December 2002 News

The Law of Sod prevailed as after more than a month of inactivity both sides' games were on against effectively the toughest opponents one could have chosen. The firsts travelled to Redhill with the bare eleven and were a goal down after 50 seconds, Tracey spilling a cross which we failed to clear and it was squared back for a simple tap in. After weathering another ten minutes pressure we gradually forced our way back into the game and had a great chance to equalise when Ellie sprinted clear of their defence but screwed her shot just past the post. She made no mistake a couple of minutes later as they failed to clear Carly's cross and she drilled home from short range. Things got even better as Rachael chipped in to give us a 2-1 lead, but we gifted them two goals in the last eight minutes of the half to go in 3-2 down at the break. Suitably fired up by the half time talk, we were rocked by two superb strikes in the first ten minutes of the second half, the second a 25 yarder into the top corner. At 5-2 down we could have folded, but the girls kept battling and with ten minutes to go Carly hammered in her own 25-yarder to reduce the deficit. As we piled players forward, Redhill were catching us on the break and it took a superb tip-over from Tracey to deny them another goal from distance. Liz slotted in from 10 yards just on the 90 minute mark, and Redhill were rocking during injury time as we went all out for the equaliser, but it was not to be. Despite the result, this game was a superb advert for the game at this level and the players should be proud of their part in it considering their long lay off without even being able to train.

The 2nds travelled to Brighton for the third attempt at their Reserves Cup quarter final, having conceded home advantage due to two postponements. Fielding a team with three new players, Ella, Simone & Liz Power, and not having played for seven weeks due to weather conditions this was always going to be a tough test. Brighton from the division above failed to show their class, and only made the game safe in the last twenty minutes as we tired. We were first off the mark as Liz scored the opening goal in extremely calm fashion for someone who claims never to have played football before! Soon after she had the opportunity to put us two up after good work from Nat, but miss-hit her shot wide of the far post. We were able to defend the lead until ten minutes from half time when Brighton scored twice in quick succession. The second half started more brightly with Becky lashing home an equaliser as Brighton failed to clear their lines. As we started to tire Brighton threw on three subs which we unable to cope with, and scored three more times until Liz gave us hope with her second of the game ten minutes from time. With time running out we conceded a penalty resulting in Roby leaving the field injured, but stand-in goalkeeper Terri saved the penalty. There was still time for Brighton to score a sixth and miss another penalty as we lost our shape. The ten remaining players were glad to hear the final whistle on a desperately cold, damp day. There were some fine performances during the game with Becky and Lisa in central midfield and Shanna playing as a makeshift centre back shining bright. It was a hard workout - one that we needed after all that time without a game. Final score Brighton 6 Boro 3. (thanks to Darren for this report)