Weather: Sunny 23c
Rugby Town Squad: Evelyn, Skye, Rosie, Ava (Captain), Zara, Lois, Emma, Carly and Lily.
So here we go the first game of the new season away at Brackley Athletic, much anticipation ahead of the season with high hopes of a good year with new players joining the team.
1ST HALF:
Brackley Athletic kick off with an early attack on goal but Lily saves in the 1st minute. Skye chases the ball down the middle but the goalkeeper comes out and saves at the other end. Rugby Town are a bit slow to start off as Brackley Athletic’s keeper passes down the right side straight through Rugby’s defence and there’s the 1st GOAL, Brackley Athletic 1-0.
Rugby were struggling to keep it together but kept their heads up and kept going. Brackley Athletic’s striker was too quick for Rugby’s defence and within 2 minutes they were 2-0 ahead – their striker looks on fire in front of goal!
As Rugby Town start to get a foot hold in the game, Evelyn and Skye started playing really well up front, with Ava and Rosie passing together, the ball is passed to Evelyn who has a shot on goal and it goes just wide!
Zara is quick on the defence and chases down the left hand side and is praised by the manager when it is kicked out. Brackley Athletic have a throw in and lose out when Ava controls the ball and passes to Skye who shoots, Rosie gets the rebound and the ball goes through goalkeeper’s leg – Rugby score and it is 2-1.
12 minutes down and Brackley Athletic are back on the attack, defence trying to close down, Lily comes out to close but can’t quite make it and Brackley Athletic score, 3-1. Great defending by Lois and Emma but their striker is too much of a threat!
Rugby Town keep the pressure on Brackley Athletic with great ball control from Rosie, who has a shot on goal – Goalkeeper saves! But spills the clearance to give Rosie another chance and this time she scores, which makes it 3-2 to Brackley. Great game so far with plenty of action at both ends.
Zara and Ava chase Brackley down in midfield at every opportunity with Evelyn, Rosie and Skye working well together passing the ball to each other keeping control. The defence puts pressure on them and Rugby Town get a corner. Zara takes a short corner, their defence kicks it out, this time Ava takes – Skye gets control, she shoots but it is offside.
Brackley Athletic are on the attack again but Emma and Carly are putting pressure on and forcing Lily to make a great save. 20 mins gone and Rugby Town are really putting the pressure on with Lily passing to Zara down the wing crossing to Ava in midfield but Skye’s offside.
Rugby Town defence brings Brackley’s players up to halfway line, goalkeeper kicks and loses ball control, Rosie has control, shoots, but goalkeeper makes a cracking save. Brackley are on the attack again but Lois kicks out, Brackley gets a corner but control is won by Rugby Town and they are on the counter attack this time with Ava and Skye, using Rosie down the wing who passes to Ava, goalkeeper comes out but is no match for her and she buries a powerful shot into the bottom corner! Score is now level 3-3 with 2 minutes to go in the first half, surely the players need half time to catch their breaths after what has been a scintillating first half in the gorgeous late summer weather.
Rugby town did not let their heads drop, with great team work by them all with Rugby doing really well to come back from 2-0 to drawing 3-3 at half time. The match is anybody’s for the taking!
2ND HALF:
With only 9 players, no substitutions to report!
Rugby Town to kick off – Skye plays it to Ava making a very strong start with the midfield consisting of Rosie and Zara keeping pressure on Brackley’s defence, accidentally kicked out by Evelyn. Brackley has a throw in but Zara heads it to Ava who has a shot on goal but goes wide. Rugby Town keep pressure on Brackley’s defence. Another fortunate clearance from the opposition keeper allowed Carly to turn and keep control and score, Rugby back on the goal trail after the 4th minute of the second half, Rugby town have started where they left off, and are looking even more hungry for goals.
10 minutes gone and Brackley were struggling in defence, allowing Zara to run her little legs off in midfield and having support from Rosie down the wing, their defence kicks out giving Rugby a corner. Rosie takes and passes to Ava, shoots but the keeper is quick and on hand to save the ball.
Brackley are on the attack again but Carly puts pressure on them forcing Lily to make a save on the right wing. Lily kicks straight out to Rosie who is down the wing, runs it into our half with Skye there to support her, lots of space to work with – great ball control, there it is – Skye scores 5-3 to Rugby Town. Zara is celebrating by doing a cartwheel. Rugby Town are controlling the game!
Within minutes of Skye scoring, Rugby are on the attack again this time its Ava’s turn and shoots straight through keeper’s legs, making it 6-3 to Rugby Town. Brackley can’t get out of their half and their goalkeeper is struggling with Rugby’s quartet of Skye, Ava, Evelyn and Rosie with Zara keeping midfield tight and defence together with help from Lois, Emma and Carly.
Halfway through 2nd half and Rugby are maintaining their confidence and effort between themselves with another counter attack played by Ava and Rosie, 2 touch pass and Evelyn scores a well deserved goal making it 7-3 to Rugby.
The final 10 minutes saw Lois and Emma using impressive defence skills between themselves keeping their attackers at bay whilst Carly and Zara are working well together in midfield with Zara blocking the ball and getting winded.
A fantastic performance by Rugby Town who kept the positivity going from all the players. A job well done by both teams. Rugby were very confident with every player contributing to the game. What a first game of the season, it looks very promising for the next!
Coaches player of the match: Zara for her display in midfield showing lots of energy and support for her teammates.
Parents player of the match: Ava for her domineering performance throughout the game.
Many thanks to Tony for running the line.