October 2002 News

The firsts eventually overcome the Division's bottom club comfortably but took almost an hour to get into the game. After a pretty lamentable first half in which the only real events of note were a superb save by their keeper from a Sam Shearman rocket shot, our penalty on 30 minutes converted by Cha, and two bookings for them for (a) whining about the pen and (b) whining about the ref overruling their awful linesperson. The second half was much better, and we went further ahead eight minutes in when Ellie outpaced their defence and took the ball around the keeper. Sam popped up with another trademark chip for the third ten minutes later, Rachael hit the fourth after Ellie had been driven wide by a combination of keeper and defender but pulled the ball back from the touchline, and Michelle got her first of the season after some pinball in the box with a combination of keeper and post denying first Ellie and then Rachael before Michelle knocked in the rebound. Carly played her first 1st team game since 1998 and gave Lashings all sorts of problems down the right touchline.

The 2nds entertained Meadow Sports at home this weekend in a mid-table tussle. Starting with only ten players again this week we could have taken the lead early on when a superb right-wing cross from Fran was met at the far-post by a thunderous header from Nat that rattled the cross-bar. Soon after Shanna made a good run from the half-way line and was well tackled on the edge of the penalty area. Guilty of not releasing the ball sooner she paid the ultimate price when the defenders' follow through caught her and we were reduced to nine men as she hobbled off unable to continue. Worse was to follow - Lisa tried to block a shot on the edge of the area, only to find the referee in her way. By the time she had closed the Meadow player down the shot was despatched and the goal scored. Meadow doubled their lead from a corner. On the edge of the six yard box at the near post Fran inadvertedly diverted the ball into her own net as she tried to clear for another corner. With their tails up, Meadow piled on the pressure and got a third with an unstoppable shot from outside the area. When most teams would have folded the girls again passed the test of resilience. Liz carved through the Meadow defence who drove her wide, but from an acute angle she hit her shot into the far bottom corner of the net to score a great individual goal.

At half-time goalkeeper Roby jetted off abroad and a re-shuffle in the defence took place. Now down to eight players Terri took over in goal with Laura switching from left-back to centre-back and Becky slotted into her vacated position. Playing a 3-3-1 formation the players' hard work was nothing short of brilliant. The defence sheparded by Laura, with full-backs Tania and Becky protected Terri in goal leaving her little to do. The midfield trio of Fran, Liz and Lisa were outstanding and Nat up-front alone always kept the Meadow backline guessing. Meadow only added one goal in the second half, truly unjust as we created the best chances during that period. The final score of Boro 1 Meadow 4 does not tell the full story of this match. All the players should take great confidence from a superb second-half performance.

The 1st team got over last week's disappointment with what was ultimately a comfortable win at Ringmer, but are still not back to playing our best football. We dominated straight from the kick off though this week, and took the lead on ten minutes, TC surprising their right back and dispossessing her from their goal kick and crossing the ball where their keeper spilled it straight at Rachael's feet and she tapped in from a couple of feet. The second goal proved how much we've missed Woody, her massive kick catching the Ringmer defence square and Ellie raced away, took the ball around the keeper and slotted home. Unfortunately we then lost the plot rather and let Ringmer back into the game, and poor tracking back when we lost possession allowed three strikers to break clear with only Tracey Naden covering - a quick bit of interpassing and it was 2-1. However, a Cha penalty ten minutes into the second half after Ellie was brought down by the Ringmer keeper and a 30-yard screamer from Sam sealed the victory.

The 2nds, again with only 10 players, proved too much for a hard-working Castle Colts team whose position in the league doesn't reflect their postive play. Castle started the brighter whilst we took time to settle again this week, playing with three makeshift defenders due to injuries. We scored first on the counter-attack, Fran whipping in a superb cross with Liz rising to head a fabulous first goal for the club. The advantage was soon doubled, Tracy Kelly flighting over a great corner which Nat beat two defenders to and buried her header into the net giving the keeper no chance. Castle refused to lie down and got a goal back before half-time when the midfield were caught upfield leaving the defence exposed. A reshuffle at the break moved Tracy to left- back and Lisa into her more familiar midfield role. This paid dividends when pressure lead to Liz putting us 3-1 up. Again lack of concentration let Castle pull one back immediately, but soon after Liz completed her hat-trick after a good passing move down the right. Castle refused to give the game up and made use of the extra player, sheer pressure leading to our defence being overwelmed. At 4-3 we could have crumbled but resilience and fitness saw us home as we scored twice more in the closing minutes. Shanna scored her first for the club and Nat hammered in the sixth. The final result was justice for a ten-man team that never gave up, always believing that playing their passing football would pay off on a difficult wet surface. Final score Castle 3 Boro 6.

A disastrous first half in which we sat back and let Redhill spray the ball around as they liked cost us this game against the current League leaders. From kick off they bossed the game, as we really just didn't compete and gave them the freedom of the pitch to play their neat passing game. the first goal came on 15 minutes, a throw right in the corner being crossed in for a deep running to direct a looping header over Woody. The second came within a couple of minutes, a hopeful punt forward being misheaded and dropping straight into the path of a Redhill forward who took a touch and lifted a superb lob into the net. Woody kept us in the game with two vital one-on-one saves as they threatened a rout and half time really couldn't come soon enough. A tactical reshuffle and much improved attitude saw us play much better in the second half, but Redhill's defence were able to deal with most of what we threw at them, the best chance falling to Ellie who caught them square for once but her shot acorss the keeper crept just past the post. The killer goal came 20 minutes from time, as we allowed a player to run in from deep from a corner to plant a close range header beyond Woody's reach. Despite the setback we continued to press, but a calamitous fourth goal as Milla gave the ball straight to one of their strikers in the penalty area really summed up our day. 4-0 was a bit flattering to the visitors, but we must improve if we still have serious intent on winning the League.

The 2nds were down to 9 players again for the visit of Division Three side Worcester Park Reserves in the preliminary round of the Reserves Cup, and ended up with only eight as Kim was taken to hospital with a dislocated kneecap 15 minutes from time. Despite that, we ran out comfortable 4-0 winners, the last goal being scored in that final 15 minute period. Scorers were Tracy Kelly (2), Nat Waller and Fran. We now meet Brighton 3rds on November 3rd in a re-run of last year's Final.