Sunday 26th January
Sponsor: Lisa Collins Hair Design
Rugby Town Squad: Ellie, Hannah, Tash, Evie, Robyn, Sophia, Kelsey, Ava, Lucy, Sophie, Mia (C) Priya, Izzy, Ella, Sophia K, Cara
Rugby Town welcomed 2 new squad signings, Sophia K and Cara, for their inaugural game for the U13s. A now very large Rugby Town squad gathered at Butlin Road to continue their excellent league run and maintain dominance at the top of the league table.
1st Half
RT started strong from the whistle with a positive mindset to push forward. Cara, in her debut match, had an excellent half on the right wing, marking her opposition perfectly and limiting her to no more than 2 touches of the ball all half! Several confident early pushes by both Tash and Ava saw an easy save and a couple of wide shots but showing early promise from both players. 2 corners for DB were well defended by RT and proved the work done by Rich with the defenders in training is really paying off.
The back three of Ella, Mia and Lucy had a great half, positive tackling and sensible clearances meant Sophia had a reasonably trouble free first half in goal. Sophia’s goal kicks were on point today. A great ball from Sophia up field, found Tash, who made a great run and forced a committed save from the DB keeper.
Robyn, in centre midfield had a very positive half and was excellent at, literally, using her head today, making a number of very useful defensive headers. Ava, on the left wing, formed a good team with Robyn to her right and Tash in front. Ava’s standard high work rate provided Rugby with a very solid and safe left wing today.
Sophia played another great ball out to Task who picked up just left of midfield, drove the ball forward and putting in an excellent spin to turn the DB defender, flick the ball in past the keeper to open the scoresheet for Rugby.
Rugby Town 1 – 0 Dunton and Boughton
From the restart, RT maintained their momentum, and another good partnered run by Tash and Ava saw Ava’s shot on target denied by the DB keeper. Mia had an excellent period in central defence, her dogged determination to deny access to goal was perfect and her work rate today was commendable. Back out up front and Evie’s impressive game awareness allowed her to set up a shot, parried by the keeper for a corner.
The Rugby forwards have been working on corner set pieces in training and their coaches asked them before the game to focus on two types of corners, one that Hannah came up with, and one a more traditional short corner. These corners are now code named the “Tash” and the “Hannah”. When given the opportunity, the team delivered both types of corners very well indeed.
Evie, Tash and Ava were now causing chaos up front and DB were pulling their player back against the onslaught. Evie feeding in well to the centre and Tash laying off to Ava on the left, just denied by the left post. In the closing minutes, Tash delivered in a lovely “Hannah” corner, Evie drifted back towards the far post as practiced, the DB not picking her up, allowing Evie the space she needed to calmed stick the ball in the right of the net.
Rugby Town 2 – 0 Dunton and Boughton
2nd Half
Lots of fresh legs for the second half with Rugby keen to put the game out of Dunton and Boughton’s reach. DB clearly decided they didn’t approve of Rugby’s intentions and started the second half off with fire in their bellies, putting more pressure on the back three of Mia, Sophie and Izzy.
Ellie, in centre midfield, won possession and played a great through ball to Hannah on the left. Hannah made a strong run upfield and released a very good strike from a tight angle, forcing the DB keeper to save. DB kept pushing their players forward, but Izzy was on form today with some excellent work in RB, teaming up with Sophie in CB. Sophie was clearly not going to be intimidated by a very sprightly DB forward and they found themselves in a shoulder to shoulder battle a number of times during the half.
Priya, on the right wing, had a cracking half, playing some really intelligent football and providing excellent balls forward to the Rugby midfield and forward players. One ball found Kelsey charging in from the right side of the pitch who collected and forced another very good save from the DB keeper. RT win the corner and Hannah delivers a great “Tash” corner over to the far post where Ellie was waiting Ellie had a couple of touches to dismiss the DB defenders and slotted the ball into the right side of the net for her first goal of the season.
Rugby Town 3 – 0 Dunton and Boughton
Kelsey was chomping at the bit for her opening goal and she again took on and beat a couple of DB defenders, only to be denied by a very hard-working DB keeper. DB bit back and had a spell of counterattack against Rugby. Their quick forward managing to find the space she needed to release a few shots at the RT goal. Sophia provided excellent cover. One save in particular, a left-hand sprawling dive to knock the ball around the left post was spectacular.
RT back on the attack with some great movement on the ball between Hannah, Kelsey and Ellie culminating in a cross in from Kelsey, a collection, turn and thundering shot from Ellie into the left side of the net.
Rugby Town 4 – 0 Dunton and Boughton
Kelsey was still harassing the DB defence at every given opportunity and her determination and tenacity to score resulted in several more shots saved or just wide. Kelsey and Ellie pushes resulted in a couple of offside calls in the space of a few minutes. Sophia K, on the left wing, had an epic half in her debut for RT. Her on ball skills were extremely impressive, showing massive confidence and skill. Her teamwork and game awareness was also exemplary, creating lots of productive play.
Kelsey, Hannah and Ellie were pushing hard for RT 5thgoal, Hannah unlucky see a good shot just go wide. Kelsey picked up the goal kick, and another excellent individual effort to beat the DB defenders was again saved by the DB keeper. A loose ball calmly collected by Sophia, was kicked up field for Ellie to pick up, pass forward to a marauding Kelsey, who ran on and finally, and deservedly, stuck the ball into the left of the DB keeper.
Rugby Town 5 – 0 Dunton and Boughton
Rugby were dominant in midfield and Dunton now had the wind well and truly knocked out of their sails. The RT team kept playing hard in the final few minutes, making sure marking was tight to prevent DB opportunity for space and playing positive in possession football.
Summary
Rugby Town 5 – 0 Dunton and Boughton United
Excellent play from all the team today. Achieving a clean sheet was perfect and well deserved. The practiced set pieces were excellent, teamwork impressive and work rate from all the player 100%
Coaches Player of the Match: for a strong and determined performance in centre midfield and for 2 goals, including a very impressive second; Ellie
Parents Player of the Match: for an excellent display of teamwork and ball skills in her first match for the U13s; Sophia K
The team and coaches would like to thank:
- Parents for your continuing support
- Keith for linesman duty
- Dave for refereeing