READING GIRLS WHITES 1 – LISS CHICKS           

(Sub: Chloe Smith)

This game was played at a frantic pace with the play flowing from one end of the pitch to the other.  Liss had a couple of chances which were easy collects for Ella.  Beth won the ball in the middle of the park and charged forward into the box but her shot swerved wide of the goal.  Then some great play by Liss saw then storm into the box and shoot past Ella (0-1).  Beth then went on another forward run into the box and again the Liss defence forced her to shoot wide.  Liss then had a corner which wasn’t cleared and fell to a player on the edge of the box who blasted the ball into the back of the net (0-2).  (Charlotte off/Chloe on).  Chris quickly rearranged his team.  Beth took a long throw in to Melissa, her shot being caught by the keeper.  Melissa won the ball in midfield and passed wide to Jade, who did well to win it back of the Liss player, she crossed the ball in but it was cleared away.  Beth won the ball after a Liss corner and slotted it through to Chloe Smith, she ran on unmarked into the box, but the Liss defenders charged back and managed to clear the ball from danger.  (Jade off/Charlotte on).  From a Liss throw in, their player curled the ball towards the top corner but Ella pulled off a great save catching the ball on the line.  (Charlotte off/Jade on).  Melissa then had a shot saved and Beth shot wide again. 

Half time:  Reading Girls Whites 0 – 2 Liss Chicks

Second half

Whites came out for the second half keen to get back into the game.  Beth drove forward, passed to Melissa then on to Chloe, her shot was blocked by the keeper but she couldn’t hold it and Chloe squeezed in the loose ball at the far post (1-2).  Liss then had a chance from a throw which crossed the goalmouth and went out wide.  Beth went forward into the box again but her shot was blocked and Liss scrambled the rebound away.  Beth passed wide to Jade who managed to keep the ball in and cross but Liss put it out for a corner.  From defence Shanna ran forward, keeping possession she managed to get in shooting range but Liss cleared the ball for another corner.  Liss then pushed forward but Milly was superb at the back coolly clearing the ball then they had another chance and Milly chased back and managed to clear the ball for a corner.  Ella then had to be alert as a Liss player got through but she produced an outstanding save for a corner.  As Whites tried to push forward to equalise Liss managed to counter attack, this time Ella came out but couldn’t hold and Liss poked the ball into the net (1-3).  (Shanna off/Charlotte on).  Charlotte was suffering with her foot today and almost immediately went back off and Shanna returned to the field.  Melissa and Beth combined well winning the ball back off the defender but Beth’s shot was high over the bar.  Beth passed to Melissa again, this time Melissa’s shot hit the bar and fell down to Chloe but she couldn’t get her shot on target and it went wide.  Shanna then drove forward and took a long-range shot which forced the Liss keeper to palm away the goal bound ball.  (Chloe off/Charlotte on).  Liss broke forward with a player on her own and she coolly beat Ella to score (1-4).  (Charlotte off/Chloe on).  Beth then set up Melissa but the Liss keeper came out and saved off her feet.

A frustrating game today where Whites were unable to create their normal finishing as the Liss defence blocked almost everything. 

Full time:   Reading Girls Whites 1 – 4 Liss Chicks

Whites: Ella, Charlotte, Shanna, Beth, Melissa, Jade,  Milly, Chloe Smith

LS