Sunday 11th April 2021
Squad: Ellie, Evie, Ava (Captain), Sophia K, Hannah, Izzy, Cara, Priya, Robyn, Sophie, Sophia W, Kelsey
Sponsor: Lisa Collins Hair Design
The first game after the restart saw Rugby Town host AFC Leicester with Rugby Town still looking for to pick up their first points of the 2020/21 season.
1st Half
AFC Leicester started strongly and gad some quick players for Rugby to try and keep under control. And early shot on the Rugby goal saw the show go wide.
Sophia kicked to Ellie who had a fair crack from a good way outside the area, ball going just wide of the upright.
Leicester were keen to take advantage of any Rugby errors and a Leicester attack, with a good clearance from Hannah was picked up again by the opposition who didn’t waste their second attempt on opened their score line.
0-1
Leicester continued to press and an accomplished throw in and well worked passing allowed them to increase their lead
0-2
Rugby were now settling into their game and were seeing more play in midfield and the Leicester final third. And handball by Rugby provided a free kick to Leicester who organised a strong attacking play. Izzy did an excellent job in neutralising the threat and allowing Sophia to safely gather the ball.
Cara had a tough game on the right wing as she had some speedy Leicester players to keep an eye on. Cara’s speed is really picking up and she had a very good first half.
Sophie in left back, was also having a tough same against the sprightly Leicester wingers, but her natural tenacity meant she kept working really hard throughout the half.
Freekick to Rugby, with a strong signature delivery by Ellie through to Kelsey, who was by now being heavily marked throughout the game, was bundled off her shot which just went wide.
Rugby were still striving to get back into the game, good pressing play flustered the Leicester keeper who handled the ball outside the box. Ellie struck and great free kick forcing Leicester to clear and gift Rugby a corner. Ellie took the corner but a soft shot saw the ball wide for a goal kick.
Leicester pegged Rugby back and were chasing their 3rd goal, a clearance from the Rugby defence allowed Leicester a corner which was struck well but sailed high over the Rugby crossbar. A good goal kick from Sophia allowed Rugby to run at Leicester.
A forceful Leicester tackle provided a Rugby free kick, delivered by Ellie, up to Kelsey who battled her was into the box and was unceremoniously dumped on the floor by a Leicester defender. Penalty to Rugby.
Kelsey was cool and calm and slotted away a lovely penalty, reducing the Rugby deficit
1-2
The first half continued with both side winning a number on penalties. Rugby were playing with a good sense of purpose, but Leicester were proving a very strong side to break down. Leicester were taking any change to press Rugby which the Rugby defence were generally absorbing well until a very strong run down and shot from the left ended up in the top right corner of the Rugby goal.
1-3
When receiving the ball, Kelsey and Priya up front were working really hard to put together some productive passes and crosses to open the play up. However, the Leicester defence were not intimidated and held first, especially their number 10 who was excellent and earned praise from the Rugby coach when she was subbed off.
Robyn was being roughed up in midfield and was working her socks off to break the Leicester play up and made some pretty good clearances with her head.
Coming toward the end of the half, Leicester turned it up a gear and Rugby were really struggling to clear their lines. Several Leicester corners were either wide or saved by Sophia, who certainly worked hard to keep the Leicester score line as low as possible. However, the Rugby luck ran out and two corners in quick succession were both fruitful for Leicester who increased their score to 5 going into the break
2nd Half
Sophia K, Ava and Evie were our half time subs and the team now had to put in some hard work if they wanted to reduce the Leicester lead.
Sophia K had a very strong half indeed, with some of the best football we have seen her play. Evie was thrust into battle over on the right wing, and Ava sat just in front of Sophia K on the left with a view to feeding the ball up to Kelsey and Priya.
Rugby picked up the pace and determination and they physical presence on the pitch was much better, showing much more strength in the 1 on 1 play. Rugby conceded a couple of free kicks from fouls as they really were strong in taking the game to Leicester and were doing well to keep Leicester at bay.
One of Leicester’s free kicks shot straight through the wall and left passed Sophia, stretching their lead to 1-6
Ellie was managing to get some through balls to Kelsey and Priya, allowing several runs of goal from the Rugby forwards. Kelsey was desperate to find a small gap through but the Leicester defence was providing impenetrable.
Rugby did manage to get a few shots on goal from distance, Priya had a tight angle and hit the side netting and Ava skipped just right of the post, denying Rugby what would have been a deserved second goal.
Summary
Rugby Town 1 – 6 AFC Leicester
A much stronger second half from Rugby and some positives to take away from the game. Rugby need to work on defending set pieces, which we will take away to the training ground.
Coaches player: Sophia K, for a very strong defensive performance and some of the best play we have seen from Sophia so far.
Parents player: Hannah, good play in central defence which got stronger as the game progressed
Thank you to the U14 parents for your support and for helping with kit put away, Dave for refereeing and Andrew for running the line.