Captain Kaitlyn Seals The Deal!
After a run of three defeats and another month off thanks to COVID, today offered Juniors’ a chance to kick start their season if they could knock a talented Andover team out of the league cup.
A slight change around saw Kaitlyn partnering Mya at the back, Eva and Lauren at full back and Summer paired with Sophie at the heart of a 4-4-2 system. Meg and Charlotte flanked the centre pair with Carly and Brooke given the task of unsettling a tough home defence. A disciplined first half performance set the tone for the match, the girls’ breaching the home defence on several occasions without creating that ‘clear cut’ opportunity, that was until Brooke laid the ball off for Sophie to strike a wonderful finish low into the bottom corner (0-1). The girls’ seemed back to their confident best although a lively home team were always a threat, especially on the break. A superb save from Millie followed by determined scrambled defence somehow kept the lead, it was then that the girls showed what they are all about, breaking out from the back, Kaitlyn, Eva and Sophie combining with Charlotte who’s first time cross was met on the full by Megan who would have probably scored past any other goalkeeper in the league, the ball clawed away. A move appreciated by everyone around the pitch. HT 0-1. The hosts made a bright start to the second half looking for a leveller which was exactly what the team were expecting. As the half evened out the equalising goal did come however, a neat finish (1-1). The team more than held their own, even under a 10minute period of pressure but it did tell, Andover fortunate when the ball fell favourably after a stunning block from Millie (she really did not deserve to concede) for the centre forward to tap home (2-1). A real test of character now but the girls’ lifted their game again, Abi and Faye now on the pitch adding steel to the core of the team. As the half developed, Meg and Charlotte became more influential with Meg especially along with Bobbi going close to equalising. The attitude was fantastic and this drove them to the outcome they deserved, another Charlotte cross for Meg, this time the GK had no answer as Meg guided a header into the goal (2-2). With extra time looming it came down to whether either team would be brave enough to push for a winner, today Juniors’ would not be denied in the bravery department! A corner in the dying seconds was partly cleared only and ball was played back to the calmest player on the pitch in Kaitlyn to take a touch with her left foot and drive a right footed shot into the corner of the goal (2-3). The kick of was followed by the final whistle to bring the curtain down on an excellent game of football and an excellent win for the team! FT 2-3
Summary: A tough match in which the girls were totally committed in and expressed themselves, outplaying their hosts for long periods in the match. When things got tough, they dug deeper! A fantastic team performance. POM: Charlotte (bags of quality).
