Rugby Town Women v Redditch United Women
West Midlands Regional Women Division 1 South – LeagueGame
Sunday 22nd October
Squad: Katie(Captain) Leah, Amber, Hannah, Caitlin, Grace, Loren, Amy, Kirsty, Robyn,Nicole
Substitutes: Ellie, Laura B, Kelsey, Sara
Sponsor: Melbros, Jamesway Travel, Keller, ASGPrecision, Gripper Differentials, LH Services Ltd and Life Investments Estate Agents
Back to league action as we welcomed Redditch United to ButlinRoad. Rugby beat Redditch last week in thecounty cup and were hoping to continue the success in today’s league game.
First Half
The opening minutes of the game start at a frantic pace as both teams look to settle down into the game. An early shot by Caitlin flashes past the upright.
Rugby win a corner but Grace’s delivery is driven behind the net. A brief pause for an injury leads to a drop ball for Rugby, taken by Hannah into Loren, but the ball is out of play for a goal kick.
Redditch win a free kick, but the powerful shot sails over the crossbar. The match remains pretty even with both teams working hard. Karie has a long-range effort, but the Redditch keeper collects with minimal issue. Caitlin then gets the opportunity for a long-range effort, again the Redditch keeper is ready to collect.
Grace, Caitlin and Nicole work together well and look threatening and earn Rugby a corner. Nicole delivers a fantastic ball over to the far post and Katie is there to head in the ball for a great opening goal. Only a minute or so later, Amy plays a really useful ball forward, finding Nicole who displays some agile footwork and sticks in Rugby’s 2nd of the game.
Redditch are not intending to take being behind get to them and have a productive press forward against the Rugby midfield and back four. Amber performs an excellent, and much needed defensive header to prevent Redditch from having a clear run at goal.
Nicole <-> Kelsey
Redditch are having a good spell and Rugby need to keep sharp. Grace perfectly times a slide tackle deep in Rugby’s defensive third.
Loren <-> Nicole
Rugby win a corner, this time Hannah takes the corner, and another great delivery allows Katie the opportunity to again bundle the ball over the line for her 2nd of the game and Rugby’s 3rd.
Shortly after, Amy turns provider again, providing Kelsey the chance to take on and beat the Redditch defence and drive the ball past the Redditch keeper, who despite getting her fingers on the ball, can’t keep it out of the back of her net.
From the restart, Nicole has another opportunity on goal but shoots wide. Redditch then have the chance to press Rugby again and apply the pressure well to allow a shot and were disappointed to see the ball fly over the Rugby crossbar. Redditch then secure two corners in quick succession but can’t covert either opportunity into a goal.
The final minutes of the half sees Rugby maintain their high press well. And there is time for Hannah and Kelsey to mount a final attack, the keeper collecting and removing the threat.
Second Half
Amy <-> Ellie
Kirsty <-> Laura B
Ellie, Kelsey and Nicole find space and use it well, releasing Nicole for a change on goal but the Redditch defence and ready and clear the ball well. It is the turn of Grace, Kelsey, and Nicole to mount their attach, but again, the Redditch defence frustrate the hosts by clipping their wings and forcing Rugby back into midfield.
Redditch win a corner, but the ball goes out for a goal kick. Back into the fray and Grace, Hannah and Kelsey again mount a strong press but cannot find that last few feet to cause Redditch any significant issues.
Robyn <-> Kirsty
Rugby are showing patience and are generally dominating the play, biding their time until space opens for another attack. A clumsy tackle sees Redditch awarded a free kick in a very dangerous area, just outside the Rugby box. The Rugby wall contains Ellie, Grace, Kirsty and Laura who have to hold their nerve. The free kick is delivered by Redditch’s number 6 and is well held by Leah.
Rugby win a free kick, delivered by Nicole and tapped out for a corner. Hannah delivers but the ball is over the back of the net. From the goal kick, Redditch pounce and made a quick run up field, winning a corner. A curling delivery beats Leah at the far post and Redditch pull a goal back.
Redditch are reignited by the goal and shortly after force Leah into a save from a long-range shot. Rugby look to be tiring slightly and are not as tight as they were during the first half of the match.
Ellie <-> Sara
Caitlin, Nicole and Sara team up and Sara see her shot pushed out for a corner. Hannah delivers and Katie rises to meet but Redditch clear well. Hannah plays the ball back into Nicole who delivers a fantastic cross, unfortunately the Rugby forwards haven’t timed their runs correctly and the ball is cleared out. The last major action of the game goes Rugby’s way as Loren and Nicole team up Nicole, seeing the keeper well off her line, pops up a lovely chip for her 2nd and Rugby’s 5th.
Summary
Rugby Town 5 (Katie 2, Nicole 2, Kelsey 1) – 1 Redditch United
A very strong first half allowed the home side to dominate the scoreline and sees Rugby climb a couple of places in the table to 9th. We host another Redditch side – Redditch Borough – next Sunday at Butlin Road.
Player of the Match: Katie
Thank you to Referee Simon, Linesman James and for the support at Butlin Road today. The team really appreciate it.
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