READING GIRLS 4-1 AFC WIMBLEDON

This was the girls best result of the season, against a very good Wimbledon team.  Having been well beaten earlier in the season, the girls showed their bouncebackability, with a excellent display of attacking football.

The girls have now gone 3 games without conceding in open play, however defending corners and free kicks has caused a few problems. Within 3 minutes Wimbledon won a corner.  This was well struck into the heart of the Reading defence, no one attacked the ball and Wimbledon struck home the loose ball.

For the next 77 minutes the girls were outstanding.  Everything that had been worked on in training all season finally started to fall into place.  Closing down the Wimbledon players and winning plenty of ball, Reading played some really slick flowing football.

Reading pressed for the equalizer and when Olivia Gardiner and Millie Bilcliff linked up to feed Hannah Sheehan, her shot was superbly tipped over the bar by the impressive Wimbledon keeper.  Not to be denied it was Reading’s turn to have  some joy from a corner. Hannah’s corner went into the heart of the Wimbledon box and found KATIE Dennis who won a couple of great tackles before gleefully slamming home her first goal for Reading.

The confidence was starting to flood through to the players.  There were plenty of very good performances and when Sophie Pearce fed Mel Saunders, she drove into the Wimbledon box and drew a foul from the defender.  MEL dusted herself down and emphatically dispatched the penalty.  Just before half-time Millie went on a great run, which was brought to an abrupt end by the Wimbledon defender, everyone looked at the referee for the penalty and he waved play on! I’ll admit at this point the respect campaign directive was nearly in tatters!

The second half saw a very powerful display from the whole team.  The defence was solid as a rock.  Katie attacked everything and if she missed anything, then the ever reliable Charlotte Muzeen expertly swept up.  Sian Wylie has developed a bionic throw, which is causing plenty of problems.  Fellow full back Rachel had a good tussle with the dangerous Wimbledon right winger, especially first half and stuck to the task very well.

The midfield were dominating and winning plenty of ball to feed Millie up front.  Jade Searle excelled in the holding midfield role, quite possibly having the best game she has played in a Reading shirt.  The girls were steaming forward in search of the key 3rd goal, which eventually arrived on 55 minutes.  Mel swung in an excellent corner that ended up at the far post, where HANNAH drove the ball into the roof of the net.  The chances then started to come thick and fast.  Millie played in Olivia whose shot was excellently blocked and Hannah hit a right foot pile driver just over the bar, as the girls went in search of more goals.
The final goal 10 minutes from the end, was set up by some excellent anticipation from Rachel, who won the loose ball and then threaded a super pass through to MILLIE, who ran through and placed the ball into the back of the net, for a well deserved goal.

The domination was such that Kathryn Wood had very little to do in the Reading goal.  It was very good to see though that the girls are starting to find their voice out on the pitch and K could be clearly heard from touchline marshalling the defence!

An excellent team performance, with so many of the players playing right at the top of their game. When you put the hard work in on the training ground, striving for this level of performance, it is very rewarding for all involved.  Shame there is no game next week!

Finally, best wishes to joint skip Tiff Brunton, who has been poorly this week. 

LC