Today was our first home league cup game; me, Pat, Claire and Fred arrived early to set up the pitch as normal and when we arrived, we found that the pitch was slightly overgrown and very difficult to play skilfully on. After a great warm up – the passing was superb – we decided that Joely, Hanaan and April were starting as subs and Ria was starting in net.
Considering the great start to the day, I was quite disappointed that it took only ten seconds for Unicorn to score the first goal – Unicorn have used this tactic a few times, now we know what to look for in our final game against them. However, it didn’t take long for Lisbon to equalise, Ria took a great goal kick which practically covered the whole pitch and Jess ran quickly onto it and scored! 1-1. One minute later, Hanifa scored from an assist from Jess, 2-1. The third goal came on twelve minutes from a great team move – the ball was passed from defence to midfield to Jess who took the ball wide and passed across the box for Lucy to score, 3-1, (best goal of the game). Unicorn then scored from a corner on 21 minutes (poor defending again, remember Stalybridge), 3-2. The final goal of the half was on 25 minutes, another goal by Unicorn from a corner (poor defending, poor defending, doh!), this made the score 3-3.
The first half was great to watch, Jess hitting the post and the bar, and two easy goals. Strong performances from Frankie and Whitby, great headers from Fred and Hanifa, and Ria was outstanding.
We started the second half with Hanaan and Joely now at the back, and with Laura, Bet and April as subs. Once again, Unicorn used the same passing move as in the first half and scored straight from kick off on 36 minutes, 3-4. From then on, Lisbon controlled the second half, inspired from the back by Ria, and on 39 minutes, Hanifa set up Frankie to equalise, 4-4.
Lisbon then took the lead two minutes later when Lucy played Frankie in and Frankie took a shot which deflected off a Unicorn defender to beat the goalie, 5-4. It then took Lisbon six more minutes to score again, this time it was the captain’s turn – Hanifa beat her marker and played the ball sideways to Fred. The Captain dropped her shoulder and skipped past the defender and scored, 6-4. Frankie scored next after 51 minutes, Hanifa again setting up the goal, 7-4. The final goal of the game was set up by Whitby who passed to Jess to score her second goal (Jess battled all game), 8-4.
I really enjoyed today’s game, there was good football from both teams. It wasn’t Lisbon’s best performance of the season, but you were good. Joely is turning out to be a great sub and it’s also getting harder to pick our best players for each position. The 1st game was 6-4 to us, this 2nd game was 8-4.
Well done
Dave, Pat and Claire.
Goals: 1st half – Jess, Hanifa, Lucy;
2nd half – Frankie x2, Fred, Frankie, Jess
Player of the Match: Ria (by a mile)
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