Defences On Top in Capital….Just!
The first meeting of these teams and a cup semi-finsl spot up for grabs. A 10.30am ko just south of the Thames in S. E London left families with the ‘do we travel early morning or the night before dilemma’. Whether hotels, trains, planes or automobiles, all arrived with time to spare and all looked focused and determined for the job ahead.
The pattern seemed set in the early stages of the match, Millwall looking to draw the girls’ in then hit long diagonals in behind, Wimborne working the ball through the thirds, stretching the game wide when in possession. A real arm wrestle for the first 15 minutes, the first attack of any note from the hosts on the break but Rhianna and Charlotte shut the door allowing Esme to gather comfortably. With the pattern set, full backs Lila, Maddie and Sophie were going to have to be well switched on to these runs in behind and all three were and contributed much more during the match. Wimborne had more than matched the home team and gradually they began working their football, Emilie with the first clear sight at goal, her shot a yard away of the upright. With the midfield players prompting the team forwards, Laila’s great start to the match was ended with a bad looking ankle injury, hopefully a quick recovery for this emerging player. With changes having to be made Izzy seemed to have given the team the lead within a minute of being on the pitch, from the left touch line she hit the roof of the net but a belated offside decision ruled her superb strike out. Any clear goal scoring chances were being created by the visiting team, another Emilie chance palmed away and Meg almost reaching the rebound.
HT 0-0
The half time team talk was easy, keep doing what they were doing, keep pressing and the goal would surely come. An immediate attack after the break, Charlotte and Liv setting Emilia free but the GK saving with her legs. As well as being a rock alongside Eva and Rhianna in defence, Charlotte has other characteristics and attributes. The home side did not hold back on the physical side of the game, giving a series of free kicks away 30-40 yards from goal. Charlotte’s first couple of deliveries were close to being converted, the next was slightly on the closer side but although still a good 30yards away, her thunderbolt crashed the underside of the crossbar and was judged to not have crossed the goal line. The central defender wanted to affect the game, within 5mins she picked the ball up on halfway, drove forwards and let fly with a controlled shot, the home GK doing well to turn the ball away for a corner. With the game drifting towards full time and penalty kicks, neither team held back, a couple of late Millwall breaks were their best chances in the match, Esme’s positioning and low save thwarting one chance, Maddie clearing the loose ball and another effort well smothered. The clocked ticked round to 90 minutes and the final whistle blew, it was going to be penalties again!
Esme did all she could, saving one and a strong hand almost stopping another. Brave girls from both teams stepped up and did their best but Eva and Liv’s converted kicks did not prove enough and it was Millwall that claimed the semi-final spot.
FT: Millwall 0-0 WTFC (Millwall win on pens)
POM: Charlotte (a leader on the pitch, headed every corner away and almost won the game outright)
Summary: Just unlucky really, this team are continually improving, defending strongly as a team and creating chances but today Lady Luck failed them. Special mention to a hard working central midfield group that worked their socks off to give the team a major foothold in the game, Carly, Jess, Eva and a bit of Laila! Having said that it proved a good all round team performance with every girl contributing. Really unlucky ladies! Congrats to Millwall and good luck in the next round…..
