The worst of the frozen clods on the Freidberg pitch had been cleared by the U14s who were on before us on Saturday, but no billiard table surface awaited our game against bottom of the table Burwell Tigers. A useful challenge then of playing passing, supportive football in a fierce cross wind, well met by the girls in a great team performance.
The team started in its customary 3-3-1-1 formation and soon took control, playing down the hill. Ellie-Mae was early into her work, producing an fine early save from the Burwell keeper with a long range effort from the right wing that was pushed round the post. Emily's corner was headed to Inka who shot just wide. Securing the ball from a goal kick, Ellie-Mae again raced down the right then cut in and unleashed a powerful strike, only to see her effort miraculously saved with a phenomenal parry. The next attack however produced the first goal, Abigail sliding a pass through to the running Inka who shot home with early confidence.
A minute later and it was 2-0, Scarlett lobbing the ball into the penalty box. The Burwell defence couldn't clear and Inka had her second goal as she threaded the ball home from close range. Chances continued to come thick and fast. Scarlett just shot over the bar, Inka had a volley saved, Ellie-Mae scythed forward again and earned another corner, which she sent over to the back post. Coming from deep, Abigail controlled and slammed home, 3-0 now the score after the opening 10 minutes.
Some sublime football now followed, Tia and Inka linking beautifully and exchanging chances, Abigail, Scarlett and Ellie-Mae winning and controlling the midfield, Tyler, Louise and Emily providing the solid backline that penned the ball in the Burwell half. A quick substitution now, Simi and Elly replacing Louise and Skye, made just in time to see Inka have a shot sail just over the bar, before Ellie-Mae received reward for her scintillating running with the ball on the right. She charged forward again and found the net from the edge of the area. Classy stuff.
Skye came back on for Abigail on the left of midfield, but Ellie-Mae on the right produced the next goal, another run and shot being only parried, Inka on hand to poke home and pick up her hat-trick.
A lovely piece of football now saw Emily pick out Skye who passed to Inka. A quick one-two with Tia provided the space for the shot, but Inka's effort was again well saved - a corner the result. Elly sent the ball in again and a lovely timed run from Scarlett saw her meet the ball on the full, the ball clipping the inside of the post to bring up the team's sixth.
Two more before half-time. Tia went close with a couple of efforts, Scarlett went over the bar again but Inka had her accuracy fine tuned today and picked up her fourth when Scarlett found her with another intuitive pass. The last goal of the half gave Ellie-Mae her second of the game, another pacey run so dynamic that the defender literally gave up, then ran in to the box and blasted home.
A shuffle round at half time - Louise now pulled on the gloves, Elly moved to the wing, Abigail went up to support Tia, Scarlett took a rest and was replaced in the middle by Inka and Skye headed for the theatre.
The bombardment however, continued. Abigail picked out Tia who had a shot saved, Ellie-Mae crossed into the box, the ball smuggled away for a corner. The corner was cleared but Emily shot from distance, another save out to Abigail, the shot going wide. Abigail went close again, Tyler's first strike of the day was defended, Tia's follow up just going over. Hands rose to foreheads in amazement that no goal had yet come. A dazzling break from Tia however broke the second half deadlock - picked out by Emily she took the ball at half-way and with close attention surged toward the goal, finishing clinically with all the grace of the top striker that she is. Two minutes later and Inka secured her fifth and final goal, another effort from Tia being pushed wide for a corner. Another excellent delivery from Ellie-Mae caused havoc in the box, Inka made a yard of space and stroked home to make it 10-0. Another opportunity for change, Emily retiring, Ellie-Mae into the centre of defence and Scarlett returning. Positional changes too, Tyler now pushed forward and Inka out onto the right wing.
Further chances fell to Inka, Abigail and Tyler, but it was Tia who bagged her second, a shot in the box beating the goalkeeper comfortably. The goal offered the chance for another change, Emily pulled on the gloves and Louise readied herself for a final run up front. Tia went close to chalking up her hat-trick, but made way for Louise after a terrific display with her strike partner that sharpened both ahead of next week's big game. Rare pressure nearly made it to Stortford's goalkeeper, but as with all other attempts they fell short, Scarlett and Inka passing their way from one box to the other, the finish just falling short for what would have been a goal that Arsenal would have been proud of. However a huge cheer was just around the corner from the home touchline when Tyler scored the team's twelfth of the match when a fine first attempt was brilliantly saved and sent spinning into the air only for Tyler to have the presence of mind to back flick the ball across the line.
A terrific performance, bags of goals and some lovely play that put everyone in great spirits and can fill everyone with high confidence heading into next week.
Result: Won 12-0
Team: Skye, Louise, Emily (c), Tyler, Abigail, Scarlett, Ellie-Mae, Inka, Tia
Subs: Simi, Elly
Scorers: Inka (5), Tia (2), Ellie-Mae (2), Scarlett, Abigail, Tyler
No comments:
Post a Comment