Well, before we kicked off today - I honestly thought we would be in for a really tough game.
Once again we found ourselves short of players...Amber off on a school trip , Alex Birthday shopping, Grace a bad back and Laurice at a music exam.
Even last night - Sinead was looking at pulling out....thank goodness she didnt!
So, without our Wyrley reserves....\we were down to 9.....against a full Solihull Moors team who were playing in the premiership last year.
We arrived in good time and the girls warmed up well - and were in good spirits.
The Starlands Girls got stuck in - and looked more awake. Infact it was Solihull who looked short of players.
We were holding our own and competing for every ball.
It was great to have Holly back between the sticks - and she gave the rest of the girls a big boost in confidence. She was off her line quick, and made a superb diving save early on tipping it just wide - and Chloe cleared any chance of a rebound.
The defensive trio of Sinead, Chloe and Samantha were playing well. Keeping a high line - and working the off side. Any high ball was headed away - and they never missed a challenge. Great stuff.
Eventually, a through ball from Solihull unpicked the defence.It was such a shame...Chloe did well to track back, likewise Holly shouted for the ball as she came to the edge of the box.It looked 50/50...Chloe got a touch a pushed it wide - but Holly was stranded and the Solihull player prevented the ball going out and squared to an empty net which was slotted home 1-0
The fear was - would our girls give up????....not on your Nelly!
A fine through ball from samantha fed hafsah who put olivia away - only to be met by a fine save....unlucky.
This was then followed by a lovely wide ball played to Olivia who beat a player and crossed to hafsah who had her shot saved,,,,
Starlands could have been 2-1 up....but nevertheless - a terrific effort to be 1-0 down and playing with 9 players.
The second half, could the Starlands girls keep up the effort?...it was a huge pitch - surely they would tire??...
Solihull went 2-0 up when Kiera failed to clear a corner - and a ball struck from the edhe of the box went through the croweded box giving Holly no chance.
Surely, Starlands were going to struggle now?....oh no....not our girls..Kiera soon made ammends and put Olivia through who went on a mazey run , avoiding tackles - and some how from an acute angle buried it!!!! superb goal. 2-1!
Solihull - struck back , just as Starlands were getting a grip on the game , a break as Starlands pushed on,,,a cross ( which even the Solihull manager thought was off side) and it was 3-1
Olivia then went on another carbon copy run set up by hannah,,,,,what a goal!...what effort and determination...that summed up our girls display 3-2
Minutes left and Starlands were unlucky not to equalise - Ellie who had come off injured was through on goal....however the Solihull keeper was off her line like lightening and made the save.....
Truly, today was a superb team display - fromm start to finish., from back to front.....EVERY GIRL played for each other....it was so pleasing....well done girls.
It is great to have other teams parents and managers saying how much effort you put in...and how you deserved at least a draw!
Samantha was awarded Girl of The Game - for a faultless defensive effort...a few other top performances from Olivia and Holly - but to be fair EVERY GIRL especially the defence had top performances,
