Match Report
AFCB Devs vs BSLFC (league)

We travelled the very short journey to face top of the league AFCB Dev at Slades farm. A team we always seem to struggle to get a result against through the years but fresh from a good win at the previously unbeaten Stoneham we were hopeful for better luck.

In classic BSLFC circa 2018/19 we felt we should try to get the game off to a terrible start. Pugh passing across her own box after 5 minutes straight to the AFCB striker. Thankfully Eden was on hand to tackle her before she could put the ball into the empty net from 18yds.

First 5 nerves aside we actually started well and grew into the game. Tilly drew a good save from the AFCB GK with a powerful header from a corner.

Chances were difficult as both teams look to dominate the middle of the pitch and to their credit both teams were playing some decent football.

Yeo came off after 23 when her toe met the studs of an opposing player a bit too closely in a 50/50.

Miles put Eden through just after half hour but it was well defended and she could only win us a corner and a bit more attacking possession. Their organised defence dealt with the corner quite comfortably.

Some hard work and battling got Miles half a yd to have a shot from the edge of the box on the 36th minute but on this occasion we’d see it go wide.

We had a lot of the ball but couldn’t create a clear chance and while AFCBs pace in attack had to be respected they had yet to threaten us with anything that wasn’t our own making.

41 minutes on the clock and there was a rare shot on target although not at all threatening to AFCBs GK.

We’d threatened it all half and 4 minutes into first half injury time we had finally been punished for a mistake. We brought the ball down on the edge of our box as we defended but the pass was straight to the AFCB CB who was about 40yds from our goal. She hit it well and left Pugh no chance as it floated in clipping the crossbar on its way in.

We started the second half well and despite the big blow just before half time we felt we had had enough of the ball to get back in the game but it was AFCB who had the first real chance 5 minutes in to the half. A dangerous corner forced Pugh into a good save on the line before 2 more last ditch blocks were made and the eventually fell wide of the post for a goal kick.

Lewis had a great chance 2 minutes later from a Miles corner but just couldn’t make the connection required to pull us level.

As with first half we had a lot of the ball but couldn’t break down a stubborn AFCB side who seemed comfortable defending their narrow lead. Some good footwork from Mosley around the AFCB gave her a chance from the edge of the box but she could only fire at the GK for a comfortable catch on the 68th minute.

As we pressed higher we became susceptible to the counter and with 10 minutes to go a long ball put them through but the shot/cross went harmlessly wide and it remained 1-0.

We had one final chance in the 94th minute with a corner but with Pugh arriving from the Sports goal the corner from Miles hit the top of the bar and bounced away to wrap our first league defeat of the season and continue a frustrating run of results against AFCB.

Players player Jasmine Hughes picked up this as one half of the dm pairing that kept breaking up play in middle and trying to get us forward.

Managers Player Sian Tilly edged this from Hughes in a split vote for the other half of a very dominant dm display for us.

Rory went to captain Eden for attempting to take her base layer off without taking her tshirt off first and getting into abit of a tangle.