This weeks match report comes from our guest reporter Lisa. Thank You . Terry doing next weeks 😉
Fantastic reporting.....if your sitting comfortably ....then she 'll begin...
So 14 Starlands girls made the trip to Wolston Leisure Centre this morning, home to our hosts, Coventry Girls.
Simon started with Kiera, Leah and Laurice as subs.
From the whistle it was Georgia who was straight in, putting pressure on Coventry's defence. Quickly the ball was cleared and Coventry came on the attack, but Amy was there to stop any danger with a strong tackle that went out for a throw. The ball was blocked in the box by Amber and Coventry had a corner. A good corner by Coventry nearly resulted in them going 1 up in the first few minutes as the ball seemed to go in slow motion across Holly's goal line and was heading for the corner but quick reactions from Stacey put a stop to this. Think this woke the girls up a bit as the next few minutes resulted in Olivia, Rhea, Anna and Tia putting together some beautiful link up play which ended with Tia crossing into the box for Olivia, but it was just too far in front of Olivia and the Coventry goalkeeper just got there before she did. From the goal kick, Starlands picked up the ball in midfield and again threatening the defence, which resulted in Coventry kicking it out for a corner. Anna took a great corner which fell to Amber and a clever flick was saved by the goalie. Beth was having to stay focused and concentrated as Coventry had a very fast left winger that was proving difficult to mark.
An interception in midfield was made by Anna and she passed a well timed ball across to the left to Georgia. Georgia used her pace to beat the defender and from a wide angle shot at goal, where it was palmed away by the Coventry goalie.
Starlands corner was won by Coventry and their right winger brought the ball away with a good run but Amy was ready and a great tackle stopped her from going any further. Amy then sent the ball forward for Olivia, who was determined she was not going to be bullied off the ball and battled strong, but with 2 defenders on her narrowly lost out. Coventry came forward on a surging run and got through into our box but a well timed tackle from Stacey was made which took the pressure off Holly.
Hannah was busy and productive in midfield and intercepted the ball and put Georgia through on the wing. Georgia crossed for Anna and Anna had a great shot at goal but went narrowly over the bar. Once again, Starlands made an interception off the goal kick with Hannah and Anna working well together putting Tia through but the ball was quickly put out for a corner. A well placed corner from Anna was met by Tia but the shot was saved by the goalie. Again, from the goal kick, Rhea made a great interception in midfield and sent a brilliant ball through for Georgia on the left wing, unfortunately the ball was won by Coventry but Georgia pressured her to get the ball back. Starlands came on the attack again and a lovely knock from Georgia to Olivia was surely going to get us the first goal of the game - not to be as Olivia's shot just went wide of the post.
Georgia came off for a breather which saw Leah on and on the left wing. Coventry had possession and came forward but a timely tackle from Beth thwarted any danger and Beth herself then went on a run and passed a lovely ball through to Tia. Tia went round her defender and crossed to Olivia, whose shot was saved by the goalie. When will these goals ever go in!!!!!!!
The Starlands girls were on the attack again and Anna passed a good ball to Leah on the left. Leah ran past her defender and put a lovely cross into the box towards Olivia. The shot was blocked by the Coventry defender and came straight off her back to Leah again. Leah crossed the ball back in again to Olivia, whose shot again was saved by the goalie. Straight from the goal kick, Anna claimed the ball and sent Tia on her way. Tia crossed the ball into the box, which was cleared by Coventry out for a corner. The corner resulted in Coventry coming away and a moments lapse by our girls resulted in Holly having to make an absolutely fantastic save to keep the ball out of her net. Moments later another Coventry ball came hurling towards Holly but with a dominant and timely punch, Holly once again cleared the danger.
Simon then introduced Kiera to the game and gave Beth a breather. Starlands, looking lively again, came forward with some lovely footwork from Leah, with 2 defenders on her, passing a great ball to Amber, who had surged forward. Amber put a lovely ball through to Tia who then found Anna on the edge of the box who shot wide of the goal. We didn't have to wait long for the next opportunity as Rhea played a lovely ball through to Kiera, whose first touch was a bit heavy and the goalie was going to get there first - not in this case, Kiera bullied the goalie with her determination which made the goalie fumble the ball and go out for a Starlands Corner. Anna took a great corner to find Kiera but Kiera just couldn't get on the end of it to finish. Again from the goal kick Starlands midfield picked up the ball and a timely pass from Tia to Leah on the right resulted in Leah crossing into the box but the ball was kicked out for a throw. A precise throw from Leah to Olivia but Olivia's shot was just wide of the goal.
