Match Report by Jo Price
Having lost our last match against Ashford, 2-3 away from home , we were hopeful of turning the tables this time around.
Our opposition had been hit with illness and injury and arrived fielding only 10 players but we knew from our previous encounters that this would still prove to be a tough battle.
We started well, making good use of our extra field player maintaining good possession, and producing a strong attack, particularly down the right side. This produced several scoring opportunities and around 20 minutes in a good strike to the top of the D enabled Annette time to steady herself for a well timed shot into the corner of the goal.
Antiques showed no sign of deflation displaying both speed and tenacity, especially in the midfield and leaving us under no illusion of how dangerous they could be, if allowed any space in our defensive circle.
Coming out for the second half, still with only a one nil lead we were well aware that we needed to up the tempo and drive at them to draw mistakes and improve on our scoreline. We were able to do this with some success but for all our possession we could not create a space enabling us to hit the backboard again.
This appeared to give heart to Ashford as they continued to scrap for every ball, and were eventually rewarded when an incisive move through the centre found a player on the post who decisively prodded home.
Momentum was now with the away side with both sides, wrestling to maintain possession. A slick ball to their impressive, C M at the top of the D was initially well marked and preventing the shot on goal, but her pass away to the left was pushed through, and again found a player on the post, who gratefully smashed it past our keeper.
With 10 minutes to go, we pushed forward en masse leading to a number of short corners but Ashford could now afford to defend ,getting all their players behind the ball, and despite all our best efforts- the pick being a fantastic strike by Caroline in the dying seconds, which produced an equally brilliant save from their keeper.
A disappointing result for us despite a good team performance, but a great game to be part of – competitive and hard fought throughout, but ultimately won by the team who could best take their chances.
Next game O55s cap match, v Saint Albans away on the 3rd of December. 2 pm. PB.
