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Venue: Butlin Road
Weather: Very wet
Squad: Lois, Emma, Zoe, Selina, Grace, Sophie, Ava (c), Rosie, Charlotte, Hev, Hav, Evelyn
We opened our league season with a visit from Kettering (who we played in a friendly two weeks before) in fairly wet and blustery conditions. The girls had been looking forward to getting this season fully underway for a while, and with a full squad they were in a focused and positive mindset from the start to take the game to one of the strongest teams in our league.
The first half started off in a slightly nervous fashion, with both teams struggling to get hold of the ball, but Rugby gradually came into the game and started passing the ball around with confidence and determination to break forward in attack. An early shot from Evelyn was well held by their keeper, and she followed this a few minutes later by out muscling her defender and rattling a shot off the post as Rugby gradually asserted themselves on the game.
The defence was looking very disciplined, maintaining their shape well and largely restricting the opposition from any meaningful chances. After 25 minutes Rugby broke the deadlock with a stunning goal from Evelyn. Charlotte played a dangerous ball down the wing and Evelyn held the ball up well near the touchline, jinked past three defenders and slammed an unstoppable shot into the corner.
Kettering responded immediately by pressing forward and carved out a few chances; Lois turning one shot on to the post, and Rugby got extremely lucky from a defensive mix-up that resulted in Kettering hitting the bar, but after weathering the storm Rugby increased their lead from a corner routine that we’d been practicing. Rosie played a low hard pass into the near post and Evelyn was there to fire the ball home. With minutes remaining, a great break saw Charlotte played through and after taking a great touch fired a shot in from just outside the box which the Kettering goalkeeper did well to turn behind.
HT: Rugby Town 2 – 0 Kettering
At half time we discussed the importance of getting the next goal, and also showing resilience if Kettering started to come back into the game. After a few changes, with Hev & Hav coming on for Sophie and Rosie, Rugby started well again, forcing a succession of corners and sustained pressure. After winning yet another corner, Rugby scored a well-deserved third goal as Ava fired in a wicked delivery and Evelyn volleyed home for her hat trick.
With a quarter of the game remaining, Kettering changed their shape and gave their particularly talented and powerful forward freedom to run at our back line. This paid immediate dividends as a quick break resulted in a powerful goal being fired past Lois. Rugby refused to allow themselves to be panicked and carried on pressing forward with Charlotte causing the Kettering defence all sorts of problems with her running in behind.
Another break by the Kettering forward reduced the arrears again to create a nervous last 5 minutes. Sophie came back into the back 3 to shore us up, and Zoe was a powerful presence hunting down anyone who breached the defensive line with some perfectly timed challenges. Another scramble in the box almost brought an equaliser, but Rugby were able to see out the rest of the game by pressing forward when they could. There was relief at the final whistle as the girls knew that they had managed to hold on!
FT: Rugby Town 3 – 2 Kettering
Overall Performance: The performance from the whole team was excellent – positive and encouraging from start to finish. The defence were well organised and calm in possession, midfield harried and broke forward with ambition and Evelyn led the line brilliantly with tireless running and a superb show of strength and finishing.
Parent’s Player(s): The entire team. Never stopped, never gave up and encouraged each other throughout the match.
Coaches Player(s): Evelyn, Zoe & Ava. Evelyn for a stunning display of running and finishing. Zoe for being a colossus at the back with some well timed challenges. Ava for a real captain’s performance, dominant in possession and kept the team’s spirits high throughout.
Thanks to Tony D for running the line, and for the parents for their help clearing up and their positive support throughout.