Match Report
Match Report - 07 Mar 2010, Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies drew with Shanklin Ladies
The Robins returned to Larges Lane for the first time since 19 November for a home game against 3rd placed Shanklin Ladies. Blue skies and sunshine welcomed both teams for what was anticipated to be an attractive fixture. Sadly the first half was a turgid affair with both sets of players seemingly intent of giving the ball to the opposition. Poor decision making and poor execution made for a scrappy game. Sadly, the early highlight of the game was the unfortunate injury to Shanklin's manager Trevor Barnes. As he was running the line he turned to run to keep up with play and tripped severely damaging his knee. Trevor was taken off to hospital for treatment and we at Bracknell Town Ladies wish him a speedy recovery.
After the ambulance had taken Trevor off for treatment Shanklin suffered a second shock when the hard working Emma Constable chased an apparently lost cause. She managed to prevent the loose pass going out for a goal kick, brought the ball back infield a metre or so and then attempted a cross into the danger area. Her cross deceived everyone and swerved into the top corner of the net at the far post to give the Robins the lead on 40 minutes. Within a minute the Robins had increased their lead when a drop kick from keeper Cross was headed on by Sue Bowen for her strike partner Sophie Mabbett to collect. Mabbett used her pace to drive clear of the Shanklin back line, drew the keeper and went round her before firing into an empty net.
With the Robins in control of the game it was a surprise as the second half began to see them sit deep and allow their opponents to play in the Robins half. Allowing a powerful team like Shanklin time and space in which to play was asking for trouble and it soon arrived when a goalmouth scramble was created from a ball into the penalty area and the ball prodded home from close range.
The next 25 minutes or so served up more erroneous passing and dragged the game into a battle of physical and pyschological wills with both teams competing aggressively and working hard. The last 10 minutes arrived and the Robins extended their lead when Mabbett nipped in to flick the ball from the outstretched hand of the Shanklin keeper and strike the ball home. Shanklin were unhappy that the goal was allowed but it appeared that the keeper only had one hand under the ball so the goal stood. This only served as motivation to the Shanklin ladies as they forced two defensive errors and capitalised on both to bring the scores level with only 2 minutes remaining.
On the face of it, a draw against a team that has only lost twice in the league this season was positive although the Robins know that they can play better than they showed and should have seen the game out when having secured a 2 goal advantage.
Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies 3 - 3 Shanklin Ladies