It was a joy to be out and about early in Cambridgeshire on a beautiful spring morning, a flat and wide pitch awaiting our arrival at Histon's home ground. What was on paper easier opposition after our cup semi-final victory against Cambridge, prompted thoughts of an expansive passing game from the blues, however an effective Histon defensive set up, smaller goals and some interesting off-side decisions made for much harder going in the early stages. Stortford made a positive start - Simi had an early run and shot saved, good passing between Abigail and Tia produced an opportunity for Faye and Ellie-Mae sent in a stinger from the right, but no goal came from the visitors in the opening minutes. Emily speculated from distance and Faye put in a cross that just missed a final touch before Histon had a meaningful attack, beating the high defensive line, though Skye saved the resulting shot well. The game became a constant puzzle, the play compressed into the middle of the pitch by both teams pushing their defence out. Little space for passing resulted and a releasing ball became difficult to find or, when it came, the attack was pulled back for off-side.Fifteen minutes in and it was time to ring some changes to see if the deadlock could be broken, Abigail and Ellie-Mae now into midfield and Louise and Tyler into defence. The change produced a quick result when Emily found Abigail bursting through on the left, who blasted her shot home to relieve the frustration of the players and put Stortford into the lead.
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| Aim.....FIRE..... 1-0 to Stortford |
The relief of having the lead added at a little more vigour to Bishop's Stortford's play, as always built on the team's strong and secure defences. Louise, Emily and Tyler cleared up the ball at the back and looked to feed and support the midfield.
A couple of corners from Ellie-Mae caused problems in addition to a looping ball into the box that was headed narrowly wide by Abigail. Simi created a chance for herself with some nice skills, well saved by the Histon keeper and nearly closed the half with another goal when she just failed to find the net from Ellie-Mae's run and cross from the right.
Into the second half and a little more urgency was asked for from the girls. Skye, Abigail and Elly took a break with Faye, Abby and Tia returning. Immediate pressure from the visitors nearly produced a goal from Louise when she picked up a clearance and sent it back in, only just denied by the Histon keeper. Tia was denied the team's second goal when she sent a through ball from Faye onto the post. Abby's tenacity on the wing nearly brought reward as did Inka and Faye's combined work in the box. In the end it was Tia who unpicked the defence, pouncing on a loose ball and slotting home to finally extend the lead with a fine finish.
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| Tia streaks through to score |
Player rotations continued, with goalkeeping duties in particular being shared around the team. Emily had taken her turn and now Abigail donned the gloves, Skye replacing Louise on the left side of defence. The tide now in their favour, dominance increasing, Stortford were playing with a little more style. Ellie-Mae, from her position at the centre of defence, saw an opportunity to break as space opened in front of her from half-way. As unstoppable as ever, she surged forward into the Histon half and on to the edge of the box, striking the ball clean and true to score her fourteenth goal of the season and the team's third of the day.
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| "Abby!!!!!" |
Into the final quarter the dominance continued. Tyler was called on to make a couple of excellent tackles but the majority of the play was in the Histon half. Chances came from a couple of well flighted corners from Skye but it was the returning Ellie-Mae who provided the corner delivery that brought the fourth goal, Inka meeting it sweetly and accurately for a fine headed goal.
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| Inka's powerful header finds the net |
Tyler now took over the keeper's gloves, relieving Abigail who had been called into sharp action only once, equal to a rare chance for Histon with a fine parry save a few minutes earlier.
Abby had a break in the closing couple of minutes that earned a corner, Simi nearly finding a fifth from the resulting corner but at the final whistle the blues had added no further goals. This had been a bit of a funny game. Lots of substitutions undoubtedly broke up the flow of the game as did regular off-side flags, but it was good to feel warm sun of the face and come away with another win secured.
Result: won 0-4
Team: Skye, Ellie-Mae, Emily (c), Abigail, Inka, Faye, Simi, Abby, Tia
Subs: Louise, Elly, Tyler
Scorers: Abgail, Tia, Ellie-Mae, Inka
Many thanks to Guy for taking the pictures.
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