| League match | ||||||
| SUN 25 NOV, 2pm | AFC Urmston Meadowside | 3 | v | 1 | Manchester Stingers | |
Scorers
Liz Poitier (25mins)
Player of the Match
Shelly Hollihead
Match Report
Fresh from a very satisfying and soul gratifying victory against Urmston at home
last week, the Yellows travelled to Urmston for the second meeting of the season
feeling confident. A bit of confusion as to the location of the game and some
very last minute injury worries left Coach feeling very flustered and threatening
to leave us to our own devices for turning up at away games from now on. It’s
now an empty threat, as I diffused the situation in my usual calm and reasonable
way using well thought out arguments.
The team sheet read like something that the Special One would have been proud of, as injury blows meant Coach had to change tactics and formation. Scouse, returning from holiday with a tan that matched my burnt caramel colouring was yanked out of midfield and put on left back duties, with Shelley and Rhianne at centre half and Helen shifting over to right back. The midfield was populated by Irish Nic and Jo in the centre, Gracie on left wing and Jinny on the right, with an unlikely strike force of Lizzie Big Toes and Blade up front.
The game started a bit like an old Skoda, spluttering and jerking and at times stalling at a green light. A tentative start by both sides playing cautious football made for tense viewing. Neither side looked comfortable, but as the game wore on, the Yellows picked up the pace and started looking sprightly. Some good work in the middle of the pitch by Jo and Nic opened up the game nicely. Gracie latched on to a nicely weighted throughball from Nic, and released a shot that went wide. The next 10 minutes were spent camped in the Urmston half, and the constant pressure and attacks on goal finally paid off when Liz picked up another through ball and coolly finished, displayed a lovely dummy and proving that she’s a right cheeky scouser by nutmegging the keeper. 1-0 to the deserved stingers.
Shortly after, and against the run of play, Urmston broke back in a counter attack, and whilst little Rhianne was strong and kept up with the forward, a little miscommunication between her and Jane saw the attacker go round Jane and put the ball in the back of the net for an equalizer. No mind, Stingers were all over Urmston and this was just a slight hiccup. Play resumed and the Yellows continued to harass Urmston’s defence, and the team did well to mute the threat of their number 7, who apparently had big feet. But they were well-trained big feet because she did make some good interceptions and passes when we let her. Another through ball and Lizzie outstretched the defenders with her equally outstretched big toes, and tried to place in the top right corner, only to be agonizingly denied by the bar. Even though we had most of the possession and looked the more the threatening side, you just got the feeling that the Yellows needed to cement their authority by getting one more goal before the break. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be, and the half time whistle went at 1-1.
A quick positive half time talk got the Stingers all geared up for more of the same in the second half. Urmston must have got a right bollocking because they came back strong, and gave our back four a proper run for their money. For some reason the Yellows couldn’t get their passing game going and just couldn’t manage to make in roads in to the opposition box. Jane was forced to make a terrific save when one on one with their number 4, and in the process fell over awkwardly and hurt her right knee. Being the true soldier she is, she opted to carry on, and Coach made sure there was a zimmer frame on hand in case she needed some support later. Good play by the Stingers broke down in the final third and Urmston made the most of this. Good passing saw them slowly make their way into the Yellows box, and their number 12, simulating a move made by Liz in the first half, latched on to a through ball and managed to slip one past Jane, who you could see was struggling to move her knee.
Fatigue set in as the game wore on, but heads did not go down, and the Yellows continued to fight for an equalizer that just never came. Yet again, Urmston’s number 12 miraculously got hold of the ball in the box through some faux pas in passing, and took advantage of Jane’s struggling right knee and slotted another one past her. 3-1 to Urmston and the Yellows now really needed to work hard to claw something back. Coach signalled to the subs to get warm (bit of an impossible task seeing as it was about minus 5 celcius and I could see my breath crystallizing in the cold winter air). Nonetheless, we got our pins out and started to look menacingly full of energy and gusto, in hope of scaring the opposition. In my case, I tried to look menacingly sexy, in hope of distracting the opposition. It didn’t work.
On 75 minutes Coach made her first change, and I stripped off my warmies and strutted onto the pitch to replace a hard working Gracie and this signalled a change in tactics. Rachel Blade moved on to the left and Lizzie dropped back to play off me in front. Pretty much my first touch was a fine run down the right to pick up a lovely pass from Jinny, and with my lightening fast pace, I left the defence behind. I was going a wee bit fast and couldn’t stop, so I released the ball as the keeper made herself very big and made a fine save. Minutes later I capitalized on a poor back pass from a very panic stricken defender and headed down on goal, I looked to place in the far left corner, but my lack of match practice got the better of me and I watched in horror as the ball inched just wide of the goal. I could feel the sighs of despair coming from the sidelines. Blade and Lizzie were replaced by Polly and Vicky Blue Eyes, and yet another formation change was spawned. The last 2 minutes of pressure must have given Coach hope, and we went to 4-3-3 to launch some scathing attacks on goal. Vicky Blue Eyes made a fine run down the right from near the half way line and unleashed shot on goal, which was saved by the keeper. From the left another effort from Polly, again saved by the keeper. We probably had more shots on goal in the last 10 minutes than we had in the entire second half, but all our efforts were to no avail as Urmston managed to hang on to 3-1 at the final whistle.
A very dejected set of Yellows players came off the pitch
feeling robbed of three points, and whilst we played very
well in the first half, we just didn’t keep our collective
foot on the gas in the second half, and we let Urmston back
in the game. However, a positive point to take away was
the number of shots on goal, which I’m sure surpassed
our entire tally for the season so far. We just need to
work on minimizing little errors with big consequences,
and focus on putting the ball in the back of the net when
we get the chance. That’s a mighty fine challenge
I’m confident the Yellows will live up to. C’mon,
prove me right, ladies.
Aisha Hayatuddini