Rugby Town Ladies sponsored by Jamesway Travel returned to action this week against Droitwich Spa ladies at home at Kilsby Lane. With Rugby plagued by injuries, they were able to field a full squad but with no substitutes, only three injured players on the sideline. Rugby started well playing some good football instantly putting the pressure on the Droitwich back line.
Caitlin Revan picked out a perfect pass for Emma Atkinson to run onto placing it past the keeper 1-0.
Droitwich didn’t take too long to equalize bringing the score equal 1-1. Rugby very much still in the game continued to work hard to create chances, a great ball crossed into the box from Emma Atkinson was headed in by Kerri Young taking the score to 2-1.
However, a lapse in concentration allowed a player from Droitwich to shoot lofting the keeper for 2-2. Within five minutes, the exact same thing happened again allowing Droitwich to lead 3-2 at half time. Following an injury at the end of the first half, Rugby had to play the second half with only 10 players and change goalkeepers putting Kelly Worthington in. With all to play for the ladies battled hard everywhere on the pitch, centre backs Adele Rogers and Hannah Parker worked well together getting the ball away from danger. It didn’t take long for more goals to be scored when the ladies equalized from a corner through Andie Coupland who was able to get on the end of a great kick from Emma Atkinson. 3-3.
The ladies continued to work for each other and defended well, with some great work from Caitlin Revan and Andie Coupland in the middle keeping Droitwich from pressuring the Rugby goal. Kelly Worthington pulled off a great save getting hands to a Droitwich shot and pushing it out for a corner which Rugby were able to defend. Emma Atkinson made the score 4-3 through some excellent running making no mistakes when faced one on one with the keeper.
Rugby kept the high work rate going with Kerri Young keeping the ball in from going out of play and playing the ball to Loren Bliss who set Grace Keenan up for a great shot from outside of the area that hit the top left corner.
The ladies led 5-3. With twenty minutes to go, Droitwich were able to finish from a corner to bring the score to 5-4. The ladies kept it disciplined at the back for the rest of the game, making no mistakes giving them a well deserved victory and three points in the league.
A spirited performance from the ladies where chances were taken despite being down to 10 players for the second half. The ladies play Gornal next weekend away hoping to build on this weeks performance.
Jamesway Travel Player of the Match: Andie Coupland
Photos credited to Lelde Ozolina.
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