***Paul’s Match Report*** Gritty Defeat!
The team welcomed Ascot to the New Cuthbury 3G, they had comfortably beaten a very good Oxford side a week earlier so another tough test for the girls lied ahead. A squad of 14 available including both goalkeepers, Brooke and Maisy, with newly signed Ava making her debut for the team.
A tight first half was played out, intriguing with the visitors comfortable in possession but Wimborne working hard to close spaces and limit chances to a very strong opponent. From the chances that Ascot did manage to create, Brooke’s handling in goal proved more than a match, a couple of smart saves leaving the teams’ in a stalemate at the break. Wimborne’s best moments in an attacking sense coming from the team’s RH side, Sienna looking most likely to unlock a stubborn defence. HT 0-0 A similar pattern to the second half, Wimborne’s defencive unit and defencive midfield players working overtime to shut down potential attacking phases, our more attacking players dragged back also at times and thankfully, one of those, Sienna with a big block in the penalty area early in the half. The visitors’ rattled Maisy’s crossbar as the pressure ramped up but still the team held firm without really hurting Ascot, that was before Brooke who had worked her socks off for an hour without the ball, pressing the GK, blocking her clearance and rolling the ball into an unguarded goal net (1-0). Expecting an immediate backlash, the team looked reasonably comfortable for the next 10 minutes but Ascot are a good footballing side and the pressure began to tell. A now tiring defence were affording a bit more space than earlier in the match, the away team now finding pockets of space in dangerous areas. A loose ball in the penalty area, although not cleanly struck was accurate enough to find the bottom corner of the goal just out of Maisy’s reach (1-1) for the equalising goal. Probably obvious to say but goals do have a real affect and not just on the scoreline, the goal sucked a bit of life from such a hard working team performance and a winning goal seemed more likely and did eventually come. A cleanly struck volley was well held by Maisy but the next strike was not to be saved by any goalkeeper, a ball into the right hand channel and another fierce volley from a player under pressure from Eva and Maddie that flew into the goal off the underside of the crossbar (1-2). Belle cleared another dangerous chance but the team had not given up hope of rescuing something from the game, the team linking passes that allowed Emilie’s strike from 20yards, the visiting GK holding well. The whistle blew (this time not for a refs toilet break!) to bring an end to a very competitive match.
FT: WTFC 1 Ascot. 2
POM: Grace (this young player showed competitive aggression, pushed players away from goal, not allowing turns before injury cut her game short…complimented a strong defensive effort from the team today).
Summary: A ‘backs to the wall’ performance from the girls, amazing work rate without the ball but lacked real quality in possession today. This can and will be worked on. A very well drilled Ascot team deserved the win but knew they had been in a game.
Hopefully, a big turnout at training this week ((and continual weeks) can build on this performance and reap rewards as the season develops. Well done to the hard working girls today ??????
