March 2003 News

Woking deservedly took the three points as they dominated today's game at Sheerwater, but they had to come from behind in the second half to do so. We got off to a dreadful start, conceding a soft unchallenged header from a free kick after only two minutes. All looked set for a Woking rout as we consistently gave the ball away and struggled to break out of our half in the early stages. However, we gradually got into the game, with first Cha's audacious overhead kick headed off the line with the keeer beaten, and then Ellie was set free after about twenty minutes but the ball bobbled horribly as she tried to control it and ran away for a goal kick. Despite all Woking's possession they weren't really creating much and almost on the stroke of half time we got the break we needed, Ellie again getting clear of the defence and this time hitting the target. Just after the break we were ahead, Ellie's persistence when challenged by a defender and their goalkeeper paying off when the keeper made an awful hash of collecting the ball which left her able to fire in from close range. Woking's heads dropped and we then had our best spell, with two more decent chances well saved by a combination of keeper and defender. The turning point came with an injury to Ellie, and as she was off the pitch the home side upped their game, and midway through the half got behind us for the equaliser. Contraversy about fifteen minutes from the end as Spike had a no-brainer and didn't look across for offside as they broke clear, but luckily for us the ref ruled out their 'goal' after checking why he hadn't flagged. However they wrapped up the points a couple of minutes from time as a dangerous Gemma Lee cross was turned in by Emma Constable.

For a second week in a row the 2nds endured a ten-a-side game, this time against Buxted. Fielding the most inexperienced team of the season, including five players who together barely totalled a dozen appearances between them, combined with a dusty, bobily pitch and a warm day this was always going to be a game short on quality. Playing down the hill in the first half we had the large share of possession, but due to lack of confidence we never found our shooting range. With no score at the break and playing up hill in the second half it looked like it would be hard work. Buxted started to come more into the game and were rewarded with the only goal when Roby miskicked. The ball landed at the feet of the Buxted striker who went on to finish. The result was hard on us, as we worked hard and had chances late on to equalise but their keeper saved well from Terri and other chances went begging. A draw would have been a fair result, but a mistake or wonder goal was always going to decide this match. Lisa was rightly named man of the man for a superb, energetic performance in central midfield, and Lois who had a good full debut, was the pick of the new players. Final score: Boro 0 Buxted 1 (thanks to Darren for 2nds report)

OK, courtesy of Woody's birthday and cakes provided for said occasion, maybe there was some fun in the sun!

2nds LR (Little Fran, Claire, Lois, Steph, Tanya, Darren, El Tel, Little Nat, Even Littler Lisa, Roby, Tracy K, Woody)

The firsts completed the formality of winning at Lashings, a side who had only scored three League goals all season, but put in a performance so pedestrian that they were given a fright towards the end. Despite the gulf in quality between the sides being apparent from the start, the players seemed to treat the game as a training exercise although the oppressive heat may have also contributed to the slow pace of the game. After a few missed chances we finally took the lead through Sam, her sublime chip from 20 yards giving the keeper no chance. Ellie doubled the lead ten minutes later, some quick footwork in the box giving her the space to shoot home from short range. Carly replaced Nat at half time and we went to 3-5-2, which with hindsight was a mistake formation-wise as we seemed to lack cohesion and the opposition came more into the game. With fifteen minutes left and no change to the score, the inevitable happened - we conceded a soft free kick on the edge of the box which was hit firmly into the top corner, bringing them right back into the game. We lived extremely dangerously as they threw players forward in search of an equaliser, and another free kick shortly afterwards ricocheted off Tracey and the post before we managed to clear, with several Lashings steaming in to touch the ball over the line. Right at the death Ellie got her second to make things safe, a nicely weighted through ball from Cha sending her clear of their defence to beat the keeper one-on-one.

