Another day to remember! This excellent result, marred only by the two goals conceded, was attributable to the fabulous effort by all of the players.
Training is now paying off as the girls find their feet at last, and are now playing as a convincing team as they each become more familiar with their roles.
We had only seven players available for this game, and the prior knowledge of this seemed to be a bonus to the girls as they knew that nobody would be taken off unless injured. The other team also had only seven players available, so both had the same problem.
We started positively in bright sunshine, but with the wind against us. After ten minutes we were a goal up after pressing forward with the lively Akvile Gerbenyte scoring the first goal through a melee of defenders. The second Grantham goal, again from Akvile assisted by Abbie Weatherstone, was a peach of a shot from the right and 25 yards out which flew into the top left hand corner of the net. This must easily be the “goal of the season” (so far).
Our defending had been excellent with Annie Walton imperiously getting onto every ball that came towards goal. She was assisted by Jessie Slater who made some good interceptions together with the bright Madelaine Woollford from midfield, with Poppy Hallam making some fabulous saves.
However, Claytons still managed to sneak a goal two minutes before half time. A loose ball was pressed for, but lost by two Grantham players in quick succession on the outside right of the box, and just as we all thought it was going out of play for a goal kick, it was retrieved, and a shot which looped over everyone was parried upwards by Poppy Hallam, as it came down again and Poppy tried to catch it, she unfortunately knocked it into the goal.
In the second half Grantham pressed again with Akvile, Eleanor and Abbie all pressing into the Claytons area, backed up by the willing Madelaine. Akvile, again moving through defenders at will had another shot with her ball, which was saved by the goalkeeper, but for the second week, Abbie was there to slot the ball into the net.
Eleanor then went down after turning her ankle for the second time in the match. It seemed she would have to come off, but she bravely jumped up and said “it’s ok I’ll run it off”! after some excellent forward work between the four players, the ball came to Eleanor and after some good footwork of her own scored herself (payment indeed!). Christmas, the holidays and having no subs, together with all the hard work put in in the early parts of the game were taking it’s toll and with ten minutes to go they were all succumbing to fatigue.
Claytons scored their second goal towards the very end of the match, after four Grantham players in succession failed to clear their lines. They effectively set up one of two free Claytons players on the edge of the area, who then lashed the ball past Poppy Hallam who stood no chance.
“Player of the Match” goes to Akvile Gerbenyte for her second Hat-trick of the season.
Good stuff and well done to all!
