Asfordby v Rugby Town U15 Sunday 8th October
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“Home & Away…closer each day!”
Rugby travelled to Asfordby for an earlier than usual kick off. Our hosts finished one point ahead of us last season but currently occupy bottom spot having lost all of their games so far this year. They had an encouraging result last week, losing narrowly to 3rd placed Loughborough, and so it was important that we didn’t take anything for granted.
Ria and Ruby were both out through injury and illness, but Rugby welcomed back Fifi in goal.
Playing on a good surface Rugby looked to continue the style of football that has proven so effective, and in Grace R and Soapy they have two central midfielders who are becoming more and more confident in making the team tick over. Both looked comfortable in possession, often beating an opponent before playing a pass to their team mates.
Asfordby tried hard to press the ball and make it difficult, but Rugby played well to stretch the pitch, using our wide players to good effect. Cara in particular was a huge threat down the right and she was supported well by Hollie. Meanwhile Ellie showed some good touches in tight areas.
Rugby looked dangerous every time they went forward, and again, only a bit of quality and composure in front of goal was the difference in keeping the score at 0-0.
Soapy dug the ball out of her feet and unleashed a fearsome shot from 20 yards which rattled the bar. Chloe lashed two shots wide, and the hosts defended resolutely for 20 minutes…then, after the keeper made an initial save from Cara, who ran through on goal, she could do little to stop her bundling in the rebound from close range.
Cara had the best of her opposite number, and was now showing greater confidence to beat her 1v1. She delivered a superb cross and just when it looked like Jaz would head home at the back post it somehow missed everybody and the danger was cleared. Cara, not content with one goal then also hit the woodwork when a swerving effort struck the corner of post and bar.
Fifi had yet to be tested when Asfordby were awarded a free kick within shooting range. It was well struck, Fifi managing to get a finger tip to the ball and deflect it onto the post. The rebound however found kindly and the Asfordby striker tapped it in…however, the ever eagle eyed Pierrick had spotted she was initially offside, and having come back from this position to be active, he rightly flagged for offside. This was a wake up call to the girls that the game needed putting to bed, and quickly.
Captain Soapy got good possession midway inside the Asfordby half and played a lovely ball in behind their defence, the keeper questioned whether to come and clear or get back, choosing the latter ultimately cost her as Chloe ran onto the ball and finished with a powerful side foot to the far corner.
HT 0-2
Pauline, Hav and Bailey replaced Macy, Chloe and Sofia.
The girls took a little time to settle in the second half, the ball at times being too quickly given away when keeping possession and moving our opponents around would have been the better option. However, Rugby were still very much in control, Jess and Jazmin once again showing great ability to snuff out any counter attacks.
Macy, Chloe and Sofia were reintroduced for Hollie, Cara and Ellie.
Within moments Sofia hits bar got played in, danced her way inside and became the third player to strike the bar, credit to the keeper who appeared to get an important touch on the shot.
Grace R was having her best game of the season, tenacious in the tackle and brilliant on the ball, she was pulling the strings in midfield.
Pauline and Jess both had lovely attacking dribbles with the ball down the right, and Hav was popping up in some good pockets of space.
Bailey, who was linking play well, played the ball back before spinning and running onto the subsequent through ball. Despite being forced a little wide she managed to adjust and pass the ball back across the keeper and into the net.
Bailey then turned provider when she cut inside and laid the ball into the path of Hav, she took it first time, and although not the cleanest of strikes, the accuracy proved decisive as it nestled into the corner of the goal.
There was still time for Ashfordby to pose a threat, only for Macy to twice recover and tackle excellently to prevent a clear shot on Fifi’s goal.
FT Asfordby 0-4 Rugby Town
Goals: Cara ⚽, Chloe ⚽, Bailey ⚽, Hav ⚽
Coaches Player of the Match: Grace R 🏆
Parents Player of the Match: Macy 🏆
Players Player of the Match: Grace R 🏆
This win sees the girls move up to second place. We have three very hard games in a row coming up, and the focus will be on playing well and the performance rather than the result. We are very capable of getting something from all three games, however I want to see us keep playing the right way and demonstrating that we are learning, if that in itself brings a result, great.
Well done to all the girls today. Big thanks again to Pierrick for running the line, an often thankless task but it allows myself and James to coach and that consistency of message definitely helps the girls.