November 2003 News

The new drainage at the Alderbrook did its job as the firsts' League Cup tie was played despite the heavy rain during the week. Other good news included the (somewhat miraculous) return of Michelle, only three weeks after sustaining ligament damage at Palace. Any lingering memories of the awful performance at Dover were dispelled on 4 minutes when Rachael was given time to pick her spot and lashed a 30-yard screamer into the top corner to give us the lead. Unfortunately, we then went off the boil and Abbey enjoyed 10 minutes of possession which culminated in Wendy Grant hitting a very similar goal to Rachael's to level the scores. We regained the lead midway through the half with another long range effort, this time from Sam, and then the floodgates opened: Rachael got the third from 15 yards after Sam's corner wasn't properly cleared, Sam was then put clear of the defence and superbly chipped the keeper as she came off her line, Ellie then got her first, shotting low into the far corner from Cha's cut-back and then doubled her tally just before the break after again racing clear of the defence.

The fifteen-minute rainstorm which hit towards the end of the half made conditions difficult, but it was the visitors who looked much the better side for a good twenty minutes, pulling a goal back as Grant anticipated Tracey Naden struggling to hold her well-struck free kick, and was first to the loose ball to tuck it into the net from close range. Ten minutes later, Sam restored our advantage as she beat the keeper to Ellie's through ball to score from ten yards and complete her hat-trick, and soon after got her fourth, again from Ellie's pass and chipped the keeper from 20 yards. Ellie then got her hat-trick as she latched onto Michelle's long clearance and beat the keeper with a low shot. Her fourth came from the penalty spot after she was pushed by the keeper when through on goal, and Liz rounded off the scoring with yet another trademark header from Sam's corner.

The 2nds were knocked out of the Reserves' Cup 4-1 at Woodstock, but the scoreline doesn't accurately reflect what was a close-fought game. Terri had the luxury of 11 players available, but after conceding a couple of soft goals were 2-1 behind with 10 minutes to play. With nothing to lose, she decided to go all-out for the equaliser but it didn't pay off as Woodstock took advantage of the extra space to make the result safe.

As predicted, the firsts lost at high-flying SE Combination leaders Crystal Palace, but the scoreline doesn't reflect a battling second half which for long periods we were the better side. Due to injuries and illness we drafted in Elaine and Hannah Marshall, neither of whom had played for us since the university term started in October. Palace came out all guns blazing from the kick off, pinning us in our third for pretty much the first fifteen minutes, during which they went into a 3-0 lead. Winning a corner from one of our first attacks, Michelle went up and never returned, damaging ankle ligaments after landing awkwardly going for the header. Cha dropped to centre back with Elaine coming into midfield, and Palace took full advantage as we reorganised, hitting two more quick goals to leave us 5-0 down with only just over 20 minutes played! However, unlike last week, the players responded positively and battled hard, keeping a clean sheet for the remaining time without really creating anything to threaten the Palace goal. Another quick goal just after the break threatened to undermine our confidence but we raised our game for the remainder of the match, gaining the upper hand both in terms of possession and territorial advantage, restricting Palace to hitting us on the break. Our best ten minutes saw Ellie rifle a shot over the bar and Sam go close with two free kicks before we got the goal our hard work deserved, Ellie beating three players and with her shot only half blocked by the Palace keeper, Elaine tucked the ball away at the far post. With the players basking in their new-found confidence, we were hit by a sucker punch right at the death, Laura being outpaced by their right winger who whipped the ball in for their striker to squeeze the ball in at the far post.

The seconds, missing Kirsty and Nat out injured with Nikola and Louise making their debuts, were again only able to field ten players and went down to their heaviest defeat of the season.

The firsts went down to their heaviest home defeat since December 1991 as they were totally destroyed by a rampant Woking side who look clear title favourites for this season. After conceding a soft early goal as Laura was outpaced by their nippy right winger Gemma Lee, we equalised straight away as Cha rose unchallenged from Sam's corner to power a header into the far corner. However, we lost Tina after only ten minutes as she turned her ankle in one of the drainage ruts and for the next twenty minutes it was panic stations as we struggled to get out of our half. The pressure eventually told with Woking's second goal, Vinny Clifford being allowed to run unchallenged right through the midfield before hammering the ball past Tracey from 20 yards.We then regained a little composure and held them out until just before half time when a neat move on the edge of the box played in Lee for her second. After regrouping at half time, we came out much more positively and looked the better side for 10 minutes, pulling a goal back quickly through Ellie, but they soon restored the 2-goal advantage and a penalty conceded by Laura as Lee again threatened on goal made the result safe. Unfortunately as the heavens opened with half an hour to play, our self respect and team spirit washed away and many players were guilty of just giving up as Woking tore us to pieces, scoring another three goals and missing enough chances to have scored another five. Hopefully we'll learn from this frankly awful experience as we have even tougher opposition this coming weekend.

Despite only being able to field ten players, the 2nds held leaders Crawley Wasps to 1-1 at half time, and even after losing Kirsty and Nat Waller to injury kept the score to a respectable 3-1 defeat. Our first half scorer was Lisa.