Match Report
Match Report - 13 Sep 2009, Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies drew with Southampton Saints
The Robins made the trip south for a tough away fixture at Southampton Saints, many people's favourites for the league title this season.
The game began with the hosts carving out the first attack and forcing an early corner that was ably dealt with by the Robins. Both teams were keen to make their mark on the game and the first blow was dealt by the Robins Siobhan Ridout on 10 minutes. She won possession down the left and ran strongly at the Saints defence. She held off two challenges before unleashing a powerful shot from a tight angle into the far corner of the net.
It wasn't long before the hosts mounted some attacking efforts of their own, their best opportunity arose midway through the half when a shot was fired in from close range. Emily Cross instinctively stuck out a leg to make the initial save. Another Saints player followed up with a shot only to see Cross again make a block with a strong hand. She sprung to her feet again to push the next shot over the bar to safety. 15 seconds of Saints versus Cross!!
The Robins exploited the space their hosts allowed them with Shelley Strange coming close after getting onto the end of a Tracy Corkett pass. Strange ran beyond the defence but the angle was tight and she could only force the home keeper into making a save at her near post. Corkett came close with a strong header from a cross from the hard working Lockyer following a neat one two between them. Emma Constable also came close toadding to the Robins goal tally when she struck left footed through a crowd of players only for a defender to stick out a leg and deflect to safety.
It took only 3 minutes of the second half for the Saints to draw level. The Robins backline allowed a drop kick from the keeper to bounce and were caught square. This allowed a Saints forward to break through and finish well despite pressure from the recovering Tash Boyle. The Saints enjoyed a purple patch for the next 10 minutes or so and came close again when a firmly struck close range effort was again blocked by the impressive Cross in the Robins goal. As the game moved into the final 25 minutes, both sides created chances to win the game. Ali Pankhurst came close when she saw her 20 yard strike whistle narrowly over the bar. Corkett also came close but a very good recovery save was made by the home keeper as she pounced on the loose ball. By this time the game had become very open and was an end to end spectacle which any neutrals in the crowd would surely have enjoyed. Skipper Boyle managed to block a goal attempt as she slid in and blocked the ball with her back despite penalty shouts from the home supporters.
However, a few moments later the referee awarded the hosts a penalty that both managers were at something of a loss to understand. A corner was fired in and was met by the head of a Saints player. The header was well won and powerful as it flew marginally over the bar but the referee had spotted an infringement somewhere in the goalmouth melee. The Saints skipper stepped up and confidently placed the ball on the spot and set herself for the kick. The resulting kick was well struck but the irrepressible Cross threw herself high to her left and extended her strong right hand to tip over the bar.
A good away point taken from the best footballing side the Robins have come across this season so far. The Robins as a group were a credit to the club with their performance and endeavour but they all know that next week brings another stern test when they travel to Henley.
Southampton Saints 1 - 1 Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies