Sunday 2nd February 2020
Sponsors: The Shambles Restaurant, Lutterworth
Weather: 11c cold and damp
Rugby Town Team: Lily, Carly, Emma, Lois, Charlotte, Ava, Rosie, Zara (C), Skye and Evelyn.
1st Half
Brackley Town kick off and are the ones with a quick counter attack but find themselves offside. With 10 minutes gone, Rugby’s defence goes to sleep as Brackley find an open goal and score 1-0. There’s lots of pressing and energy between Zara, Ava, Evelyn, Rosie and Skye but Brackley’s defence is just too strong, their ball control and covering is remarkable. Rugby are finding it hard to get in the mood as they have little connection with the ball at all.
Emma gets a breakthrough as she connects with the ball and passes to Evelyn, she has a clear run at goal in front of her but Brackley’s defence intercepts and kicks out. Zara is running wild RM showing great skills with Rosie showing confidence in CM, but at times Rugby are finding it hard to re-group as they are all over the place and are lacking enthusiasm.
20 minutes gone and Rugby are trying to pull it together as their guard has been lost. Emma has a mishap in defence as her feet get stuck in the mud, Brackley score 2-0!
Straight after the restart, Brackley are awarded a corner in which Lily makes a clearance but Brackley come back for more as they are calling the shots. Lily makes a quick save but then loses touch and Brackley’s forward puts the ball into the net. 3-0 to Brackley.
Carly, Lois and Emma are finding it hard this week as Brackley are delivering and connecting with the ball. In the final few minutes of the 1st half, Brackley Town score another goal but it’s disallowed due to being offside. This time it’s Rugby’s last chance to try, great attacking skills between Skye and Zara, but the whistle goes!
2nd Half
Rugby kick off with great assertiveness – Skye makes a confident delivery to Charlotte, who in turn finds Evelyn with great composure who is very forceful and goes on her own but shoots wide. This is a lot better by Rugby except for when Skye pushes a player over but then shows great sportsmanship and picks her up! Well done.
After 15 minutes, both teams are showing stamina and strength on the pitch. Lily has made some good saves, whereas the partnerships between Rosie, Zara and Skye are standing out among others. Rugby are awarded a throw in, which Zara takes and goes to Ava – Brackley kick out and Rugby get a corner – Rosie takes quickly and sees an opening to Zara, who takes a shot but it goes wide. Goalkeeper kicks out to their winger where Skye intercepts and assists Rosie who shoots and scores; 3-1.
The combination of Charlotte, Emma, Ava, Lois and Carly try to stand firm against a very impressive Brackley frontline. Brackley have a change of goalkeepers after 20 minutes and soon go on another charge but Ava is domineering in CM and kicks out. Brackley get a corner and it goes across the path, Lily gets a touch but Brackley are quickest to the loose ball and score; 4-1.
In the last 10 minutes, Rugby were finding it hard to come back from a 3 goal deficit but they tried and gave it their all. Skye and Rosie were concrete together showing great execution as Skye assisted in another goal in which Rosie scores 4-2. Ava and Evelyn also had a combined effort up front and wasn’t afraid to have shots at goal.
Despite a disappointing first half, Rugby were much improved in the second to win the half and restore some pride!
Parents Player of the Match: Skye for her outstanding enthusiasm and high energy levels.
Managers Player of the Match: Evelyn for her work rate upfront and never gave up.
