This was a much better team performance than what had been
produced in our previous two matches. It was reasonably
well disciplined effort, and does that not make things a
whole lot easier when this happens. If we forget the first
ten minutes or so, which at best was very scrappy. And also
our problem with getting caught offside too often which
did let us down then well done everybody, it was good. However
the problem with the offside was not helped by the Potters
Bar linesman who thrust his flag skywards every time the
ball was played forward. Yes he was right some of the time,
but there were several others when he was wrong. This was
underlined clearly when we scored our second goal after
fifteen minutes. After a moment or two of pressure on our
defence, the ball was cleared downfield to Katie Davis.
She was AT LEAST FIVE YARDS inside our half when she recieved
the ball, and the linesman put his flag up straight away,
for what?????, offside?????, surely not. I quickly and politely
explained that she was in her own half and he took the flag
down before the referee had seen it. In the event Katie
ran unopposed half the length of the pitch took the ball
around the keeper and rolled the ball into the net. This
goal added to Clare Howe`s opener after ten minutes to keep
up her record of scoring in every game that she has played
this season. We were then caught napping when Potters Bar
pulled a goal back, but the two goal lead was soon restored.
A cross from the left by Amy Garrett flew straight across
the goal, but Amber McKenna was on hand to sweep the ball
into the by the far post. This was just one example of us
using the width of the pitch and stretching the oppositions
defence out. This had been another good point of the first
half performance. So 3-1 at half-time, but it could have
been a lot more if we had taken our chances a little bit
better, but at least the chances had been created by playing
some decent football.
The second half was a continuation of the first half, just
that we scored a frew more goals. It took just about a minute
to score another goal, Katie forcing the ball over the line
from close range after a cross from the right. It did not
take too long for for Katie to complete her hat-trick soon
after. Half-time saw the introduction of Lauren Dunn for
her debut for the club. Apparently she had been very nervous
about playing her first game for the club (only natural).
However there seemed no sign of that as she quickly got
involved in the action and did not look out of place at
all. The sixth goal came as a result of the best move of
the match. It ended with Katie Davis playing a defencec
splitting pass through to Clare Howe. But her shot was bloked
by the Potters Bar keeper. The ball bobbled about inside
the penalty area until it fell to Lauren. And from six yards
out she placed the ball into the far corner. If she was
still suffering from nerves, that would have cleared that
up for sure. The final three goals came from Amy Garrett,
who scored for the second game running. Like London buses
you wait ages for one, then two come one behind the other.
Then Katie added her fourth of the day. Finally a contender
for goal of the season from Clare Howe. Wide out on the
right she unleashed a real netbuster from all of twenty
five yards into the roof of the net, not some misshit cross
either, this was a genuine shot at goal.
Plaudits then to everybody for what was a very good performance
as I keep saying. Though we do not have a player of the
game, (I do not believe in it anyway, win as a team, lose
as a team, that is what I say) I should single out Leanne,
for playing a real captains role. Lauren, for a very encouraging
start, Amy, who is now starting to produce the goods that
we know she is capable of. I could go on and mention others.
Squad today, Thea Fraser, Laura Pethybridge, Megan Willmott,
Serena Lawrence, Kate Harte, Alice Bowler, Alicia McIntosh,
Leanne Lizaitis, Katie Davis, Clare Howe, Amy Garrett; Desiree
Yearwood, Lauren Dunn, Maisie Wyatt,
