Sunday 21st September
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A 12:30 kick off for Rugby today, away at Anstey. The reason, according to the Anstey coach, for the afternoon kick off “It would give my team a chance to be awake for the game”. Everybody made it in time, nice and awake for the warm up, apart from the person who was responsible for marking the pitch out. They seemed to have forgotten to mark the penalty area, at both ends, and also both touchlines. To resolve this problem it was agreed with the referee that a few cones could be used to help determine the edge of the area, more on “conegate” later.
Anstey started the game brightly and within a minute were ahead. A simple ball that should have been cleared was left for the Anstey forward a couple of yards out, Jasmine having no chance in the Rugby goal.
**Score Update:** Anstey Nomads 1 – 0 Rugby Town
The goal was a wake up call for Rugby as was the encouragement from Dave on the touchline after going behind to such a simple goal. Daisy-May then came close to equalising with her shot hitting the bar, the Anstey bar was ultimately going to lead a charmed life in this game. The game was already end to end with Anstey then having a good shot that Jasmine did well to save and put the ball onto the bar.
Rugby were starting to get back into the game with Macey shooting wide and another shot from Daisy-May. Izzy then had a good run forward, a push in the back was missed by the referee and Rugby should have had a free kick in a very dangerous position. Megan then had a shot, it was pleasing to see that the girls had been listening in training and were taking opportunities to shoot today.
After a great ball from Poppy, Macey shot wide again. It was starting to feel like the Coventry v Norwich game (28 shots and only 1 goal). Daisy-May then hit the bar again with a good shot (the Anstey goal still living a charmed life) and soon after Mollie had a shot.
Finally Rugby were successful, a big kick from Jasmine went through to Macey who finished well to make it 1-1.
**Score Update:** Anstey Nomads 1 – 1 Rugby Town
Anstey kicked off and immediately restored their 1 goal advantage, the very skilful Anstey forward, who had only this season started playing football, walked through the midfield and defence and a good shot made it 2-1. It was disappointing from Rugby considering the effort they had put in to get level to then concede such a soft goal, more tackling practice might be needed in training.
**Score Update:** Anstey Nomads 2 – 1 Rugby Town
After some more gentle words of encouragement from Dave, Izzy had a shot that went just wide followed by another shot by Macey.
**Half-time:** Anstey Nomads 2 – 1 Rugby Town
After an honest assessment of the first half during the half time break, from both coaches and players Rugby started the second half looking for an equaliser.
The game was quite scrappy with the ball pinging around a lot and both teams struggling to play decent football. Poppy and Ronniee both had shots, with the goalkeeper saving well from Ron. Sophie, who had been working hard on her wing, then had a shot that went over. Anstey started to come back and Jasmine had to make a couple of saves to prevent them going further ahead.
Back to conegate as promised. A through ball from Anstey was picked up by Jasmine who was adjudged, correctly, to be outside of her area. The referee awarded the free kick to Anstey which was promptly dispatched into the top corner to make it 3-1. Somehow the cones that had been placed on the pitch in the first half had disappeared in the second half.
**Score Update:** Anstey Nomads 3 – 1 Rugby Town
Rugby needed to dig deep, this was now a real test of character for the girls. To go 3-1 down after having so many chances was a body blow. However the girls found their spirit, Megan having a shot and then Macey finishing well to get the deficit back to one goal.
**Score Update:** Anstey Nomads 3 – 2 Rugby Town
Rugby were now totally in control of the game with wave after wave of attack. Ronnie hitting a great shot onto the bar (still charmed), after a drilled corner from Megan.
Anstey were crumbling and starting to argue amongst themselves and also with their coaches, Rugby sensed that there were more goals in this game. Anstey then contributed to their own downfall by playing it out from the back. Excellent pressing by Macey resulted in them giving the ball up and an easy finish for Macey for her hat-trick.
**Score Update:** Anstey Nomads 3 – 3 Rugby Town
Rugby were convinced that they could win the game and they soon had another golden chance, Ron just putting it over after an initial save from the Anstey goalkeeper. Anstey then had 2 corners at the end of the game which resulted in a shot going wide.
**Full-time:** Anstey Nomads 3 – 3 Rugby Town
Good performance from Rugby Town today to come back from 3-1 down against a very physical Anstey side. A game that we should have won after hitting the bar so many times during the game and having a number of other great chances to score. Our next three games are all at home so we need to put in the same effort as today, particularly the effort in the second half to turn the game around.
Coaches player Macey
This year she has worked so hard on her football and the improvement is massive. We are all so pleased for her to score a hat-trick today.
Thanks to all the coaches and parents. Thanks to Anstey, thanks to the referee and a special thanks to Malcolm the linesman, who proved that the flag would actually point both ways.