Abbey Rangers vs BSLFC

The home game was off again this week as the Reserves were to miss out due to the opposition not being able to fulfil the fixture.

So it was another day trip up the M3 for the majority of the coaching team.

We were looking for a positive performance and result to take us into next weeks FA Cup game against AFCB from 2 leagues above next Sunday.

Not the ideal preparation as GK Owen got injured in the warm up so we had to call upon the ever dependable Tilly to pull on the gloves.

Fortunately, Davies had been called up from the reserve squad and was ready to start at the back thanks to some great effort by her family to get her to Abbey in time.

The opening exchanges of the game were an odd affair, with Sports forgetting how to control or pass a ball and Abbey setting their stall out early that they were going to be tenacious in closing the ball down quickly.

We did get an early chance as Folkenstern danced through on 7 minutes, but as is her unselfish nature she opted to cross instead of taking on the shot and Brewer could not bring the ball down as it hit her arm following her touch.

Brewer was down the right a couple of minutes later and did well to get along the byline but crossed high over everyone when a low drive should have been the option.

This seemed to be our issue for the opening half hour, we either opted not to shoot and overplayed or made the wrong decision in the final third. The positive was the build up play was good and the defence looked organised playing out regularly to build up play.

We would eventually take the lead in the most bizarre of circumstances after 29 minutes. Hughes put in a corner which was not exactly text book. It bounced low through to the front post, missing the first defender who was slightly unsighted by Asiras run, the GK then dived over it but there was a defender on the line to save it, she opted to clear first time but only succeeded in hitting the ball at her GKs head/face as she recovered from the ground and the ball crossed the line. 1-0 and the saying that they all count has never been truer.

For all of the luck involved in the first goal the second was a sublime team goal. Playing out from Tilly at the back, the ball was played through most of the sports team as they evaded the press. It eventually fell to Lewis who, supported by, Miles and Brewer on her left and right was able to make the 3 on 2 count, feeding Brewer in who finished very well into the bottom corner. 2-0 37 minutes gone.

Abbey Rangers then had a chance just before half time to halve the deficit. With Sports distracted as their right back Vernon was laying injured on the floor Abbey Rangers pressed on cutting inside from the right and forcing a good save from Tilly on her near post. We eventually got the ball out of play for Vernon only to see the opposition decide not to do the sporting thing and return the ball.

HT 2-0, the score line was ok but communication and movement had to improve if were to put this game to bed.

There was a good case for penalty in the first minute of the second half, Miles forcing her way through only to be clearly pulled back before she could get her shot away. Unfortunately much like the majority of the late tackles we tried to talk to the ref about at half time he didn’t see it.

48 minutes and Miles tried her luck from the edge of the box, while it was good enough to beat most, the Abbey GK was exceptionally tall and her reach was such that she could just catch the ball easily.

50 Eden was now finding herself further up the pitch and was having a great battle with their right back, she found Miles in the middle with a good cross but she couldn’t adjust her feet fast enough and it bobbled off her and wide.

It was a much better start to the second half.

Miles was unlucky not to get a goal on 57 intercepting a pass from the GK who immediately atoned for her error making a great diving save to deny Miles.

Brewer was through after a good 1-2 with Folkenstern but as she ran towards the Gk at an angle didn’t decide to pass or shoot and just ran it to the Gk.

Just after the hour it was Eden to Miles again, she couldn’t quite find the required finish and it went wide.

Miles was popping up everywhere and was a moment out on the right that would find us that elusive 3rd. She put in a great cross on to the late run of Roe who met the header above the defender at the perfect time and the GK was unable to prevent it going in. 67minutes 3-0

There were a few more calls for penalties Yeo taken down on a rare foray into the box, Miles taken down again and Curtin also upended. While the ref put his whistle to his mouth a couple of time he never gave the decision.

It would take until the 88th minute for us to find a fourth against a clearly tired Abbey Rangers, Roe crossed from the right, Brewer got a toe on the cross and it fell perfectly for Miles to finish in the far bottom corner on her left foot from 12yds. 4-0

Despite their fatigue it was Abbey Rangers that would have the last good chance 3 minutes into injury time, a long ball over the top released their striker. Fortunately, despite a quiet half Tilly was alert, coming out well and blocking the effort to keep her clean sheet intact.

?Players Player went to Sian Tilly, stepping up to play in goal 25 minutes before KO and making two very good saves to secure the clean sheet.

?Managers Player while Tilly was an obvious candidate here, a few players were discussed before we went with Rebecca Yeo who marshalled the defence very well and gave them the composure to continually build from the back.

? Rory – an early nomination come in for Justine Mosley who had to withdraw from the squad Sunday morning after introducing her car to a wall. Thankfully she was fine, the same can not be said for the car! However, Lindsay Roe came up with the ultimate hold my beer moment as she came out with her shorts on backwards and then proceeded to completely take Folkenstern out with her pass of the game. Ironically, Mosleys withdrawal actually gave Roe the chance to play so I guess she owed her 🙂