READING GIRLS WHITES 5 – 3 SANDHURST TOWN FLAMES

(Subs: Ciara, Michaela)

At last we were playing football again!!  We welcomed Sandhurst in this cup-tie with the prize of facing Headley in the semi final.  With Chris called into action as referee, the girls had to rely on each other (and their parents) to shout encouragement.  Whites started confidently missing a handful of chances to take the lead.  Jade kept pressure on her defender and won the ball, but her chance was saved for a corner, which was saved.  Shanna then won the ball in defence and took a run down the right wing into the box, but again her effort was saved.  From midfield Beth passed the ball on to Melissa on the left side, she shot and drove the ball low into the net (1-0).  Beth then powered from midfield into the box and hit the ball straight past the keeper (2-0).  (Jade, Shanna off/Michaela, Ciara on). We continued to dominate but any hint of Sandhurst going forward was halted by Milly, Charlotte and Ciara.  Melissa then supplied Beth with the ball, she passed her marker and shot, this time the keeper saved but only hit it down to Beth’s feet and she made no mistake in squeezing it into the corner to make it three (3-0).  Sandhurst did then get through our defence but Ella was there to save with ease.  Melissa again had another chance from wide on the left, this time it went wide of goal.  Sandhurst attacked again, this time Ella was beaten, but the ball luckily came of the post and back out and Ella could then collect it.  Play went straight up the other end with Beth’s chance going over the bar.  Sandhurst were getting into the game now and they knocked the ball over the top and on to a girl on her own with Ella to beat, but Ella came out and caught the ball while on the floor.  Then back up the other end Beth drove forward into the box and shot to complete her hat-trick (4-0).  (Charlotte, Melissa off/Jade, Shanna on).  Beth went forward again this time the keeper saving off the post.  Michaela kept strong winning the ball in the box but the keeper came out to collect of her feet.  A weak goal kick by Shanna fell straight to a Sandhurst player, she shot but Ella was there to make yet another great save.

Half time:  Reading Girls Whites 4 – 0  Sandhurst Town Flames

Second half

(Beth, Ciara off/Charlotte, Melissa on)

From a well worked move out wide Jade threaded the ball through to Melissa, her shot was saved.  Ella then had to be alert coming out to force the Sandhurst striker wide.  (Michaela, Shanna off/Beth, Ciara on).  Sandhurst were out to turn this tie around and again went forward but they were blocked well by Ciara. Then they got through and forced Ella to palm the ball away from danger.  Sandhurst attacked again this time the shot was too strong and Ella couldn’t hold it and they scored (4-1).  Then Sandhurst flew in an excellent corner which Ella couldn’t hold and deflected it into her own goal (4-2).  Jade then had a chance on her own up front, she took it forward but shot wide.  (Jade, Ciara off/Shanna, Michaela on).  Sandhurst had another chance which went across the goal and out wide.  (Michael off/Jade on).  From our throw in, Beth took the ball forward and managed to get a shot on target from the left side (5-2).  Sandhurst won another corner and again it flew in fast, Ella got a touch but it then fell to Charlotte who unfortunately hit it into the net and gifted them another (5-3).  Beth passed the ball forward, wide to Melissa, she crossed to Jade whose effort went just past the post.  Charlotte then went on a run from defence and passed through to Jade, but the keeper came out to deny her.

Semi-final away to Headley – 28 February

Full time:   Reading Girls Whites 5 – 3 Sandhurst Town Flames.

Whites: Ella, Charlotte, Shanna, Beth(4), Melissa(1), Jade,  Milly, Ciara, Michaela

LS