31 Mar 2007: Stalybridge 3-5 Lisbon St Antonys (HT 1-3)

Another game which we thought would be dominated by the gale but the effective way Lisbon dealt with the strong wind proved to be the decisive factor. It was an important game as a loss would mean that Stockport could have caught us in the League but a win would make us the League Champions! Amazingly, Robyn was playing for us – she had her broken big toe strapped up, and this made up a little for the loss of Hanaan who was skiving, I mean skiing, on a school trip.

In the first half, we played with the wind which kept turning long passes into passes to the goalie but some smart runs and passes meant we had a lot of very good attacks. On 4 minutes, there was a scramble in the box as the Stalybridge defenders tried frantically to clear the ball, Jess got to the ball and coolly shot for goal, 0-1. We created some more attacks, and on 10 minutes, Jess was put through, one-on-one with the Stalybridge goalie who took her out, feet first. Fortunately, Jess wasn’t hurt and Fred put the penalty away into the corner of the goal, 0-2. We then relaxed a little and Stalybridge put together some attacks, and scored with their fast no.7 and no.8 running the ball through our defence after 20 minutes, 1-2. We then really pressurised Stalybridge and their goalie made quite a few saves and interceptions, but then Lucy scored a great goal after 40 minutes, reaching high for the ball and chipping it over the goalie. The half-time score was 1-3 to us.

The second half started off great for us – with the wind behind us, we set up attack after attack and Stalybridge couldn’t clear the ball properly. Soon Lucy had another chance and she again stuck her foot high up and put the ball over the Staley keeper, 1-4. Our midfield was playing well, on 15 minutes the ball came back from their defence after an attack broke down and Fred was onto it and struck the ball into the back of the net, 1-5. At this point we were rampant, and I expected us to win by a hatful of goals but our defenders got a bit overconfident and lost their concentration and positions and Stalybridge scored two goals after 25 and 28 minutes by simply passing it through our defenders, running onto the ball and sticking it past Ria with no defenders running fast enough to worry about, 3-5. After the second goal, we tightened up at the back and had still more attacks which Stalybridge just managed to stop. In the end it was a comfortable win but Dave had been intending to let Ria loose up front and he couldn’t risk doing that when we were only 3-5 up. Oh well, maybe next time Ria.

Kamal

P.S. My text to Hanaan after the match: Won 3-5! Champions! Jess 4', Fred(pen Jess) 10', stlb 20', Lucy(chip) 40' HT 1-3; Lucy 5', Fred 15', stlb 25', stlb 28'.

P.P.S. My text to Hanaan the day after the match: Dave just rang - Lisbon has been expelled from the League! Apparently a parent threatened a ref.

Back from Hanaan: WOT!!!! Wot parent no one threatend no ref! So we havent won the leage,….

And my reply: April Fool.

Heh heh heh.

Match Report (31/3/07) League

Today was our final league game of the season, and after playing 12 hours and forty minutes of league football, the status of league CHAMPIONS rested on this one game.

The venue was set, (Dukinfield), the teams were ready, Stalybridge vrs Lisbon, and with nervous parents and supporters on the sidelines, the game kicked off (coaches were confident, never nervous).

The game started quickly with both teams trying to get that all important first goal, luckily for Lisbon Fred played a great through ball for Jess to score with only 3 minutes played 0-1. Lisbon were then denied a blatant penalty 2 minutes later when the Stalybridge defender handled the ball inside the box. With 8 minutes on the clock Finney played the ball to Jess, and after beating the Stalybridge defence and taking the ball round the keeper, she was brought down (PENALTY). Time for the captain to step up, which she did with great confidence to double the lead 0-2. Stalybridge then scored on 18 minutes after some poor Lisbon defending, (we must challenge for every ball). The final goal of the half and best goal of the game came from Robyn’s free kick, the ball bounced just outside the area and with the Stalybridge keeper coming out to collect the ball, Lucy ran in and lobbed the keeper with an excellent finish 1-3.

Our half time team talk consisted of me and Pat shouting at the team and reminding them that the game wasn’t finished (sorry for shouting girls)

After swapping Finney for Frankie on the left wing, the second half kicked off with another quick goal from Lisbon. This time Jess beat the Stalybridge defenders only to see her shot saved by the keeper, but just like the Stockport game, Lucy carried on her run and scored from the rebound 1-4. Jess got her final assist of the game this time setting up Fred for her second and Lisbon’s final goal of the game1-5. Stalybridge then got two quick goals which were expertly finished by their strikers 3-5, but at this point the game was almost over. Lisbon’s team and parents were jumping for joy at the final whistle as we all knew we had just won the league.

Lisbon St Anthony’s Girls (Under 14s) 2006/07

CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONS

Played 12 / won 11 / lost 1
(congratulations on a fantastic season) Dave / Pat & Claire