Starlands welcomed League Leaders and Last years Premier team Coundon Court to Aldridge School today.
The sun was shining but there was a nip in the air.
Coundon COurt turned up with nearly more coaches & training staff than we had players !!!!!?.....What a luxury.
Short of help...I had to run the line to start with - but THANK YOU to Chris for stepping up Second Half. It makes my life a little easier.
Oh...and Thank you to everyone that turned up on time !......YES, NO-ONE ! :)
Well done to Alex for managing to turn up in the wrong kit ! PINK !.....How we have managed to avoid this before God only knows !
Lastly, Thank you to all the parents telling me We needed another ball after the match ball went in the bushes. Shame No-One volunteered to go and get it ! ?.....
For your information The Girls moaned when I threw the yellow one on...saying it was TOO HEAVY !...Hence my reluctance to repeat my mistke.
ANYWAY....enough of my moans,,,,about collecting litter before the game , setting up the pitch , opening the toilets, texting everyone, setting up the respect barrier ,warm up grids and packing away afterwards ...... Let's get onto the game ! ...because it was much much better than last week ! WHY WE CAN'T PLAY LIKE THIS EVERY WEEK I DON'T KNOW?...
Once again Starlands were fast out of the blocks......When I look back a few years ago, we used to give opposition a goal in the first 30 seconds EVERY week !...NOW, its US that score the first goal...Droitwich, Solihull etc. We just struggle to keep hold of the lead and so it proved again.
Apart from Samantha NO-ONE was on time 9.45....Amber was the last to arrive so found herself on the bench. A real shame because apart from struggling with a nasty dose of Lazyitus at times she is ALWAYS a constant goal threat, has pace and when can be bothered is a good little player.
Anyway, Kiera and Toni had an opportunity to make up for last weeks lack of discipline...and they certainly did. Probably the best first 20 minutes I have seen from the girls. They totally bossed Coundon - and there only looked one team in it.
Coundon are a bigger , older and more experienced team but OUR Girls were first to the ball and ran the show.
Olivia was clear through in the opening minute , but was guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net ...a real let off for Coundon ! Should have been 1-0
It soon was...when Olivia hustled and bustled her way through to score her 17th I think of the season...and gave STarlands an unexpected lead.
Let's not forget Coundon beat us 9-0 at their place !?!"££$%"!?...
A Big kick from Holly wind behind sent through Amber who was now on for Alex. Unfortunately she shot over the bar!...
Starlands were by far the better team for the whole first half - and I cannot remember Coundon getting a shot off. The back four of Sam, Laurice ,Chloe and Beth were immense. They tackled in pairs and Beth just gave us a bit more physicality and pace at the back. Well Done Girls !
The midfield of Hannah,Alex,Zohra,Kiera and Toni really worked their socks off...how much longer they could keep that effort up ...who knows...but fantastic effort. 1st to the ball, closing down the ball and moving on the ball for Amber and Olivia to chase down.
It was a really pleasing first half...and I can only imagine The Coundon half time team talk....They needed to win today...and were now trailing.
With the sun shining and lots of effort put in from especially the younger girls in the team - it was time to rotate a few of the younger ones. Coundon had a huge No.6 and Captain bossing the midfield as the the game went on. It is not often you see Laurice go toe to toe with someone and end up on her backside...but it happened twice !...Samantha tried her ebst to marshall her....but the pleasing thing was. That even when a defender was beaten there was another player supporting them to clear it away !
Eventually Coundon got a corner. They played a high ball into the near post, there wasn't a COundon player near it...but Alex and Holly got into a mix up and Alex chested it into her own net. 1-1....Such a shame....and visibly it effected the girls. Coundon were now back in it...and Starlands were beginning to doubt themselves.
Coundon managed ot get a lucky second when the ball looked to run over the goal line and out of play. The No.6 continued and hooked it back...it rolled along the goal line hit the post and bounced in !....Holly was fuming....and it was a goal that shouldn't have happened. Oh well.
Coundon were now in the ascendancy...Starlands were struggling to keep their non stop effort going...the midfield were flagging. The luxury of Olivia and Amber upfront offered little protection....and we need to learn to HELP EACH OTHER !....Amber came off for the last 10 minutes and Kiera was pushed upfront....But, trying to get her ot hold one position is impossible ! lol.
Starlands did their best to push on for a much deserved equaliser,,,,but Coundon were starting to show their class and were more often than not first to the ball.
Zohra and Hannah were breakingup play...and despite getting one smack in the mush ....Hannah battled on without any need for first aid.
There were a few girls who came off with battle scars from The No.6 & Coundon Captain - but ALL can be proud of their efforts.
The third goal was another mix up at the back and a failure to clear first time....but to be fair the game was over.
We are still looking for that mystical ONE point to better our season over last years....onto BURNTWOOD next week.
GRACE has decided not to continue playing football. Such a shame because she did really well this year and was Girl of The Game nearly every time she played and chipped in with a few goals....I guess shopping and boys have taken priority ?!....Dont anyone else get any ideas. STICK TO FOOTBALL & KEEP AWAY FROM BOYS ! :)
Girl of The Game was awarded to Samantha for the first time this season...a much improved performance and gave 100%.
