MEG NIFICENT
A return match against a talented Pompey development team was to bring the curtain down on a league campaign that will be hard to forget for many reasons. Summer returned (that’s the player not the season! Although it was a lovely sunny day!), Abi, Carly, Annabel and Brooke all missed out through illness and injuries. It’s fair to say the team were outplayed in the first half of the previous week before regrouping and showing what they are all about in the second period. Although a loss, a lot was learnt over the 70mins, not just about ourselves as a group but also about an opposing team that attacked with pace but maybe played a little flat and high as a back line. Of course, this week numbers were equal!!
From the kick off it seemed like a good watch was in store, both teams looking composed in possession and attacking with intent. This time it was Juniors’ that drew first blood, Bobbi offering the width and crossing for Charlotte to force the ball home (1-0). This seemed to unlock a door for Megan to join a party that was about to ignite, a devastating display of finishing that any striker in any league would have been proud of. The team created, she scored, simple as! Time after time, splitting the visitors’ defence with well timed runs, latching onto superb passes (Summer, Sophie, Bobbi, Kaitlyn, take a bow) and simply not missing, finding the bottom corners, chipping the goalkeeper or smashing it in! either way, the goalkeeper could not get a glove on any (6-0). The team were not satisfied and any remaining bad memories of last week were completely wiped away with a stunning seventh, Bobbi superbly scoring from some lovely build up play on the LH side involving Kaitlyn and Summer (7-0). The girls had had similar score lines in previous games at the interval but this was against a good team, it seems strange to say but it was a good, competitive half but Pompey had no answer to some outstanding finishing. HT 7-0. Due to the score line, the parity rule came into effect, the visitors now boosted by having an extra player....although the team were getting used to this! Another learning curve, no rest-bite as no subs and heat. The girls’ had to adapt, passes were shortened and control was gained, picking moments to move the ball wide and ramp the pace up but all the time defending as a unit, frustrating a Pompey team that wanted to show their hand in the match. They were not allowed to, not today, the girls pressed at the right times and reaped more rewards, Charlotte profiting again from Bobbi’s pass (8-0). If ever a double-hat trick was deserved, it was today, Kaitlyn giving Meg the chance and Meg taking it...of course (9-0). It would have been nice for Millie and her defence to have kept a clean sheet but a lucky break gave the visitors a goal, a goal that they probably deserved, playing their part in what was a very good game of football....strange but true giving the score line! The goal aside, this had also been an incredible defensive team performance, Millie’s voice very noticeable above others, confidently instructing and showing good handling on what is a very hard surface at the moment. Superb full back displays from Lauren and Faye, pushing their opponents away from goal, not allowing them to turn, no nonsense defending from Mya and Eva just going from strength to strength in the heart of defence. Actually this defence did not deserve a goal against really! But I am still a bit pleased for them ??. Special mention to Sophie in a holding role, working her socks off to help her defence and midfield alike, a difficult position to shine in....but shine she did! Kaitlyn and Summer in the engine room today, prompting the team forwards and creative wide play from Bobbi and Charlotte, swapping flanks at times but equally effective on both, unselfish with their deliveries. Apparently the hardest thing in football is putting the ball in the net, it did not look that way today! Megan, smiling and scoring in a lone strikers role.
Summary: People will look at the score line and look away as if it was another 9-1 thrashing. Personally, I thought this was a great match, it’s difficult to remember the opposing GK making a save, the team were that clinical today. As league games go, this was the beast performance from the team IMO! They never disappoint but every girl played their part today, incredible resilience and sic talent ?? thoroughly enjoyed this one! Well played girls, you are a pleasure!
FT 9-1. POM: All superb but Meg (unplayable today..set new standards!).
Apologies about the length of this! Had to get it all out there as super proud of them!