A Coventry goal kick was once again intercepted by a determined Rhea who looked up and found Tia. Tia was calculated and knocked the ball off the Coventry girl's leg for a throw in. The throw in found Anna, who cleverly flicked a lovely back heel to Tia and Tia lobbed the Coventry goalie from just outside the box to make it 1-0. Well done Starlands, well deserved.
The girls continued great pressure with some determined battling for the ball from Hannah and Leah in midfield and a shot from Olivia created by Anna just went wide.
HALF TIME: COVENTRY GIRLS 0-1 STARLANDS ST. ANNES
Hannah had now stepped into the right back position.
The Starlands Girls came out for the second half as they went in, full of creativity and determination. The first few minutes saw a shot from Rhea saved from a pass from Tia and a shot from Tia saved after a good run and cross from Leah.
Coventry then came on the attack but a great shout from our Keeper Holly meant she had it securely in her hands.
Holly then rolled a lovely controlled ball out to Hannah, who in turn played a great ball down the wing to Leah. Leah placed a great ball into the box for Olivia but Olivia's shot was just wide.
From the Coventry goal kick, Amber had made a great run into midfield and cleanly won the ball and put a great ball through to Kiera. Kiera slipped a lovely ball through to Olivia, but the goalie just beat her to the ball. Anna picked up the goal kick in midfield and found Leah on the right. Leah put the ball through to Olivia in the box and her shot was just wide.
Simon then took Leah off and brought Georgia on and switched girls into positions.
Immediately Georgia did a lovely run down the left, crossing the ball into the box but the goalie just got there before Olivia and Kiera. Next saw a fabulous interception from Amber from a Coventry goal kick. She easily passed 2 or 3 players in midfield with ease and took it all the way to the box, her shot just narrowly wide of the goal. Straight away, with Amber still in Coventry's half after her run, Coventry came on the attack but our sturdy and able defenders, Stacey, Hannah and Amy joined forces to stop the danger.
Simon made a change and brought Beth on for Hannah.
Amber picked up a loose ball and once again went on a surging run and her shot was saved by the goalie.
Coventry then came on the attack and caught our defenders off guard a little but the shot was from a wide angle and went behind the goal.
Simon made another change and Laurice was brought on for Amy.
Next saw a great corner from Beth, but the ball just went through 3 or 4 girls amounting to nothing.
Coventry came on the charge once again but Beth noticed the danger and made a timely run to get to the ball before the Coventry girl and play a great ball to Anna who shot at goal but again was saved by the goalie.
Great work and link up play then followed between Laurice and Amber to get the ball to Anna, who played a lovely ball to Kiera, whose shot was saved.
A great run down the left then by Georgia, who passed to Olivia who found Kiera on the edge of the box, whose shot was saved. Beth then had 2 long distance shots just go wide of the post.
The final whistle was looming and Starlands had a corner. Beth took a cracking corner which found Anna and a cheeky back heel touch to Tia resulted in Tia slotting home the 2nd goal of the game.
Coventry had a last minute attack but their shot was convincingly saved by Holly.
Simon made a change and Leah came on for Olivia.
The last few minutes of the game saw our defenders stay strong and work as a team to stop any girl getting towards Holly's goal, Laurice in particular making a great tackle to stop any threat.
Final whistle. COVENTRY GIRLS 0 - 2 STARLANDS ST. ANNES
A great TEAM PERFORMANCE was watched by all today girls. Every girl played their part and fought for every ball. You were strong, determined and focused and did everything Simon asked of you. Well done Anna for Girl of the Game. Well done Tia for your 2 goals, well done Holly for your clean sheet and well done to each and everyone of you for working hard and as a team. Defenders you were strong and focused, although didn't have a lot to do, midfielders you were hard working and creative and attackers you were quick and dangerous. Well done girls.
