Loughborough U15 v Rugby Town U15
Sunday 29th October
Rugby went into today’s game wanting to prove they deserved the lofty position of 2nd and could justify the tag of ‘title contenders’. After last weeks narrow and agonising top of the table defeat (5-6) to the league leaders Narborough, a 2nd vs 3rd game was certainly going to be a test of resilience and character as we looked to bounce back.
With this mornings hosts Loughborough competing in the ‘A League’, you have to go way back to 2021 for our last meetings. In October of that year Loughborough won 2-3 and then in the reverse fixture in December ran out comfortable winners 5-1.
With half term this week, we were without Sofia, Jess & Ria from the usual match day squad.
And so the scene was set, the girls were reminded of some key principles about how we wanted them to play and it was over to them…
If we were guilty of anything last time out it was that we started slowly, the same could not be said this time around! From the very first whistle the girls were pressurising their opposite numbers into making mistakes and then turning that turnover into good possession and excellent chances. Even before the first goal Rugby could have been 3 or 4 goals to the good. Some lovely sweeping moves saw Cara go close, and then Grace made room to unleash a powerful swerving shot from 18 yards that left the keeper with no chance. After working on corners recently it was pleasing to see us capitalise twice in the first half. Firstly Jaz was quick to react as the ball was flashed along the six yard box, and then Cara managed to force the ball in from close range after it deflected off a defender. Fifi made a great stop with her knees and was alert to force the Loughborough striker wide when 1v1. Meanwhile Pauline, Macy, Ruby and Jaz were excellent in defence to limit the hosts to very little else.
HT 0-3
At half time we talked about continuing the good work and not allowing our opponents back into the game. Essentially we agreed on the need to maintain performance levels right to the end and see where it got us. Chloe came on up front and Hollie replaced Ellie out wide. Hollie impacted the game immediately, her energy and determination is difficult to play against and she was rewarded when an excellent dipping effort hit the underside of the bar and went into the net. Chloe was dropping into pockets of space behind the Loughborough midfield and linking up well with Bailey and Cara, getting her goal with a screamer from 20 yards! Cara grabbed her 2nd of the game before having to be withdrawn with a pulled hamstring, and Hollie grabbed a brace when her cross-shot looped over the keeper and nestled inside the far post. With 10 minutes left we decided to change shape so the girls could experience a different dynamic to the game, Ellie moved into central midfield and soon got on the scoresheet with another wonderful goal from the edge of the box. By now the girls were playing some lovely football, Fifi, aside from the odd pass back to retain possession was redundant, and Loughborough failed to register a shot on or off target in the entire second half. The defence were so switched on and perhaps their concentration and determination to keep a clean sheet was epitomised by Pauline’s brilliantly timed slide tackle to thwart a Loughborough counter attack.
Meanwhile Rugby could and perhaps should have taken more of their chances, though it would have been harsh on their opponents to have suffered any heavier defeat than what was inflicted.
Well done to all the girls again today, a really superb team performance that demonstrates again how well the girls are doing both in training and then their ability to apply it so effectively in competitive matches.
Loughborough 0-8 Rugby Town
Goals: Hollie ⚽⚽, Cara ⚽⚽, Chloe ⚽, Grace R ⚽, Ellie ⚽, Jazmin ⚽.
Coaches Player: Grace R 🏆
Parents Player: Entire Squad 🏆
Players Player: Soapy & Grace R🏆
Thanks to James for running the line, Pierrick for his help coaching and encouraging the girls to play the right way, and to all the parents for your fantastic support of the coaches and the team!