Match Report
Match Report - 05 Apr 2009, Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies beat Southampton Women DOUBLE HEADER
The Robins welcomed Southampton Women's FC to Larges Lane for a double header league fixture.
The game began brightly with the Robins taking early control of the game with their typical passing and movement approach. It was unfortunate however, that the approach play was spoiled frequently by a poor final ball. The runs of Turner and Corkett up front were often missed by their team mates resulting in missed opportunities. Alison Pankhurst came closest to opening the scoring in the early moments of the game when she fired narrowly over the bar from the edge of the 18 yard box. A fast break from Maggs, who ran fully 50 yards beating several retreating Southampton defenders, passed to Turner who then found Emma Constable on the edge of the 18 yard box. Constable drove the ball firmly at the target, the despairing keeper only able to help the ball on its way into the net. Both Dawn Campbell and Jen Friar came more into the game as they began teasing their respective full backs and getting crosses into the box. Friar showed tremendous tenacity as she took on the Southampton defence and unleasehed a fierce shot from 20 yards that flew past the keeper into the far corner of the net. A memorable strike for her first goal for the club.
The second half saw Turner get a shot off only to see it fly just wide of the target shortly after the re-start. The Robins though seemed to lose their concentration and allowed the visitors to get back into the game. Southampton managed to get hold of the ball more often and exert some pressure. Their perseverence nearly paid off when they hit the cross bar from a close range effort resulting from a corner. They also forced Calder into action as she had to make a save down to her left from a well hit drive from 15 yards. A let off for the hosts. It was as well that the defensive unit of Barton, Boyle and Emily Campbell were working well together and keeping goal scoring chances to a minmium for their opponents.
Bowen and Beales were introduced to the fray with 20 minutes left. They worked hard to create chances for themselves with Bowen unleashing a drive that struck a Southampton defender and went for a corner. Kim Lockyer also came close to getting her name on the score sheet when she came on for Friar with 15 minutes remaining as she made good contact with a pass from Beales. This was as close as it came for the Robins to extend their lead.
The second game started with the same starting 11 taking to the field. It appeared that we were going to see more of the same when the Robins again dictated the early parts of the game. The same pattern of failing to take shooting opportunities and electing to pass was established and again allowed the visitors to get a foothold in the game. They managed to force 3 consecutive corners and the third resulted in an own goal by the heavily pressured Boyle. Rather unfortunate as she had been one of the Robins better players. This set back spurred the Robins on as, within a minute, parity had been restored. A ball was fed into the box by Friar and Michelle Turner latched onto the pass to fire in her 18th goal of the campaign.
Strike partner Corkett decided it was time that she got onto the score sheet when a clever piece of combination play between Maggs and Constable set her up to volley home from 12 yards out. A third goal arrived 2 minutes later courtesy of an excellent finish from Dawn Campbell who kept her volley down and saw it fly into the bottom corner of the goal. 3-0 at halftime.
Emma Constable added a fourth as she headed home from a well delivered corner from Dawn Campbell.
Friar came close to making it 5 when she wriggled free of 2 defenders with a clever turn and strike which flew past a post. Maggs also tried to get in on the act when good work involving Bowen and Constable gave her the space to drive the ball with pace and swerve, bending away from the far post and missing by inches.
Not the most polished displays from the Robins but effective in terms of good finishing and getting the 6 points as they continue to press for a top 3 finish.
Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies 2 - 0 Southampton Women DOUBLE HEADER