AFC Newbury Girls Under 14 Football
Match Report -- Season 2006-7
North East Hants Youth League - Girls Under 14
17th September 2006
Newbury Girls 4 Fleet Town Reds 4
tA top of the table clash which was always going to be tough tight affair, especially for the home team who had lost twice to the visitors last season. The home team started well and dominated early possession and were first to everything and but for some good defending would have taken the lead when Sophie Harvey found herself free on the edge of the box and as she was just about to shoot an outstretched leg blocked her shoot and the ball defected for a corner. The home team continued to press and were rewarded in the 10th minute with a goal and in spectular fashion. Ruby Oliver burst down the right and as she cut in and was virtually on the corner of the box she hit a powerful looping shoot which the keeper could only watch fly over her head into the far corner of the net. The home team then did rest on their laurels abit and by doing so let the visitors begin to play the ball around. Their confidence grew and it was Newbury’s turn to soak up some pressure and defend in numbers. The visitors drew level just before the break when the home team were caught short at the back. There was a mix up between the defence and Newbury’s stand in keeper when neither went to the ball on the edge of the box and Fleet’s striker got between them and slid the ball home into an unguarded net.

The visitors started where they left off in the first half, in the ascendance and were soon ahead when a long ball over the top again caught the home team out. Again a lack of communication at the back let the same striker in and again she made no mistake finishing past a stranded keeper. It was to get worse for the home team when a well worked move put through Fleet’s striker and she rounded Hazel Beesley to tap into an empty net. The home team dug deep and began to weave their way back into the match and when Lucy Mortimer’s shot struck a raised hand in the box, Newbury were awarded a penalty. From the resulting spot kick captain Katie Saunders made no mistake driving the ball home into the corner to narrow the lead. The balance swung again and the home team were now looking for the equaliser and five minutes later they got it when a goal mouth scramble bounced to Katie on the edge of the box. She volleyed the ball and as the keeper dived one way the ball deflected off a Fleet foot and the ball shot off the other way and into the net. With only minutes to go Fleet didn’t lie down and again a long ball put their attacker in and the home team could only watch the ball strike the net putting them behind for the third time and with only two minutes to go. The home team again dug deep and good 1-2 on the edge of the box between Sophie and Katie led to a chance for Sophie and when her shot was parried Elizabeth Swallow was calm enough to slot the ball home between the onrushing defenders to again level the game and share the points.

Squad: Katie Saunders (Capt), Honor Ramos, Lucy Mortimer, Ruby Oliver, Sophie Harvey, Hazel Beesley, Naomi Purvis, Chelsea Allen, Elizabeth Swallow, Kellie Payne & Sarah Richman.
Referee: Paul Comley
Goal scorers
Ruby Oliver
Elizabeth Swallow
Katie Saunders 2
Player of the match
Katie Saunders
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