. Anyone could have been given player of the match today, but it was awarded to Samuel because he claimed not to have had it this season yet (although I am sure that isn’t the case!). Well done everyone.
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