Late Rally Sinks Hartland!
With the season nearing its climax, the final home match of the season paired the girls’ against Hartland, a game the team were thoroughly looking forward to. Shortly before kick off it was agreed to be played as a 9v9 match with the visitors struggling to field a full side….annoying to say the least!
The usual frantic first 10 minutes although to be fair, this mainly due to the teams getting used to the format and reduced playing surface. The home teams’ nerves were soon settled, Laila picking out Georgia’s run in behind and her finish low into the corner of the goal giving the team an early advantage (1-0). With the team relaxed, more chances were created, Georgia again and Izzy going close prior to a second goal on the half hour mark, Brooke.S finding space between the centre half’s and firing into the RH corner of the goal (2-0). All seemed plain sailing!…..that was until the last 90 seconds of the half, after it was adjudged there was a prolonged pull on a player, inside of the penalty area and the inevitable……an excitable referee could not wait to have a blow on the whistle and a penalty decision awarded. A sweetly struck spot kick just wide of Maisy’s reach pulling one goal back (2-1) shortly followed by a lack of composure within a minute giving the visitors’ an easy second (2-2) and parity to the scoreline at the break. HT2-2 A more purposeful Wimborne Town took to the pitch for the second period. Brooke.F the first to try her luck, a well hit shot narrowly wide of the upright. It wasn’t long to wait until Brooke.S picked up the pieces on the edge of the visitors penalty box to fire her second and the teams third (3-2)……shortly followed by another Hartland equaliser, this time a well constructed goal (3-3). Four goals of quality were to take this team clear of their opposition…. When Brooke.S severed the defensive lines a cool head was needed, she rounded the GK to roll in yet another hat-trick goal to add to her stunning season averages (4-3). Izzy’s balance on the LH side was to pay dividends, finding the space and clipping a delightful finish over a stranded GK (5-3) before Brooke.S showed her team ethic, squaring for Emile to stride forward to slot home (6-3). Hartland forced another goal, a high ball into the goal area that found its way just over the goal line after an accidental, nasty looking clash of heads that finished our captain Eva’s game (6-4). A final goal from the girls’ totally put the game to bed, Laila drawing goalkeeper and defender before unselfishly squaring for Izzy to calmly side foot home (7-4).
FT: WTFC 7 Hartland 4
POM: Brooke S (another lesson in finishing from a really committed team player who is closing in on double figure assists also)
Summary: a strange game for the team that was no fault of their own. What should have a keenly fought 11-a-side game was reduced in size to a feeling of a training match. The girls made the best of it, scored some wonderful goals and deservedly claimed the points in their final match on home ground this season. The team stood up to some very physical players and will have the bruises to prove it but they played the game in the right manor and reaped the rewards in the end. Well done team!!!
