READING GIRLS V WINCHESTER CITY                            18th October 2009
2                                1                       

Venue: BSCA
The captain for the day was Livvie.

This had the makings of a tricky game for Reading Girls and we were not disappointed. The early exchanges favoured Winchester when a ball through the middle opened up our defence and Morgan was quickly off her line but the attacker placed the ball into the net to give Winchester an early lead. Reading 0 Winchester 1.

Now Reading should wake up. Livvie has first effort but shoots wide with left foot. Another through ball opens our defence again and Sophie clears for a corner. April defends with persistence that fends off the attack from Winchester. Leanne heads the ball away for a corner. Good work by Leanne who crosses but Clara was unable to connect. Down the other end Morgan has to come out and save for another corner. Ball comes in and hits the post for Morgan to pick up. Leanne combines well to play in Eloise inside the box who shoots to make it level. Reading 1 Winchester 1. 

Good work by Leah who links with Leanne and the shot is blocked. Jae runs with ball and takes a tumble on the hard ground. Back in defence Jae clears another attack from Winchester. Clara has shot blocked and Eloise also shoots and keeper is being tested more as half progresses. Hannah replaces Leah in midfield. Clara plays a lovely ball through to Livvie and ball is intercepted for a corner. Eloise has a shot saved and keeper drops ball but no one there to tap in. Eloise wins ball and passes to Clara and shot yet again saved by keeper. Good work by Livvie and Eloise who put in Clara who beats the defender to shoot low and score. Reading 2 Winchester 1.  

Half time Reading Girls 2 Winchester City 1

Hannah wins ball and passes to Livvie who is tackled by the defender. Pressure from Clara wins a throw in. Jae receives ball on the edge of the box to shoot wide. Eloise defends well to concede a corner. April continues to mark the Winchester forward and continues to give her nothing. Ball comes into our box and Eloise clearance ends in a slice to hit the side netting. April puts Clara through and shot is saved. Sophie goes into Midfield.  Great run by Leanne who crosses and Clara shoots first time although ball goes wide.

Livvie plays in Leah who shoots wide after defensive pressure. Great run from Jae ends with another keeper save. Winchester goes clear again and shoots wide of the goal. Morgan clears and ball is played through to Sophie on the left who muscles player and shoots but keeper saves.

This was a hard fought game that could have gone either way. Reading Girls were slow starting and improved as the game progressed. Considering Jemma and Nicole were unavailable today and Livvie was ill for the game the result was an excellent one. Well done girls.

Player of the match goes to Jae who was tidy in defence and is improving in her discipline required for the centre back position. Then in the second halve has the ability to go up a gear and work hard to win the ball for Reading in midfield.  

Full time: Reading 2 Winchester City 1

TA