***Pauls Match Report *** Harsh Lesson For Town.
A very early start for the girls today against an established JpL team. This was sure to be a good test for this young Wimborne team. Surely goals would be a certainty with Wimborne netting 10 without reply and Ascot with a ridiculous 22-0 scoreline in their most recent matches.
The hosts started on the front foot but the team held them at arms length, out of the danger zone and looked sharp when turning the ball over. A sharp break brought a foul and gave Emilia an early sighter, her free kick drifting just over the crossbar. In their next attack, Olivia driving through midfield played in Izzy who cut inside the fullback and stroked a delightful finish wide of the goalkeeper with her left foot (0-1). The game evened out over the next 20mins, both sides looking to play through midfield in possession, Wimborne’s real threat seemed to be through Emilia on the left flank. On 35mins Emilia’s blind side run was picked out by Megan and a difficult finish was made to look easy, Emilia rounding the GK and firing home (0-2). Four minutes later, Olivia, again having a real affect on the game found Emilia again, her sweet strike increasing the lead further (0-3). A slight lapse in concentration levels lead to a first goal for Ascot, a ball in behind the defence duly dispatched to reduce the lead (1-3). After a great start for the team the goal against gave the hosts real belief going into the break. HT 1-3 With Wimborne having the best of things in the first half, the game was about to be flipped on its head! After Emilia had gone close again for the girls, a well taken shot and a hooked finish after a bit of complacency in the box gave parity to the game (3-3). The game was now in the balance, Ascot had began the half well and had the majority of the possession but Wimborne always posed a threat. A big swing came on the hour mark however, Emilia seemed favourite to score but again shot narrowly over before the hosts took the lead from a corner within a minute, a free header well taken (4-3). Another corner with 20mins remaining proved the final dagger, another unchallenged header from the same player giving Ascot the goal and some breathing space. An entertaining game for the neutral still could have had another twist, firstly, Megan seemed sure to score from a yard out but was deceived by a spinning ball that seemed to change direction and Meg again with another chance, free inside the goal area but a defender nicking the ball away as she was about to strike.
FT: Ascot Utd 5 WTFC. 3
POM: Charlotte (didn’t deserve to be on the losing side, strong and unruffled when under pressure).
Summary: A game that showed at this level, nothing can be taken for granted. A seemly winning position was wiped away in the second period. Maybe slightly due to a very early start and long journey, the team looked jaded in the second half of the match and struggled to make the impact they had in the first. Passes went too far too quickly leaving players isolated and a lack of cohesion in the team. The effort was not in question, this team will evolve and improve but today they played a streetwise team that did well to fight back and deserved their win so congratulations to them. This talented bunch will learn a lot from this match and their next cup match vs Sussex cannot come quickly enough!
