Sunday 22nd December
Team Sponsors: Jamesway Traval, Melbros, LH Services Ltd, Gripper Differentials, ASG Precision, Keller
Squad: Amber, Katie, Bonnie, Robyn, Izzy, Kelsey, Nicole, Ellie, Amy, Caitlin, Leah, Ava, Laura C
After a week off last week, Rugby Town Women were back at Butlin Road as they hosted league leaders Lichfield City Ladies FC in the WMRWL Division 1 North in their final game of 2024.
1st Half
Rugby KO and hold the opening minutes of the game well. Rugby are well aware of the threat Lichfield can be, so are playing with control.
6’ Slight delay for a knock on Katie
10; Lichfield push on Rugby but the soft shot in from the right is easily collected by Amber.
Robyn and Ava are playing strongly, using each other to pass the ball around. Kelsey has a speculative run forward and makes up ground, she beats the Lichfield defender and puts the keeper under pressure, who saves the shot well.
Lichfield win a free kick for a handball in the middle of the pitch.
20’ Rugby Town corner. Worked between Nicole and Kelsey. Nicole’s final ball lands on top of the net.
Rugby have a good push and the team work the ball up field. Nicole beats the defenders and takes her shot; the keeper spills the ball but dives forward and collects before Rugby can capitalise.
Still Rugby keep their momentum, Caitlin plays a smart ball forward finding Nicole on the move. Again, the Lichfield keeper is there to keep the score level.
25’ Lichfield Corner. Cleared out initially, back into the 18-yard box but shot wide.
Laura C is commanding her area as she sits just in from of the Rugby defence. Laura is providing a solid performance as she stops Lichfield play and also delivers to fantastic balls up to the Rugby forwards and attacking midfielders.
Free kick Rugby for a foul on Katie. Leah deliveries, hoping to catch the keeper out, but with bit of a leap, the keeper holds the ball.
Lichfield break, moving the ball well and push Rugby back to their defensive third. Lichfield take a shot from just outside the 18 yard box and the ball sails over the crossbar.
Rugby win a free kick for a foul on Caitlin. Katie takes and Lichfield clear any danger.
Rugby collect the ball and Kelsey is off, belting forward but is dispossessed by the Lichfield defence. Lichfield now take their change to break and are quick and strong, the resulting shot is probably softer than they would like, and Amber easily collect.
Another free kick for Rugby from a foul on Nicole.
Rugby have possession and are pushing into the Lichfield half, Milly plays a great ball forward from midfield, Kelsey has held her run perfectly, now takes her chance and slots the ball into the Lichfield goal.
39’ GOAL – Rugby -Kelsey (Milly)
As the final minutes of the game tick away, Lichfield have a great opportunity as they take an excellent shot from distance, the ball looks certain to have beaten Amber, but it shoots just wide of the left upright.
The final action of the game is a Rugby free kick for a foul on Leah.
2nd Half
A very early thread by Lichfield from kick off as they put in a very useful cross, but it flies across the front of goal without any Lichfield forward intercepting.
47’ Lichfield corner – ball into the side netting
Lichfield are pushing hard and Rugby defence of Katie, Robyn, Laura C, Milly are being kept on their toes. Another shot from Lichfield with Amber providing an excellent save to maintain the lead.
Lichfield are proving difficult to manage at the moment and the next few minutes see another shot from distance wide of the Rugby goal and a rampaging Lichfield player taking on Amber in a 1v1, Amber pushes the ball out for a corner.
52’ Lichfield corner – Amber clears
53’ Lichfield corner – Amber saves
54’ Yellow Card for Lichfield #9
Rugby formulate a drive forward with Kelsey looking for space and the Rugby midfield challenging Lichfield to stop them. Caitlin provides the assist this time as she plays a well weighted ball up field. Kelsey anticipates well and works round the keeper who gets her fingertips to the ball but not enough to gain control or to prevent Kelsey scoring her second of the game and extending Rugby’s lead.
56’ GOAL – Rugby – Kelsey (Caitlin)
The game restarts and Kelsey is off on another run all the way down deep into the Lichfield defensive 3rd. Lichfield again prove there are dangerous on the break, and the come in to the Rugby goal from the right but their shot lands on top of the Rugby goal.
Rugby free kick for a foul on Kelsey. Katie deliveries the ball is out of play behind the Lichfield goal.
Lichfield continue to challenge Rugby, and the game continues at an energetic pace with plenty of physicality.
23’ Red Card – Rugby Robyn and Lichfield 14 are sent off for a bit of a disagreement down the bottom left of the pitch
Rugby continue their effective play, with midfield winning most of their battles. Nicole, working her socks off, intercepts a pass, moves forward and plays through to Kelsey who beats the offside trap, beats the keeper, and claims her hattrick
78’ GOAL – Rugby – Kelsey (Nicole)
80’ Leah <-> Ellie
81’ Kelsey <-> Izzy
87’ Bonnie <-> Leah
Summary
Rugby Town Women – 3 – 0 Lichfield City Ladies FC
Kelsey (Milly) Kelsey (Caitlin) Kelsey (Nicole)
A well-disciplined display complimented by a very tight defensive performance and an intelligent utilisation of attacking breaks. Well done team, a cracking game!
Thank you to referee Michael, assistant referee James and the supporters who braved the cold wind.
Merry Christmas!