Match Report
BSLFC 16 v 0 Mudeford (Hampshire Trophy)

We welcomed Mudeford to Chapel Gate for our 2nd round match of the Hampshire Trophy. The Hampshire Cups seem to throw up a few mismatches in the early rounds, our firsts being on the end of a 10-0 loss in the Senior Cup a few weeks ago a good example. On paper this looked like another, with Mudeford struggling a couple of leagues below our reserves. However, fresh from our lesson from teams in a league below us last week in the league cup and noticing that Mudeford hadn’t failed to score in any game this season we were taking nothing for granted.

We started strong and there was a good case for a penalty in the first minute as a cross from Asira hit the trailing arm of a defender. The referee wasn’t interested though.

We found out how good the opposition GK was very soon after, firstly she was out quickly to pressure Symes in to putting a one on one wide after a good ball from Plummer, a great save from a Lander 1 on 1 diving bravely at her feet, before parrying a good symes free kick over for a corner and then stopping Lander from 2yds out after the resulting corner fell to her. 5 minutes on the clock and the GK had proved her worth.

8 minutes in and we finally beat her, a very good Symes corner found Plummer deep at the back post and she confidently volleyed in from a few yds out. 1-0

Symes hammered the cross bar as she went in search of her first goal for Sports. She found it a minute later as a Curtin cross evaded Wetton and Symes was on hand with a great first time finish 16yds out. 2-0

3 and 4 quickly followed, with Plummer clearly shaking off last weeks Rory by completing her hat-trick in 16 minutes. Firstly from a great touch and through ball by Asira and then another Symes cross that was finished with an excellent glancing header.

We were awarded a penalty for a clumsy challenge on Asira on the 17th minute and it was Wetton’s chance to get on the score sheet. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for it to come down as the ball went high down the middle. Wetton later confessed she was aiming bottom right and yet she still evaded Rory ??‍♂️?.

It didn’t damage her confidence though, as she followed up a great finish by Asira to make it 5 with her own powerful finish to make it 6 a minute later after some great football by the team through midfield.

Mudeford were working incredibly hard and actually created a couple of chances of their own, their tricky number 7 showed good pace and skill to evade a few challenges but couldn’t find the finish and also some good football through the middle had us chasing shadows for a while but again the the finish wasn’t there to test Owen.

Orton hit the underside of the bar and watched as it bounced away to safety on the 25th minute.

Plummer got her 4th and our 7th on the 26th after a good ball from Asira and Curtin made it 8th despite denied by another good save on her first attempt from another good Symes corner.

Asira made it 9 after winning a header from a Symes switch and chasing her own through ball.

Thompson crossed for Lander to finish from close range to make it 10-0 a few minutes before half time. Asira signed off a very strong first half performance finishing well from a good Stacy cross. 11-0 HT

It was a difficult game to watch. A full squad playing with confidence against a team that clearly had some injuries, limited subs and were low on confidence.

The instructions at half time were to be respectful to our opposition, but use this as a chance to improve on things we have been getting wrong in games over the past 6 weeks while protecting the clean sheet.

The second half saw great effort by both sides to keep the game flowing.

Some more good football by Sports eventually ended with Asira finding Symes who finished to make it 12 on the 48th minute.

Two gifts for Plummer, who seemed to be blessed, after an hour, firstly a mistake by the mudeford defender from a Bradford flick on saw her clear through to round the GK and tap in before another tap in following a great save from a powerful Lander effort. 14-0

The game was losing momentum and Mudeford had now dropped to 10 players following an earlier injury and another player now experiencing some breathing difficulties but this seemed to make them work even harder to protect their GK but when they couldn’t she was just superb. Notably a superb recovery to deny Thompson after a smart volley from a Lander cross.

Stacy put a great cross in from deep on the 70th minute for Plummer to volley in for her 7th goal of the game. 15-0

Before a clever flick from Lander, who was positioned in front the Mudeford GK, as Gard took aim with a low effort from the edge of the box made it 16 with 7 to go.

Lander won another penalty on the 89th minute after a clash with the Mudeford GK in which they both went in bravely but Lander getting to it first. Sims stepped up to try and get just her 2nd goal in over 50 games but the GK dusted herself and saved it well to deny her and save her Mum, Alison, the promised £20 a goal that they’ve had going for many years!

Ultimately it was job done by the Reserves but Mudeford had worked so hard it was difficult not to feel sympathy for them especially as we have been on the other end of these games in the past. A huge thanks to them for coming over and great to see a fair few of them in the bar afterwards.

Players player: Ayuma Asira who showed moments of absolute quality through out the game with some great touches, passes and finishes.

Managers player: Bev Symes who probably had her best game for us, creating loads of chances and beginning to play with a bit of confidence.

Rory went to Emily Gard, despite the manager having to go back home for his paperwork and Sass attracting the attention of some UFO enthusiasts with her penalty I think ultimately the team missed her the past 6 weeks while she has been gone.