November 2002 News

As expected, the firsts progressed in their League Cup tie against lower division opponents, but made hard work of the result as the hosts battled gamely throughout and showed greater desire for most of the game than our own players. Initially, everything was going to plan as Cha gave us the lead with only three minutes played, cutting inside from a left wing run and shooting over the keeper from a narrow angle. After that, however, the script was torn up as Senacre equalised a couple of minutes later, some shambolic defending allowing two players to ghost into the box unmarked, one of whom converted from close range as the ball was crossed in. A scrappy 20 minutes ensued with little action of note before Michelle popped up to regain the lead, firing in from the edge of the box as Senacre's defenders failed to properly clear Carly's cross. Soon after it was 3-1, Michelle again on target, but then blotted her copybook by opening her big gob and getting booked after Kerry conceded a penalty which brought them back into the game. After sustaining several kicks to the ankle, Cha was replaced 5 minutes before half time by Sam, with Liz switching to a central role.

Right from the restart we looked more positive, and as Senacre's tackling got more desperate we won a series of free kicks in their third, the most central of which Michelle chipped into the top corner for her hat-trick. A few minutes later it was 5-2, their goalkeeper bringing down Ellie who put away the penalty herself. With Carly raiding down the right wing and Sam sweeping diagonal balls behind their defence, more goals looked on and Rachael profited after a scramble in the box, with Carly having the last word herself, bundling home at the far post after the keeper failed to hold a cross-shot. We've been drawn away to Tackleway in the next round, and will have to play far better than this to progress any further in the competition.

The 2nds League game at home to Lewes was called off by Jarvis Brook this morning due to the state of the pitch.

After three inactive weeks our cup tie at QPR was finally given the green light - as we were all in the car park and some of us were already travelling! Other than that aggro, the journey there was uneventful and the pitch looked in decent shape so a good game looked on. From the start, we forced them backwards and dominated the first 20 minutes, TC especially looking dangerous down the left flank. Unfortunately after 15, Woody slipped as she was coming out to collect a routine ball and suffered a bad knee ligament injury which required a stretcher and hospital visit. As the outfield were doing so well, Terri was pressed into service as emergency keeper and within a few minutes had to make a couple of fine saves with her feet as the QPR strikers tried to take advantage of the change. Just on the half hour they got their breakthrough - Terri made another fine save from an initial shot, but her clearance fell at the feet of another unmarked attacker who drilled the ball low into the corner. Within a couple of minutes it was 2-0, their right back being allowed to run unchallenged to the corner of the box where she curled a classy lob into the corner. After a rocky few minutes we finally got it back together and much of the final few minutes of the half the hosts were asgain forced to defend.

The second half again was an even affair, our best chance falling to Cha a few yards out, but she was unable to get sufficient force behind her shot and the keeper scrambled the ball off the line. As we tired, QPR got more of the run of the midfield and had a good spell midway through the half when they hit the bar and forced Terri into a world class point blank stop low to her left. We were still pressing right until the end, but our failing was really one of creativity and their disciplined back four dealt with most we threw at them. In the final minutes, a suicidal square ball from Cha straight to their striker gifted them their third goal which gave the scoreline a slightly flattering margin.

All in all, this was a good measure of how we've progressed since relegation from the Combination - we matched one of the best teams in that league for most of the game despite playing a fair bit below our best.