The 2nds entertained Redhill in a ten-a-side game with both teams struggling for players. We were always in control throughout the match with TC holding the midfield together, and Amy making her comeback after over 4 months out looking extremely composed at the back. Redhill worked hard but lacked a cutting edge upfront. Both our goals came from Nat during the first half. TC made a good run and shot which was palmed away by the keeper only for Nat to dive in to finish. The other goal came after good work from Lisa, playing out wide to accommodate TC in the centre of midfield, her run and cross being met by Nat, again from a few yards out. Nat was poleaxed in the penalty area soon after, but the referee seemed unable, or unwilling to give a penalty to the incredulity of most witnesses. Becky also went close with a 30 yard powerdriver which smashed against the crossbar. During the second half we should have added more goals with several players going close. We never looked in any danger at the back with Roby seldom employed. A good performance thoughout the side. With Lewes being hammered 6-1 at Castle we can't now finish bottom unless we let in over 30 goals in our last few games. (thanks to Darren for 2nds report)

The 2nds picked up their first point since October against a battling Lewes side and a number of extremely dubious offside decisions. Right from the start it was obvious the Lewes defence would struggle against pace as Nat got away after two minutes to open the scoring with a toe-poke from 10 yards which rolled under the keeper into the net in slow motion. As Lewes struggled to contain her, only poor timing and the increasingly familiar sight of a raised linesman's flag prevented further chances. It was with delicious irony, then, after two dreadful decisions when she was definitely behind the last defender, that the flag was overruled with Nat a good couple of yards offside and she raced clear to double the score while the entire Lewes side screamed for the offside rather than trying to tackle her. The balance of the game was shifting, though, as the defence were slow pushing out and the midfield struggled to retain possession, and Lewes inevitably pulled a goal back ten minutes from half time.

The second half saw Lewes very much more dominant, employing a sweeper to deal with Nat's runs which worked perfectly as she spent much of the half in a deeper position and any long ball over the top was dealt with easily. The equaliser came within ten minutes of the restart with another slow motion goal, a prodded effort through a crowd of bodies creeping past Roby's hand as she saw the ball too late to adjust. A couple of minutes later and the visitors were ahead - a scuffed clearance falling at the feet of their striker who lashed a superb volley into the top corner from the edge of the box. Heads were down and another defeat looked likely, but the players rallied for the last fifteen minutes and played their best football of the match for the remainder. First Nat turned her marker and got away, the linesman flagged but was overruled, but with just the keeper to beat shot right at her; then in an almost identical move (with another appalling offside being flagged and again being overruled) Nat got away again but a defender got across to concede a corner. Fran's floated ball was perfect for Becky who powered her header in from a couple of yards. Chances were missed at both ends in the final minutes as both sides went for the win, but in the end a draw was a fair result.

The firsts put the disappointment of Thursday behind them with a comprehensive beating of the reigning League Champions who were also the only team to beat us at the Alderbrook last season. After an even first few minutes, we took the lead through Francesca's first Premier Division goal as she tucked the ball home from close range after the Malling defence failed to deal with a cross. However, Malling were back on terms midway through the half as Nicky Penfold managed to turn away from Michelle and prod the ball past Tracey as she raced off her line. After the goal we retreated into our shells rather and let Malling dominate possession, but despite our apparent lack of interest they were unable to create any chances of note. We then picked up the game once more, and Ellie gave us back the lead ten minutes before the break, outpacing the defence and hitting a low shot past the keeper.

With the strong breeze at our backs in the second half, Malling struggled to get the ball forward and we began to increase the pressure. After a couple of half chances, they conceded a free kick about 20 yards out which Sam curled into the near corner with the keeper flailing helplessly. A few minutes later it was 4-1, Sam's inswinging corner being helped over the line by the shins of a Malling defender (Sam reckons it was in anyway, although the ref put it down as an OG - anyone else care to comment?). We then had a series of three penalty claims turned down by the ref, the most blatant being a knee-high challenge on Liz for which the offender was awarded the free kick. Ellie, however, had the last word, slotting in her second after taking the ball around the keeper a few minutes from the end.

The 2nds missing keeper Roby and only able to muster 10 players went down 0-6 at home to League leaders Upper Beeding. Beeding themselves were reduced to ten players late in first half when one of their players twisted her ankle making it ten a side for the rest of the game. By this point we were already 2-0 down after making a slow start to the game. The second half started much better with more determination and zest about our play but we only ever showed glimpses of quality football. Beeding showed better composure than when we played them two weeks ago and moved the ball around well in midfield. Beeding scored four more in the second half as we became overrun. Two of the goals were superbly struck from outside the box and the last goal came in the final minutes when Kerry made a brave sliding tackle only to divert the ball past Terri and just the wrong side of the post. We had our
chances with player of the match Shanna instrumental in most of our moves. Sometimes hard work alone just isn't enough against good teams. (thanks to Darren for 2nds report)