SANDHURST TOWN FLAMES 0 V 7 READING GIRLS WHITES

(Subs: Abbie, Chloe Sc, Chloe Sm)

After the summer break, our season was underway again with an away trip to newcomers Sandhurst Town Flames.  Our girls lined up with some new faces, in their smart new strips against the six players of Sandhurst.  Whites pushed forward from the start, with a long throw in from Beth into the box but the keeper collected with ease.  Beth launched another throw into the box to Jade, who touched on to Melissa who touched it back but the keeper was there again to collect.  The Sandhurst keeper was proving a tough challenge to beat with Melissa passing in to Jade again who had several attempts at goal but was denied.  Sandhurst then had a chance but Ella was there to confidently collect for Whites.  Then we thought we had broken the deadlock, Beth took the ball down the left to the bye line and perfectly crossed for Jade to knee into the top of the net – however, the referee blew, Beth had taken the ball over the line?  Whites kept persevering, Melissa passing to Beth, who passed back out to Melissa, she crossed the ball and this time Jade slotted home and it counted (0-1).  Beth carried the ball from midfield down the left to the edge of the box shot and the ball flew off the keeper’s hand into the net (0-2).  (Jade, Melissa, Lauren off/Abbie, Chloes on).  Beth threaded the ball out to Chloe Sc who ran on into the box but was dispossessed before she could shoot, but she won a corner, which was knocked out for a goal kick.  Sandhurst then broke past Shanna but Shanna worked hard to get back and win the ball back putting it out for a corner.  When Sandhurst went forward Charlotte was also there to block the shot and clear the ball up field.  A short goal kick from Ella found the feet of a Sandhurst player who tried her luck from distance but she shot high over the bar.  (Charlotte, Beth off/Melissa, Lauren on).  A great move forward from Lauren putting the ball through to set Chloe Sc up to shoot and score (0-3).  (Abbie off/Jade on).  Sandhurst then had a great chance with a player on her own in the box but out came Ella to produce an excellent save at her feet.  Lauren went forward from midfield, passing on to Chloe Sc, who took the ball into the box and passed it to Jade who shot and scored her second (0-4).  Sandhurst once again broke past our defence and again Shanna managed to win it back and knock it up field, but this time it was deemed illegal and Sandhurst were awarded the free kick, which was easily cleared away from danger.

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

Second half

(Shanna/Chloes off/ Charlotte, Beth, Abbie on).  From defence Charlotte passed out wide to Jade, who passed to Beth, then back to Jade and to Beth but her shot went wide.  The ball went over the top to Abbie but the ball was defended out only as far as Melissa, whose shot was well saved for the corner. The corner fell to Beth whose effort hit the post and was saved.  The Sandhurst keeper denied chances from Beth, Melissa and Jade all with shots on target.  Lauren then had a chance blasting the ball from the edge of the area but again the keeper produced an amazing save to deny her.  The ball was passed forward to Beth who took the ball all the way into the box and made no mistake with her shot (0-5).  Lauren and Beth combined well working the ball into the box and again Beth shot and scored (0-6).  Melissa and Beth worked the ball forward, passing the ball the Lauren on the edge of the box but again the keeper saved her effort.  (Lauren, Melissa, Jade off/Chloe Sc, Chloe Sm on).  Chris decided to even the game up and play six against six.  Beth worked the ball forward to Chloe Sc, whose shot hit the post and was then collected by the keeper.  (Beth off/Shanna on).  Chloe Sc passed the ball forward to Charlotte, playing in a midfield role, she went on to shoot forcing the keeper to save for a corner.  The corner flew in long across the box and out the other side.  Chloe Sm put in some brave tackles in midfield dispossessing the Sandhurst players but Sandhurst were defending well at the back and clearing the balls away.  Sandhurst then came forward, three against one, the player’s shot hitting the post and Ella pushing it out for the corner, which in turn was cleared away up field.  (Chloe Sc off/Melissa on)(Charlotte off/Beth on).  Beth and Melissa combined well passing up to Jade whose effort was saved.  A short goal kick fell to Beth who weaved forward through the defenders and hit the back of the net (0-7).  Sandhurst won a free kick just outside the box, which they passed wide but Ella was there to collect the resulting shot with ease.

Full time: Sandhurst Town Flames 0 – Reading Girls Whites 7

Whites: Ella, Charlotte, Shanna, Beth(4), Melissa, Lauren, Jade(2), Chloe Sc(1), Chloe Sm, Abbie

LS