03 Dec 2005, Girls U11: Wythenshawe Town 1 – 2 Oswald Rd (HT:0-1)

Interesting match statistic regarding this game, in the first seven games we played in there were 2 foul throw ins, in this game there were 22. Well done to the very sharp-eyed referee.

Following a training session where a poor attitude won the day, the girls managed to flip things on their head and produced a good solid all round performance. Again we started the game with only the seven players, which is restricting, particularly as both our regular goalkeepers were absent! Katie stepped into the position as she has done previously and put in a good confident performance, but the truth was that Wythenshawe barely tested her abilities. Oswald started briskly, its lovely to watch the midfield and strikers stroking the ball around and on several occasions SophieA piled in shots which on another day would have given her a shed full of goals, but today it just wasn’t to be. It was inevitably the Ruq who broke the deadlock with a well-placed shot after some cool passing. The tension lifted a little and Chantelle was soon in full flow and releasing the ball perfectly to create good chances.

At half time we were 1-0 up and feeling good. It was Chantelle who stretched our lead, after a good run into the area we all thought the square ball was the best option but ‘Shannie’ saw a gap and her chance, and slipped the wining goal past the keeper. The Oswald defence had taken on board the lessons of the last session and were moving and covering in probably the best way they have done all season. Anghie and Sophie showed good positional play and they kept in check the two fast Wythenshawe attackers. The second half saw SophieA switch from striker to goalkeeper and played a confident, interesting but effective ‘hands free’ approach to goalkeeping.

Wythenshawe kept going and soon the Os had a lot of defending to do. Tanya had been playing well and got away with a couple of misplaced passes, which was probably more to do with being tired, than anything, but Anghie was determined not to be upstaged by this and when she saw her chance, neatly tucked in Wythenshawe’s first goal for them. Fortunately the whistle ended the game and the Os probably deserved the points in a good game. Anghie stole the honours being both the Os player of the day and Wythenshawe’s nominated player of the day. SophieP was also nominated by the Os due to her and Anghie’s excellent defensive work. We’re now looking for two more wins before xmas to lift us into the top half of the table.

Players: Katie, Angie, Tanya, Sophie P, Ruqayyah, Sophie A, Chantelle

by Mike Gennery

Oppositions’ Player of the Match: Angharad Englefield

Managers/Players’ Player of the Match: Angharad + Sophie Pointon

Goals: 1^st half – Ruqayyah, 2^nd half – Chantelle, OG (Angharad)