Match Report
Match Report - 22 Feb 2009, Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies lost to Maidenhead Ladies - League Cup Qtr Finals
The Robins fell foul of their own mistakes this afternoon making four gifts of goals to their opponents, Maidenhead United in this league cup encounter.
The game began well for the Robins as they quickly settled into an effective passing and movement game, restricting their opponents to the occasional breakaway. None of these caused any real consternation for the defensive unit nor indeed Cox in the Bracknell goal. Jen Friar started brightly as she regularly got the better of her full-back to deliver some quality crosses. One of those crosses was met by Michelle Turner who directed the ball into the net for a lead on 20 minutes.
Other chances arrived and one Emma Constable strike was very well turned round a post by the Maidenhead keeper. Angie Barton met a Libby Suchley corner but her header flew over the bar.
The majority of the game was being played in the Maidenhead half so when half time arrived it seemed only a matter of time before the Robins extended their lead to cement a place in the next round. However, what unfolded did not live up to the Robins fans expectations.
An early corner was conceded by the Robins from which the ball sailed comfortably into Cox's hands but somehow she stumbled and stepped back across the goal line and the assistant referee flagged for a goal as the ball had apparently crossed the line.
The Robins set about their task of regaining the lead but all too often made the wrong passing choice and conceded possession cheaply. The pace of the Maidenhead striker and her midfield colleagues was a constant threat in the second half. On the hour, an innocuous ball was played in behind the Robins defensive line which should have been dealt with by either Angie Barton or Sarah Cox, in the end neither took charge of the situation and a Maidenhead player nipped in to stroke the ball into an empty net. 5 minutes later an almost identical scenario unfolded with Boyle and Cox the culprits as Maidenhead again found the back of the net to extend their lead.
More worryingly however, was the sight of the Robins skipper, Libby Suchley, falling when under pressure and landing heavily on her arm. The result was a broken arm which was causing her much distress leading to a lengthy delay in the game until the ambulance arrived.
The game restarted for the remaining 15 or so minutes and a lapse in concentration again allowed Maidenhead to score into an empty net for an unassailable lead with 4 minutes remaining.
A consolation strike from Emily Campbell in the dying moments ended the afternoon's scoring.
All in all, a bad day at the office for the Robins with unforced errors being their downfall coupled with the inability to finish the game off when they had controlled so much of the game in the opening 45 minutes. Still, they can now concentrate on the league provided they learn from the mistakes of today!
Our best wishes go to Libby for a speedy recovery.
Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies 2 - 4 Maidenhead Ladies - League Cup Qtr Finals