Match Report
Match Report - 19 Apr 2009, Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies beat Chesham United
A battling performance from the Robins saw them return victorious after a hard fought battle against South West Combination side Chesham United Ladies. It took penalties to separate the teams both of whom had worked tremendously hard to gain the victory after giving the spectators 2 hours of compelling football.
Despite a 0-0 scoreline after extra time, both teams served up some good football and some nerve jangling moments for their supporters in a very tight game.
Chesham settled the quicker of the two sides as they imposed themselves early on by forcing the Robins defence onto the back foot. The pressure resulted in the Robins conceding an early free kick delivered by the experienced dead ball specialist Shan Woodward whose free kicks were a threat throughout. The Robins were grateful to see the free kick missed by the Chesham strikers. After a couple of early scares, none of which were a significant problem for Holloway, the Robins began to settle into their more accustomed passing game. The surface was not conducive to slick passing and many players were caught out by the unpredictability of the surface. The Robins moved the ball quickly and accurately playing some neat two touch football. Their first couple of attacks were repelled by a determined Chesham defence but as the pressure mounted the Robins won several free kicks in threatening areas. Patterson who is a threat with her deliveries saw her first driven kick fly across the face of the Chesham goal. The ball was crying out for a Robins player to make a contact and direct onto goal but try as they might the opportunity had gone. Corkett who must have covered more ground than any other player was a constant menace to the Chesham defenders as she chased and harried every ball forcing mis-placed passes.
Michelle Turner and Elly Maggs worked hard in support of Corkett and Maggs ability to take players on provided a couple of shooting opportunities with Pankhurst hitting the target only to find Elrick in the right place to save. Patterson unleashed a left footed strike from the edge of the box only to see it swerve away from the far post to safety.
The first half ended with few real goal scoring opportunities as both teams battled for dominance.
The second half saw the Robins continue to apply pressure to their more senior opponents and take the game to them. Jen Friar and Dawn Campbell exerted more influence in wide areas as they managed to deliver better quality balls into the Chesham box for Corkett and Turner to attack. Again, due to the well organised Chesham defensive unit nothing more than half chances resulted.
Defensively the Robins were the equals of their opponents again denying them clear scoring chances and anything that did get through was dealt with competently by Holloway. The back three of Barton, Boyle and Emily Campbell stood strong and were breached only once midway through the half. However, the resulting shot was cleared by the head of Dawn Campbell, a clear demonstration as to how hard all of the ladies in red worked for each other.
Jen Friar came close when she engineered a chance for herself and struck well left footed but again Elrick was equal to it. Corkett managed a decent strike only to see it clear the cross bar.
Extra time saw both teams working to create an opening but the work ethic of all of the players saw chances at a premium and as legs tired both teams used their substitutes wisely to ensure that the pace of the game didn't drop off too much. Neither team were able to create a clear shooting opportunity although Wooward threatened with a swerving shot in the second period of extra time which went wide.
Penalties arrived and it was the Bracknell players who held their nerve to take victory 3-1. It was fitting that Angie Barton who was celebrating her birthday and was arguably the player of the match, scored the penalty to secure the win and enable her to collect the trophy for the Robins in their first appearance in the final of this prestigious competition.
Chesham United 0 - 1 Bracknell Town Ladies FC Bracknell Town Ladies