Today Starlands played their penultimate match v Castle Bromwich.
Castle Bromwich have secured promotion in 2nd spot to the Premiership and are a useful outfit.
Last time out, We lost 7-1 - and we were determined to improve !
However, we were again down to the bare bones...
From the off - Castle Bromwich took the lead with their very first attack....Ouch ! confusion in the ranks, allowed the Castle Brom players to go straight through the middle of the team and score.
There was a real risk that heads could drop...and worringly Holly our rock in goal was getting a little annoyed...
A second goal soon followed with a first time shot into the top corner.
It was shame because Starlands had a few attacks, and breaks by Amber led to one on ones but shots being struck directly at the stand in Castle Brom keepers - allowing easy saves. :( So, what could have resulted in us being level pegging then ended up in us being 3-0 down.
The girls started to get into the game - but, the defending practice with The Birmingham Ladies was slow to kick in.
RUSH UP, SLOW DOWN, STEADY , CROUCH DOWN, SHOW THEM THE WRONG WAY, SUPPORT AND GET A TACKLE IN !!!!
After we changed to 4-4-2 from 3-5-2 we looked a little tighter....but the damge was done.
The Girls found themselves 4-0 down at the break.
After a few home truths to a few about listening and effort - the difference in the second half was noticeable.
Sinead was a colossus at the back and was making interceptions and galoping runs through the middle.
All the girls were getting their heads on the ball - even the opposition managers commented on it - and they were on occassions at risk of getting kicked in the face. Very Brave Girls - Well done!
Laurice was without her contact lenses - and so for a blind defender she did exceptionally well. Samantha was her usual industious self - and covered midfield and played in defence latterly utlising everything from Tuesday night.
It was difficult for our girls - Ruby, Hannah,Kiera,Alex in the midfield to get on the ball for any prolonged period, however they all put in a shift - and made some telling tackles! and always tried their hardest to support the forwards of Grace and Amber.
Alex , Hafsah and Grace were linking well as the game progressed - and whilst Starlands 1st goal came from a speculative shot from Hannah at the edge of the box...finding the bottom corner...the second was a gem.
A clearance from Alex to Grace allowed a through ball to Hafsah to run onto, and bear down on goal. The angle looked to tight to shoot - but somehow she threaded it in the near post! 4-2.
Castle Bromwich - had more than their fair amount of chances - and Holly made 4 or 5 top class saves. Eventually, even she could not hold them back - and parried a ball into her own net.
EVen then at 5-2 Starlands celebrated - but only because they thought even an own goal counted towards a trip to Drayton Manor !
A soxth goal came at the very end - and Starlands had done tremendously well to draw the 2nd half 2-2 especially with them losing Sinead for the last 15 minutes.
Girl Of The Game was a tough choice...Laurice,Sinead,Holly and Samantha...The choice was made by our linesman...SAMANTHA.
