READING GIRLS WHITES 3 – 2 HEADLEY YOUTH ALLSTARS

What a scorcher!! With Ella having broken her wrist, Shanna put on her lucky bib again and stood in between the posts. (We all wish Ella a speedy recovery).  With a point needed to secure third spot, the seven girls were required to work together and stay strong for 60 mins and go for the win.  From a Melissa throw into the box, it found Beth her shot went wide.  Headley attacked in numbers with three against one, but their cross could only find Beth and she cleared up field.  A shot from wide produced a great save by Shanna.  Headley kept up the pressure and again Shanna blocked the shot, then their player shot wide.  Headley had a corner which was swung in, unfortunately it hit Chloe and flew towards Shanna who couldn’t hold and the spin took the ball into the net (0-1).  Beth passed forward to Jade in the box, she knocked it back to Beth but it was too close to the keeper and she collected.  Shanna then kick saved away for a corner to deny Headley.  Headley then had another shot which again Shanna kicked away.  Beth then found some energy and drove forward she shot, the keeper tried hard to save it but the ball had already crossed the line (1-1).  Headley then had a girl unmarked in the box but her shot was wide.  Melissa won the ball and went forward she passed to Jade on the edge of the box, she lost possession but worked hard and won it back in the box, she then struck the past the keeper to take the lead (2-1).

Half time:  Reading Girls Whites 2 –1 Headley Youth Allstars

Second Half

After taking on plenty of fluids, the girls returned to the field for the second half.  From kick off Jade touched to Chloe and she passed it back to Beth who was just inside her own half, she launched the ball forward towards goal, it looked like it was going to sail in over their keeper but she pulled off a great save to tip it over the bar for a corner.  Then Whites showed some good passing football with Beth passing to Chloe, her shot needing their keeper to kick it away.  Headley had plenty of chances to level the scores but Shanna was outstanding producing double kick saves to clear the ball.  Some great blocking by Charlotte put the ball forward to Beth, she passed to Melissa then on for Jade but it was just too long and the ball went out of play.  Headley then tried their luck from distance but Shanna was there to palm the ball away.  With Lauren and Beth swapping positions, it at times, confused Headley and Beth was allowed space to go forward through the middle, her pass on to Jade just too strong and out of play.  Then Headley broke and had a girl through, she kept running into the box and shot, giving Shanna no chance and again the scores were level (2-2).  The heat was now taking its toll and the girls were counting down the minutes but Whites didn’t give up.  Beth had a shot saved which fell back for Melissa, her shot going just over the bar.  Lauren then cleared the ball from defence up to Beth, she took it forward, shot and we were in the lead again (3-2).  Headley then had chances but they couldn’t get them on target, going wide and over the bar.  Then they had another chance with a girl through on her own but this time the post was there to deny her and the ball was cleared away, much to Shanna’s relief. 

A great game played in baking conditions, which sees us finish third in the table, now six points ahead of Headley.

Full time:  Reading Girls Whites 3 –2 Headley Youth Allstars

Whites: Charlotte, Shanna, Beth(2), Melissa, Jade(1), Lauren, Chloe Smith

LS