Match Report
Match Report - 15 Feb 2009, Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies beat County Cup Semi Final v Reading Ladies FC
The Robins returned to match action following another enforced break due to the weather. Not having been able to train together since the victory over Shanklin, it was a relief to be able to look forward to a competitive game.
The Robins began well placing their hosts on the backfoot from the outset. Reading survived an early scare when a defender was well placed to clear an Emma Constable shot off the line following a corner. However, their relief was short lived as Emma Constable set out her stall for the game with a strike from the edge of the penalty area which sailed past the Reading keeper following a slight deflection.
The Robins passed the ball well and despite the pressure of the Reading Ladies,were able to create many opportunities to finish the game as a contest. Michelle Turner got herself on the score-sheet with a neat finish getting on the end of a pass from Libby Suchley.
Tracey Beales showed signs that she was beginning to settle into the Robins squad as she got on the end of a couple of chances that on another day she would have converted.
Just before the half hour, Michelle Turner got on the end of another telling Suchley cross to make it 3-0 going into half-time. Other opportunites came and went with both Friar and Suchley getting good crosses into the danger area whilst Constable and Pankhurst dictated affairs in the middle third ably supported by the back four.
For the first 10 minutes or so of the second half, the Robins kept their hosts pinned in their own half but all too often made the wrong passing choice. This allowed their opponents some encouragement to try to create some pressure of their own and lead to the Robins appearing a little disjointed at times. Emma Constable took control of proceedings and struck her second from the edge of the 18 yard box to give her team mates a lift and get them back into the passing and movement habit they had established in the first half of the game.
At this point, all three Robins substitutes entered the fray with the team shape changing to try to provide a more attacking edge. One of the subs, Jen Patterson found her range after one wayward strike when she was set up by Constable. Patterson let fly from 25 yards, the ball streaking past the Reading keeper.
Sarah Cox in the Robins goal had little to do and managed to presuade her defensive colleagues to pass the ball back to her in order to keep her concentration together. She must have looked on enviously as her defensive team mates started to venture forward more frequently with Gardner and Boyle in particular delivering some excellent passes into the strikers.
The scoreline was further added to by the industrious and skillful Constable who let fly from 20 yards, the ball clipping the inside of the post before it nestled firmly in the back of the net. Constable had a hand in the final goal when her ball to the far post was met by the diving Suchley who headed home for the seventh goal of the afternoon.
This win means that the Robins will now meet Chesham United Ladies in the final in April for what will be a stern test.
In the meantime, the ladies can look forward to a return to league action when they are scheduled to meet Slough ladies this Thursday evening at Larges Lane.
County Cup Semi Final v Reading Ladies FC 0 - 7 Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies