***Pauls Match Report*** Town Edged Out In Goal Fest!
A lovely sunny morning for the first of two league meetings against Andover New Street within a week, this one away from home. With a heavy 3-0 defeat against this same opposition in the Hampshire cup only a few weeks ago and a couple of heavy losses in between, the team would have to work hard to turn things around. They would also have to do it the hard way….Sophia and Aimee still not fit to play, on the unavailable list this week were Jess, Georgia, Lila, Ashleigh and Izzy.
Both sides settled well in the early stages, Wimborne in particular moving the ball well as a group and moving through the pitch into good areas. The team looked to have taken a very early lead although Sienna’s goal was adjudged to have come from a foul on the home goalkeeper. With only 12mins on the clock, the breakthrough, Brooke’s drive well saved, the ball only palmed to the feet of Carly who claimed the open goal (0-1). The goal sparked a crazy end to end phase of play. Sienna, always a constant threat broke free but could not find the pass to Brooke for the second goal, two passes later The ball was in the back of Wimborne’s goal net (1-1), a long ball dispatched wide of Maisy. By the 15th minute the lead again restored, a finish of real quality, Carly claiming her second goal from Emilie’s assist (1-2). The girls were asking a lot of questions of a disciplined Andover team, breaking lines of attack and midfield with calm passing under pressure but as always Andover were very lively and direct in transitions. A corner kick to the hosts brought parity again, a free header planted into the bottom of the net (2-2), so the teams back to all square at the break. HT 2-2 The lone front role can be tiring, being asked to hold the ball up always under constant pressure is not easy although was made to look so 10 minutes into the second half. Sienna and Laila wrestling the ball back on the edge of the penalty area and Brooke holding off three defenders prior to firing an unstoppable shot over the home goalkeeper into the roof of the net (2-3). Unfortunately all the good work was to be washed away in the space of eight minutes…..Same old threats but threats that are difficult to stop….through ball (3-3)…through ball (4-3)….ball over the top (5-3), each finish struck cleanly past Maisy in goal. Far from throwing the towel in, the team upped levels and looked to turn the table again, Carly won the ball high although her lob over a stranded GK hit the side netting. Quality build up between Emilie and Brooke saw the best attacking football of the match, a 1-2 into the box and pin point lay off, Laila arriving on point, her finish inches too high, rattling the hosts crossbar, the ball still alive, Brooke’s follow up shot well saved. The girls continued to push and seemed to have got their rewards with 10 mins still to play, Brooke upended by a flailing defencive leg and a penalty kick awarded, Eva’s spot kick saved but she would not be denied for long. The threat continued, a goal would surely come, and it did, Eva poking home a loose ball from a corner (5-4). The team had eight minutes to find an equaliser, not through a lack of trying but the three goal swing in the middle of the half proved too much to overcome and the referees whistle brought an end to a very entertaining game…..’for the neutral’!
FT: Andover 5 WTFC. 4
POM: Carly (always gives her best in training and matches, a brace of deserved goals, the second a superb finish)
Summary: One that got away! Played some lovely football, patient and probing but three goals against in an eight minute spell gave the girls’ too much to do. It was still great to see them having a real go though….their play deserved at least a draw today. Tough day for Maisy, could do little with the goals. Maddie, Grace and Scarlett more than held their own in the full back roles although the real threat was through the middle, the Ava Eva combination had work cut out today, both offered so much more however with ball at feet, superb from the back. Belle as always ultra competitive, Laila’s close control, Sienna and Emilie creating goal chances and Sophie working hard to secure ball all had a major affect on the teams’ play today. A deserved brace of goals from Carly and Brooke getting her goal, very deserved. We will take the positives from the performance and look forward to the return match next weekend! Happy Woman’s day team!! ????
