Match Report
Match Report - 15 Mar 2009, Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies beat Henley LFC
The Robins travelled to near neighbours Henley Town for this league encounter. Back to a near full strength line up the Robins started off a little shakily as Henley came out of the blocks slightly quicker than their visitors which saw them force a corner from their first attack.
The game began to settle down with the challenges flying in as the temperature rose. Henley gave away a free kick around 30 yards from goal. Jen Patterson struck the ball firmly on target only for a Henley player to handle inside the box to concede a penalty on 12 minutes. Elly Maggs stepped up to strike the ball firmly to the left of the Henley keeper to open the scoring.
Both teams were guilty of giving the ball away when in possession in good areas of the pitch. This lead to defenders having to constantly provide cover for their team mates and clear their lines. The game had no real pattern to it although the Robins were keeping the ball marginally better and trying to work the ball into wide areas so that Friar and Whittaker could get some quality ball in the danger area. One such cross from Whittaker was narrowly missed by the on-rushing Corkett. The same player bulldozed her way past two players and was forced a little wider than she would have liked as she saw her well struck shot smack the near post and bounce to safety.
The second half saw the Robins warm to their task as they settled down into a more familiar controlled passing game with Patterson pulling the strings ably supported by Maggs and Constable. Shortly after Friar had been replaced by Michelle Turner, Elly Maggs drove into the box only to be crudely upended by a Henley defender. She dusted herself down and calmly stroked the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net only to have to be told to retake it by the referee for encroachment. It was unclear whether this was an attacking player or a Henley defender. Maggs stepped up and with no sign of pressure, stroked the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Cox in the Robins goal was rarely troubled having to deal with only a couple of balls into the penalty area and providing support to her defensive team mates. Emma Constable came close to extending the Robins advantage when a defensive mix up saw her try to curl the ball into an empty net from 25 yards with the Henley keeper stranded. The ball didn't curl quite enough, narrowly missing the top corner. Corkett again came close when she fashioned an opportunity for herself when dispossessing a defender and getting off a firm shot which found the Henley keeper well placed to make a straight forward catch.
With 10 minutes remaining, Corkett was replaced by Sue Bowen. Her bustling style soon saw her on the score sheet as one of the Henley centre backs got her feet in a horrendous tangle resulting in her falling over the ball. The onrushing Bowen was quick to seize on the loose ball, draw the keeper and slide the ball sweetly into the net for a third goal for the Robins.
A good team performance which saw a battling first half display followed up by more hard work allied to improved passing and movement to give the Robins a well earned victory on the road. Next week they face the improving Riverside Strikers in a double header at Larges Lane.
Henley LFC 0 - 3 Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies