14.3.10

ABBEY RANGERS 4-3 READING GIRLS 

Having played exceptionally well in open play, Reading were beaten by 4 set piece goals against an Abbey side brimming with confidence, having reach 2 cup finals this season.

A slow start saw Abbey grab the early initiative and when a short corner was delivered into the penalty area, the Abbey forward found space to loop a shot into the corner.  Reading delivered the perfect response by really taking the game to Abbey and when Hannah Sheehan’s well weighted pass played in MILLIE Bilcliff, she made no mistake with a fierce rising shot, into the roof of the net.  Reading pressed for more goals and on 30 minutes Tiffany Brunton’s fine through ball found Millie, who collided with the Abbey keeper, but the ball broke loose to MEL Saunders on the edge of the box, who fired an accurate drive into the corner of the net for a 2-1 half time lead.

The defence of Sian Wylie, Charlotte Muzeen, Katie Dennis, Rachel Wylie and Ellie Burrows who was making her debut, all had fine games and collectively was probably the best the defence has played this season, which was all the more disappointing, that eventually it was 4 set plays that sealed Reading’s fate.

Having already lost Olivia Gardiner before the game, plus Tiff and Hannah both not feeling well, Abbey started to push Reading back.  10 minutes into the second half a corner wasn’t cleared and an Abbey shot hit the underside of the bar and was adjudged to have crossed the line for 2-2.  With the illness in the team Sophie Pearce and Megan Heybourne came into the midfield to assist Jade Searle as the pressure was starting to mount.

With 20 minutes to go Reading went in front.  Mel won a good tackle on the halfway line, that released Millie with a long run in on goal, the keeper stayed on her line and MILLIE kept going and shot home from close range, for a well taken goal.  This spurred Reading on and the defence was starting to keep things really tight, as Abbey started to struggle to find the equalizer.  Their best chance was a warning of things to come, when from a corner they struck the underside of the bar.

The key moment arrived in controversial fashion 3 minutes from the end.  Millie coming back to help the defence was very harshly adjudged to have committed a foul 25 yards from goal.  The result free kick was floated into the box and scrambled home from close range, although Kathryn Wood took a big hit in the process, but bravely continued.

In the final minute disaster struck.  Jade committed a foul on the right edge of the box.  The free kick was very well placed into the roof of the net and there wasn’t even time to restart the game.

Having played so well in open play, not for the first time, the teams ‘achilles heel’ is the defending of set plays.  With the girls playing with so much spirit, tackling strongly and passing the ball better, if we can eradicate the set play goals, then the points will come.

LC