Sunday 9th October
Squad: Ellie, Ava, Izzy, Cara, Kelsey (Captain), Sophia W, Priya, Ella, Sophia K, Robyn, Millie, Rosie, Lucy, Zoe
Sponsor: Lisa Collins Hair Design
Rugby Town U16 we back on home turf (Astro) today as they hosted Leicester City Ladies at Butlin Road.
Rugby were looking to pick up an important 3 points and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
First Half
Rugby were asked to ensure focus from the whistle to prevent conceding any goals in the opening minutes, something that has trouble them over the last few weeks. Nothing to worry about this morning as both teams spent the opening 10 minutes getting the measure of each other with some tippy tappy football from both sides.
Rugby started cranking up the game and were passing the ball quickly and controlling the game well. The midfield players worked the ball forward to the front two and Rosie handled the pass, well – controlled and moved and played a very useful ball to Kelsey, banging in for the opening goal of the game.
RTGWFC 1 – 0 LCL
Ella (LB) was mastering the position and happy to play higher to limit the any opportunities for LCL to break on the left. Playing high and releasing well, up to Ava who utilised her long stride and confident on ball skills to take up to the left of the LCL 18yd box, slipping the ball to Kelsey for goal #2
RTGWFC 2 -0 LCL
Back into the thick of it and Ava made another audacious run, into the opposition box and forcing the keeper to make a save. The ball was only parried out to Rosie who took her opportunity and was unlucky to see her shot blast just over the Leicester cross bar.
The defensive four of Elle, Ellie, Sophia K and Lucy – with Robyn slightly higher in defensive MF, were having a cracking half. Communication between them was much improved and there off ball movement was much more effective allowing them to deal with most issues.
However, halfway through the half, the two Rugby centre backs were split, and allowed the LCL forward to run through and chip a very nice ball over Sophia W, reducing their deficit.
RTGWFC 2 – 1 LCL
Rosie <-> Zoe
In goal, Sophia W was having a confident game, showing all her hard work in training is paying off. Her decision making was great, her control of her defence effective and her ball handling was solid.
Priya (LW) was having an outrageous half, stealing balls in midfield whenever she got a change, harassing the LCL midfield and makings some great ground eating forward play.
Sophia K <-> Izzy
A slightly calmer period ensued, broken only by corners for both teams. Neither of which gave either team any issues in clearing.
Ella <🡪 Cara
RTGWFC 4 -1 LCL
Cara (LB) had joined the fray and was busy fending off some speculative half runs from LCL. Cara held up well and was clever in using Ava (LM) and Robyn (DM) to work the play back into the Leicester half.
Rugby then won another corner, Ava delivering exceptionally well right into the middle of the Leicester box, the visitors scrambling to clear, but an ineffectual toe poke only delivered the ball to Zoe, haunting the 18 yd box, who was not going to miss the opportunity to score her first of the season.
RTGWFC 3 – 1 LCL
The home side was now relentless with wave after wave of pressing the visitors. Millie, another work horse of a midfielder, happily won an arial ball, dribble forward and stuck a sweet through ball to Kelsey to run on to for her hattrick – her third hattrick in 5 games!
RTGWFC 4 -1 LCL
Another corner for Rugby, another great delivery by Ava and a great header by Millie was so, so close, only cleared by the Leicester keepers’ fingertips who parried out to Ava, who had run in and who just shot wide of the right hand upright.
Final play of the half continued with Rugby dominating, another Kelsey run, and a Leicester save.
Second Half
Rugby were a little twitchy at the start of the second half and clearly needed to settle and find the calm controlled attitude they displayed in the first half.
LCL took advantage of a dip in the home teams’ concentration and structured a well thought out counterattack leaving Sophia W with not much hope of keeping the ball out of the Rugby net.
RTGWFC 4 -2 LCL
LCL were buoyed up by clawing another goal back and were putting a good amount of pressure on the Rugby defenders. Ellie (CB) had to engage with confidence and performance several impressive defensive headers.
Rugby’s energy remained a bit flat, which further encouraged Leicester to attack. Rugby had to clear their lines a few times, one clearance led to a LCL corner, which was converted by a soft (but effective) header, bringing them ever closer to levelling the score line
RTGWFC 4 – 3 LCL
Millie <-> Sophia K
Zoe <-> Rosie
Cara <-> Ella
Rugby were making hard work of getting back into the game. However, finally they played a break and were pressing up the left of the pitch. A clumsy LCL tackle provided Rugby with good opportunity as they were awarded a free kick a little way back from the left of the 18 yd box.
Unusually, when were are so deep into the attacking half, Ellie (CB) jogged up to take, hoping one of her thunderous kicks would prove fruitful. Stepping up and kicking through the ball, bending round the LCL defensive wall and easily past to the left of the keeper to put some space again in the score line.
RTGWFC 5 – 3 LCL
Both teams were now tiring but Rugby continued to press. More smart play from Ava and Kelsey saw Kelsey’s shot saved.
Lucy had transferred out onto the left wing and was putting in an inspired shift with some fantastic long distance and speedy runs up the left of the pitch which Leicester were having trouble containing. One of her runs resulting to a cross/shot which was collected by the Leicester keeper.
3 Rugby throws in a row allowed the home side to gain ground again and some strong play by Rosie kept the ball in the Leicester half.
The last 10 minutes of the game were certainly slower, but still had some action to see out with another Rugby free kick, saved by the keeper. Rosie, Ava, and Kelsey mounted a last attack up the middle of the pitch, with Kelsey seeing another shot saved.
Last action was another Lucy run, fantastic cross, and Kelsey positioned great in the box, just missing the ball with her tip toes.
Summary
Rugby Town 5 – 3 Leicester City Ladies
Captains’ player of the match: Lucy. A great all-round performance but especially for an epic performance on the right wing with some blistering ¾ pitch runs and deep, well-placed crosses.
Managers player of the match: Priya. Another game of Priya giving her all. First half particularly sound with great position midfield and theft of the ball at every opportunity.
Thank you to Dave for refereeing, Darren for running the line and all the U16 parents for your support.