MATCH REPORT : The beautiful game.......a learning curve

The Beautiful Game By Keith Maple (aka Issy's dad)

My week started with a trip to the hallowed halls of Wembley (attendance 90000) to see the likes of Rooney, Hart & Andros Townsend lose once again at home to our nemesis, the Germans, Then after coercion to be this weeks blog writer after a few to many drinks at the curryfest on Thursday, it was a drive over on Saturday to see my beloved Southend (attendance 9000) win against the Minstermen of York at Roots Hall with a goal in the last seconds of the match.

I do so love it when that happens.

Sunday (late) morning it was over to the quaintly named Addlestone Moor to watch our girls take on Abbey Rangers (one win all season, an inability to score and 2^nd from bottom in the League), Under coach Paul Koolman they have improved of late but ironically though sponsored by a local garage they don’t provide enough service up front.

The ground is more less than moor but with good bacon sarnies and no ‘welcome to hell’ signs the locals are friendly. However, the pitches are bog standard (literally) and the wind whips across from left to right and right to left, Micks least favourite away trip.

The crowd swelled to (attendance 39) before kick off though the lure of chips meant some were transient. The teams took to the pitch, the colours of Barcelona & Newcastle taking centre stage.

This reporters protestations of I am not sure who is who was met with the helpful encouragement of; Elin is number 11, oh and so is Ruby and Jennifer has no number, Sofia is wearing slightly different colours to everyone else and we have two Hannahs.

The match started brightly, Teddington seemed half asleep as the early stages saw Kathryn called on to make a couple of saves. Sophia made Bobby Mooresque tackles, ably supported by Hannah Rose who seemed to be everywhere.  Then in the tenth minute Teddington finally woke up -Hannah Reighter (Hannah R) broke down the wing after great work from Charlottje and narrowly missed. Then Hannah R pounced on a mistake by the goalie and whistled a shot passed the upright. Elin took a corner, a shot, another corner, a save, a corner, shot and save. Elin,Charlottje, Lola and Hannah R  running the show. But for some very dubious offside decisions when our forward line burst through (the linesman should have given himself offside for  being actively involved in the play) ‘the Athletic’ could have been two or three ahead. Highlight for many including the coach was the dropping of the shoulder by Jennifer beating two people, passing to Charlottje , a through ball to Hannah R who hits the post on 24 minutes. Abbey Rangers were taking on the look of the England defence, mesmerized by their silky skilled opponents. The opposition attacked but Alice was there to save the day. Half time and time to draw breathe. A change of ends ,some new blood, substitutes on.  Teddington shooting towards the Civic Amenity dump end. and then DISASTER

Teddington in sleep mode allowed the Rangers to win a corner , the ball came over and  the tall girl with the ponytail sent a beautifully arcing header over Kathryn. There was nothing she could do to stop it. From the restart Teddington broke again only for the goalkeeper to save. Issy and Bella made good tackles, Sadie broke through the middle and shot, the goalie dropped the ball and Teddington pounced only to be thwarted again. Then the tactical genius that is Christelle made her move. Issy was substituted in an effort to play three at the back, protect the right side and go for the equaliser. It was brave but what followed was   wave after wave of attacks. Sadie headed over from an Elin cross. Rangers accelerated on the counter attack only for Kathryn to save and Sophia to sweep up.  Number 11 Ruby was becoming more influential, one on one with the goalie the goalie made a great stop,. Sophia barges a player out of the way to stop a certain goal and then a run by Ruby a beautiful layoff to Elin and GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL Two minutes later, Hannah R gets the ball , runs through on her own, this reporter drops his pen and its a second.  

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL

Then its backs to the wall as Abbey attack again. The match is really end-to-end . “How long to go?” “too long” replied Christelle. Abbey attack on the break , the defence is split, Kathryn runs off her line and Abbey have an undeserved equaliser. Abbey Rangers have scored with the last kick of the game.

I hate it when that happens.

 But, in the words of our coach

 “we should  have won 6-2 . We should not have drawn, we let the pressure get to us in front of the keeper but we will learn from it. You were very very good and you gave us a fantastic game of football to watch, I am proud of you”.

Who needs Wembley , or the Premier League or Division Two . Rooney, Hart and Townsend eat your heart out this was a brilliant game of football, played in good spirit  and all the girls deserved to be ‘girl of the match’ (though that honour went to Elin, with special mention from Ed for Charlottje). Roll on next week!