Wimborne hit 5 in Season Opener!
The much anticipated first competitive match for this team had finally arrived, Sussex RTC the visitors on a sunblessed day at The New Cuthbury. With only a couple of pre-season games under their belts due to cancellations, only a competitive match would see how ready this team really were, although recent training sessions suggested they would not be far off the mark. A minutes silence in respect of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II was impeccably observed as you would expect…..now down to business!
The two sides scrapped out a messy opening 10 minutes until both teams settled. On the front foot, Wimborne forced corners that saw Meg and Emilie going close respectively. Although the dominant team in the opening exchanges, their opponents Sussex suggested they were not going to be a pushover, showing themselves to be defensively strong and also dangerous around the edge of Wimborne’s penalty area. Town had given their opponents a couple of sighters from 20 yards and were fortunate not to concede when a good effort struck the post. This aside however, the girls’ had begun to string their passes together, quick transition breaks from back to front just lacked a finishing touch, this was until Emilie crossed from another swift counter and Olivia turned sharply and struck to find the bottom corner of the goal for the teams’ first goal of the season (1-0). The following ten minutes saw the girls’ take a grip of things, rotation of players seemed pretty seamless, not upsetting the flow. Realisation did take affect, a pass that looped over Towns back line was seized upon and finished well, putting the visitors back on level terms (1-1)…..well for 40 seconds anyway, Lauren striding down the left flank and sliding the ball across for Liv to slot her second of the day (2-1) with 30mins played. More good pressing work from Emily gave Meg her first real sight of goal which she dispatched to give the team a deserved two goal cushion (3-1). Further efforts, a Megan free kick plus a strong run and shot from Olivia were both well saved prior to the half time break. HT 3-1 The two goal cushion, although not game defining did give the chance to rotate players and positions. Defensively in the second period the girls seemed defensively sound, a warm early afternoon sun did highlight a bit of fatigue within the group, quite normal at the start of a new season but the girls worked hard in their pressing, remained disciplined and defensively astute. The game was crying out for a bit of creativity amongst the toil and it was Abi that lifted her head and played a perfectly weighted through ball that Meg took in her stride to finish clinically and take the game away from their opponents (4-1). A terrific first win of the campaign was then cemented, Megan forcing the mistake and Olivia smashing her hat-trick goal (5-1).
FT 5-1
Summary: Yes, there will of course be harder games on the journey but Sussex gave as good as they got at times. When the girls’ calmed down and played their football they proved deserved winners today. A good day for Millie, safe and vocal. A rolling defensive unit included Belle, Amelia, Sophie, Annabel, Vienna, Lauren and a marauding Lila grew stronger as the game developed. Together with Jess and Abi in front of them, laying the foundations for Izzy, Talulla, Emilie, Kacey to express themselves………Megan and Olivia, we’ll they just score the goals!
Great start ladies!
