MATCH REPORT : 4-0 Crystal clear win!!!

Very well done today!! I heard that your football was of the calibre of last week's and that you managed a great win against a very physical side! Well done girls I am very proud of you,  We will always be a team others can only aspire to become!!keep it up - Christelle (Sorry I was feeling unwell and couldn't be here)

From Keith Maple

Laugher, Tears and Tears (rhymes with bears)

Could last week ever be bettered for drama and downright oddness The security-gated Jewish School, the Indian wedding complete with horses, the sight of Kathryn in a goal twice her height, our first 11 a side win to take us into the next round of the cup and, irony of ironies, getting lost on the way back and going past the twin towers of Wembley.

Well today went close……

A short walk across the park and we are at ‘the Stadium of Hope’. Ed in some distress as Christelle has had to pull out at the last moment and sleepovers have dampened squad member’s enthusiasm. Shouts of ‘are you Teddington in disguise?’ as both teams have turned up in the same colours , not a huge shock to me as Crystal Palace, the Eagles of Selhurst Park, have worn stripes since I was a boy. So its luminous bibs for us and, as usual, we keep the opposition waiting as we go through our inspirational team talk. Sadie is a victim of the warm up as she tears (rhymes with bears) her hamstring and limps off home.

Right from the kick off we are at it again, beautiful football with a Sarah pull back of Johan Cruyff brilliance, a move up the wing and a shot from Elin saved by the keeper.  

 

Great work from Alice and Hannah Reiter as the team ticky tacs its way forward.  But it’s Ruby who stars in the half. Up the wing she twice beats her marker before picking up the ball on the edge of area and drilling the ball past the keeper. GOALLLLLLLLNUMBER1

“She wasn’t even supposed to be playing” shouts the relieved coach “she had been to a sleepover and had turned up because she likes to be involved”.

Wave after wave of attacking football, a Ruby back heel, applause from a man and a dog (sorry, man with a dog). The ball finally says hello to our half only for Kathryn to brilliantly anticipate it’s movement and stop it on the edge of the area. Alice is floored, Sarah makes a great tackle, a long ranger from Charlotje takes off in slow motion but grazes the post. Ruby through again narrowly misses, Hannah Reiter tackled on the edge of the area and the free kick plays skittles with the defenders, but the goalie catches.  

Our defence is officially bored.

An in swinging corner from Erin, a pull back from Ruby, a corner, Sophia to Charlotje and Erin just over the bar in the move of the game. Another shot from Bella, they are queuing up and then a through ball into the area that both our forwards miss, Ed sinks to his knees and tells me not to report what he said (all will be revealed in Holland).

A majestic long range free kick from Elin which results in two point blank saves from the goalie , Elin a shot again saved.  Long shot from Charlotje and a header away to clear the lines from Issy and great play from Hannah Rose.  Half Time ‘We’re not out of it yet’ heard from the Palace lines.  Ed’s immortal half time talk highlighted by telling Sarah that whatever she had for breakfast to keep taking it. Shouts of “pretend it is still 0-0” are complemented by a cartwheel from Sarah.

And off they went again, early shot from Elin, another shot from Elin, goalkeeper saves again and again she is having a great game …………….except…….she can’t kick the ball, a goal kick barely reaches the edge of the area, Ruby gets it and smashes it into the net. GOALLLLLLLLLLLLNUMBER 2

ANOTHER  corner, the ball comes over and Charlotje is there to put it away again  GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLNUMBER 3

The crowd go mad (well all except her mum who was chatting & missed seeing the ball hit the back of the net). Hannah R on the break is just put off and her shot narrowly missed the post.  Sofia takes out their winger (18) which is seen by some as justice for all the times 18 has reciprocated.  Sophia then magically throws the ball half the length of the pitch. The defence marking their opponents so close that they dance together down the pitch. 

Bella does the tackle of the match and Hannah Reiter is gracefully brought down just outside the penalty area. Another poor kick from the goalie and another shot missed, long corners, a sweet volley from Ruby, Jen a great ball to split the defence and then Palace nearly have a shot - the tumbleweed moves aside in Kathryn’s goal.

Issy beats two players and put in a great pass.  Elin taken out by ‘Steph’ again, again, again. Then at last another goal from Charlotje after another Erin corner GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLNUMBER 4.

Alice then tries to  chip the goalkeeper from a distance and Hannah Rose tries to face the ball into the net from a corner. Unfortunately a bit of edge enters the game as Elin is caught in the mouth by a flailing arm and Ruby is brought down and is hurt.  The girls play on gallantly and keep going until the end .

The whistle blows, another victory and we completely dominated the play. Well done Ed and a great fillip for Christelle who missed a great performance.  Great corners, great pressure, controlled defence and really getting under the skin of the opposition.