Sunday 4th February
“Hard earned point”
Sponsored by Shaw Haul Clearz All, SCR DOORS and Life Investment Estate Agents
Before we reflect on the game today I’d like to give you one of my favourite quotes, it’s from Rafa Nadal when asked about how he is able to compete so consistently at such high intensity and how he copes with the pressure playing at that level brings…his answer was beautifully simple;
“…play every game like your very life depends on it, but know that it doesn’t.”
The girls should be a little disappointed with the team performance, and I hope they are able to pinpoint some of their own individual EBI’s that they can work on and improve for the next time they play. However, it’s really important that once they’ve done that, they park any negative thoughts and remember that at the end of the day, it’s just a game.
For whatever reason, too many of the team were just a little off it this morning, and it only takes one or two for the team shape and structure, and the patterns of play we’ve worked hard on to fall down. For example, if the movement to receive isn’t there, then no number of good touches or composure is going to make up for the lack of options to pass to. It may have been the miserable weather, the long away travel, the early morning, or even the lack of half time oranges and Jaffa cakes š…but for some reason we just couldn’t get going.
There were some positives though, the defence (Ria, Macy, Ruby and Jaz) did really well and limited Bosworth to just two long shots all game (though both hit the post), and Fifi built on her strong showing last time out with another assured display in goal. This ultimately led to another clean sheet and it really does say a lot about the girls high standards when we are walking away a little deflated from a draw away from home against a dangerous side.
The first half saw both teams have just one real chance on goal, Bosworths the aforementioned shot against the post, and Rugby saw Cara go in bravely with the goalkeeper who smothered well.
Bosworth had dropped deep and limited the ability for the girls to play in behind and so we were having to find another solution to break them down. Ellie and Bailey were getting some joy out wide but were unable to find the killer pass or cross when they did manage to beat the defence.
In midfield Sophie and Grace were working hard against dogged opposition. Rugby were guilty of taking just a little too long to make their decisions, and even when they got this right, the angle or weight of pass was just not quite as good as it needed to be. As such the service for the front two of Cara and Chloe (latterly Sofia) meant they were feeding off of scraps.
HT 0-0
The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first with both teams trying without much luck to assert some sort of dominance over the other. The girls were trying to get the ball down, but there was a lack of explosive movement and players were too often closing down on their own rather than in the packs they have been doing so well in previous games. We were let off when a fantastic strike seemed destined for the corner only to slam off the inside of the post, a coat of paint less and it would have seen Bosworth take the lead.
As I explained to the girls at the end, we all make mistakes and that is part of learning, so long as we acknowledge and action them we are always improving, both as individuals and as a team, and that includes everyone on the journey, coaches and parents alike. My own admission today was that I left it too long to change shape. With the opposition adopting a 4-5-1 I was concerned that we’d be overloaded in wide areas but at the same time wanted to add an extra body in central midfield to gain better control of that crucial area of the pitch. With around 10 minutes left we made the change to a 3-4-3 and I felt that we were then on the front foot, I should have had the conviction to change this far earlier.
Cara began to get more of the ball and brought out a good save from the keeper, and both Grace and Ellie had good long range of efforts also. Meanwhile Ellie and Bailey were able to play higher and this in turn meant players like Ria had more confidence to push on and support in more offensive positions.
Unfortunately, just as we began to increase our intensity the referee blew for full time.
Let’s also give credit to our hosts today, who certainly played very well.
FT 0-0
Coaches PotM: Jazmin š
Parents PotM: Ria š
Players PotM: Bailey š
We all love to see the girls perform well and win games, it makes for a much easier car journey home š…but games like this will really help their development as footballers, and probably people as they learn to regulate their emotions and contextualise football in a broader picture. So, chin up, shoulders back, and smile…there were plenty of people (young and old) sat on their bum or phones whilst our girls were up and out at 0830am to compete, so credit to them šš¼. It wasn’t perfect today, but none of us can pretend that we always are in our various endeavours, as such it is normal to expect the occasional dip. We’ll work together on the EBI’s this week and we’ve got a break before we play Bosworth again at home, let’s look at that as a measure of whether we’re able to dust ourselves down, learn, and apply our new understanding to get the better of them next time…
With the two week break we are hopefully to have Pauline, Jess and Hav back in contention to make the squad, though Hollie and Adi remain longer term absences through injury, we continue to wish them well and a speedy recovery šš¼.
Thanks to Bob and James for running the line, and to the parents for staying positive and encouraging the girls. Even when it’s a nervous watch, please keep bringing the positive energy as the girl’s can be driven on by this, knowing you always see the best in them, especially when they might not see it in themselves is so vitally important š©µ.
All the best,
The Coaches.