Match report
Milton United vs BSLFC
We travelled up the A34 to Oxford to face Milton for the 2nd time this season. The first time we came away with a convincing win but with injuries and illness ravaging the squad we were fortunate that the reserves opposition pulled out on us so we could take a full squad. That coupled with the fact that although Milton have found points hard to come by this season they were coming off the back of their first league win so we were taking nothing for granted.
We got off to a good start with Eden firing a dangerous cross in after 3 minutes, before Folkenstern was stopped by a superb last ditch tackle when it appeared she was through.
We had 3 corners in quick succession from that attack and Roe drew a good block by the defender on the final one.
We were winning a few corners and were dominant in the early exchanges but Milton weren’t there to make up the numbers and found themselves clear through on 11, McHillier presence was enough to make them put the chance wide before a bad clearance gave them another chance from the edge that again went harmlessly wide.
Folkenstern was a constant threat, her trickery coupled with the pace of Eden and Brewer were winning us some more corners but we didn’t make it count until just before 20 minutes. A Hughes cross was well defended and the resulting corner from Roe invited Taylor to attack it but she couldn’t reach it before Eden hit a volley that was blocked and fell to Folkenstern to take a touch and flick it in off the post. Her first goal for us in the league and a long time coming. 0-1
Lewis had a good chance to make it 2-0 2 minutes later but fired over before Roe won us corner, taken by Eden, not cleared well enough by the defender and Taylor was on hand to flick it in. 0-2
We were cruising but we don’t like things to be too easy, giving the ball away Milton found themselves through on goal but again let us off the hook and put the ball wide under pressure from McHillier.
You can only try your luck so many times though and on 28 minutes a first time clearance went wrong, fell to the Milton striker who made no mistake this time lobbing McHillier in the Sports goal to halve the deficit. 1-2
Brewers response was almost instant, through on goal and clearly taken down but the ref didn’t see it. The ball eventually found its way to Hughes whose strike was saved for a corner.
Folkenstern drew another great save from the Milton GK on 35 while Brewer tried to finish the rebound and was again thwarted.
We found a 3rd, when a Folkenstern cross was turned in by the Milton defender before Brewer could apply her own finish. 1-3 39 on the clock.
It was cold and wet and we knew the game would become more stretched as it went on with the pitch getting heavy so we just had to keep our intensity.
We started the 2nd half well enough with Mosley drawing a good save before we had a 5 minute spell of defending to do.
What looked like a rather harsh back pass decision was made after it hit Eden on the knee and went back to McHillier on 54 and while the free kick was in a very dangerous position it was fortunately fired over. Before a mix up with Tilly and Eden saw them clear through again but this time the post rescued us.
The game became a bit of a basketball match us hunting more goals and Milton throwing caution to the wind. Lander had a shot well blocked as she tried to get through before Roe drew another good save on the hour. They broke with a 4 vs 2 from the GKs hands but fired straight at McHillier for an easy catch.
It was straight down the other end for us where the ref didn’t see a very late challenge on Lander in the box following a cross.
Eden then gave Mosley an early Christmas present squaring for an open goal on the 68th minute only for us to see the reliable midfielder/striker fire over from 5yds.
Eden was having a wonderful time creating trouble down the left wing and it would be her that would finally get the ref to award a pen. She ran into the box and was quite brutally taken down by the chasing defender. Mosley was far more comfortable with the stationary ball and stroked in the pen off the inside of the left post. 1-4 73 minutes gone.
That seemed to take the life out of Milton.
Lander got through just after but couldn’t generate enough power in the finish and a minute later won us our second pen of the day with a little turn in the box and a rash challenge by the defender. Tilly stepped up this one, choosing the same side as Mosley and making it 1-5. 76 gone.
Folkenstern squared for Knapton to tuck in at the back post on the 80th for 6 before a 1-2 between Mosley and Eden put Eden through to finish from close range a minute later to make it 7.
To their credit Milton didn’t give up and would have got a 2nd had it not been for a fine last ditch tackle by Yeo before winning another tackle from the rebound.
A huge thanks to Milton United for their hospitality a warm cup of coffee on a cold day goes a long way!
Managers player went to Rosie Eden who has been all action since we signed her this season, stepping up to captain the side in Shaws injury absence and playing with a huge smile on her face.
Players player went to Liane Folkenstern another new signing that has been a revelation and it was great to finally see her get the goal her play deserves.
Rory went to Lauren Brewer mainly because I think she failed to remember Mosleys open goal disaster to defend herself in the vote but apparently the word Banana is a tough one to say.