Town Show Promise In Defeat!
Always nice to challenge yourselves against the best teams.
The travellers braved the motorway madness for a match up with Oxford United, an unknown in a way although reasonably sure of the type of opponent they were going to face. Brooke W, Belle, Aimee, Laila and Sienna unavailable for this one but a strong 15 made the journey.
A very interesting beginning, Oxford dominating the very early possession although most in their own half, a slightly more defensive midfield set up not leaving gaps for the hosts to exploit. As the possession evened out it was the visiting team that chanced their arm first, Ashleigh’s shot saved and Izzy not finding the target. With 20 minutes played, the breakthrough, and it was Wimborne that were to strike first, Brooke latching onto Maddie’s long pass, still with plenty to do she composed herself before looping a controlled finish over the stranded goalkeeper (0-1). A big moment in the game within a couple of minutes of the goal, Brooke again proving a handful, using her strength to hold off defenders and fire home but the referee unhappy with something and the goal disallowed ??! The hosts were shocked into gear and equalised with their first true site of goal, a break down their RH side and powerful low drive evening matters (1-1). Wimborne’s midfield more than matched the hosts in the first half, battling for every ball, Emilie in particular did not take a step backwards in any challenge and with 30 minutes played she overturned possession in Oxfords half, stride away and calmly finish into the LH corner of the goal to again put the girls in front (1-2). A talented Oxford team came again, a bit of fortune with the second equaliser, Wimborne cutting out the cross but the ball dropping at the feet of the centre forward who’s crisp finish whistled high into the corner of the goal giving parity to the scoreline again (2-2). The team had given their all in the half and all felt deserved to be level at the break, football is never that straightforward as we all know and on the stroke of half-time a final strike from a dangerous cross edged the home teams’ noses in front at the break (3-2). HT 3-2 The first half shape from the team had been good, the finishing from both teams had been clinical so the dice was rolled to tweak team shape to get an extra forward player on the pitch in an effort to create more in front of goal. The experiment was probably ill timed tbh and heaped extra workload on an extremely hard working midfield effort. The goal at the very end of the first half hurt but within two minutes of the restart a mix up between GK and defence gave the chance for a two goal cushion, the home striker rounding Maisy and slotting home (2-4). The girls’ again gave their all, never giving anything easy to a very lively and talented opponent, a final goal put the result beyond doubt with a superb low cross and well taken finish (5-2). That was basically that, Maisy saw stars for a few minutes after a full on collision, thankfully good to carry on and see the game out though. The final whistle blew to bring an end to a very entertaining football match.
FT: OUFC 5-2 WTFC
POM: On the fence today with splinters! Emilie/Jess (could not award one without the other, in a game that was always about midfield strength these two ran themselves into the ground. Emilie’s use of body strength unwavering and rewarded with her goal and Jess’s unselfish work rate incredible)
Summary: Without trying to be too negative the pre-match chit-chat was about staying strong if things got tough, playing our game and staying positive against what was sure to be a tough test…..(much to my captains disgust, she just wanted to steamroller them!). The whole team did this and more, proving they had the quality when matching Oxford for long periods. They had the quality to hurt them with clinical strikes also, the challenge was working the ball high into attacking areas enough times. All in all, a really good test to see where the team is at!…. And they are definitely moving in the right direction! A blanket slap on the back for all the players, left nothing on the pitch today. Small positives are usually taken from any defeat but there were loads today……. ????
