Match Report
Match Report - 16 Jan 2011, Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies beat Launton LFC
The Robins don't usually travel well when visiting Launton but they broke that particular hoodoo in style with a comprehensive 10-0 victory.
Angie Whitney opened the scoring after 6 minutes when a goal mouth scramble ensued following a Libby Shuttle corner from the right. Whitney took command of the situation to drill the ball home through a crowd of players to kick start the Robins new year.
Frustration became the order of the game for the next 20 or so minutes with Launton digging deep and playing some decent football of their own. They managed a couple of wayward strikes on goal but that was a reminder to the Robins that if they failed to apply themselves they could easily find themselves in a battle. Too many passes went astray with players not taking responsibility for closing the ball down or attacking the second ball. Launton created a threat from a corner which was cleared by by the head of Shuttle to ease the pressure. This general malaise was lifted on the half hour when Libby Shuttle played an astute through ball to the lively Corkett. TC took the pass in her stride and sprinted towards the 18 yard box. As the keeper started to advance Corkett expertly chipped her on the run for a top quality finish.
The lead was extended 2 minutes later when after good work by Paterson, Launton conceded another corner. Another scramble took place and Emma Constable was on hand to clip the ball over the despairing defenders into the roof of the net.
Launton worked hard to frustrate their visitors but only succeeded in conceding a number of corners and free kicks. It was from a free kick just inside the Launton half that lead to the Robins 4th goal of the day. Libby Shuttle drove an angled ball into the penalty area and was met by the head of Caz Paterson who guided the ball into the right hand corner of the net.
The Robins then began to find their feet and demonstrated their passing ability with a slick move that finally broke down when the final pass was slightly overhit. Perhaps the quality that manager Dave Ward demands of his players might appear for the second half?
Less than a minute of the second half had elapsed before the visitors extended their lead albeit with a little good fortune as Libby Shuttle's intended cross sailed in at the far post for 5-0.
The Robins were certainly keeping the ball better than in the first half and they asked a lot of questions of their hosts who worked tirelessly to stop the inevitable tidal wave of pressure. An excellent passing move from back to front saw a Libby Shuttle cross to the far post headed back across the face of the goal by the industrious Jenny Mulleady. Her header was met by Tracy Corkett who headed home. Mulleady created the next goal on the hour when another good passage of play saw Mulleady play Emma Constable in on the edge of the 18 yard box. Constable set herself to strike well into the bottom corner for 7-0. At this point, young Mulleady was rested and her place taken by the pacey Michelle Lewis who could have made an instant impact when she met another Shuttle cross only to see her effort sail over the bar.
Emma Turner had joined the fray by this time having replaced the hard working Beccky Powell. She showed good composure on the ball to ably help Sam Holloway who quietly but effectively ensured the Robins retained the ball well.
Corkett sealed her second hat-trick of the season with another neat finish when set up by Michelle Lewis. Libby Shuttle was next on the score sheet when she gambled on a pass back to the keeper., She won possession from the keeper as she tried to clear her lines and ran the ball into an empty net.
Launton showed their fighting qualities as they caught the Robins back line, who had largely been untroubled during the second half, switching off briefly. Thankfully, Robertson who had barely touched the ball was alert to the excellent strike as she dived to her right to push the ball to safety.
The 89th minute produced what was arguably the goal of the game when Emma Constable sealed her first hat-trick of the season with her version of the exocet missile, launched from all of 30 yards into the top corner. She said after the game that she had to shoot because she couldn't run another step!
After a ponderous first half, the Robins found their feet well with some neat passing football topped off with some very good finishing. Defensively they were comfortable for long spells but will no doubt find next week's opponents, Portsmouth University Ladies, asking many more serious questions of them. A good start to 2011. Well done ladies!
Launton LFC 0 - 10 Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies