Capital Cup (Junior Section) 2nd Round

WBFC Women 1 – 7 Sport London e Benfica

Goal: Charlie Spencer

Assist: Chantal Marson

PoM: Charlie Spencer

As the season winds down and the complexities of the revamped GLWFL continue to fox us, it was a relief to play a straight-forward, winner-takes-all cup game, even if it was against a side top of the league above us and in good form. It seems hardly a game passes for the Women’s team these days without someone trying to film, interview or photograph us; this week we had the opposition’s Veo camera, a club photographer and a freelancer touting for business clamouring to record our every thought or move. We’ll be adding a PR agent to our Management team for next season.

After clearing the latest deposits left on the pitch overnight by the considerate dog walkers of Putney Vale, we made a bright start and were matching our elevated opposition to the point where they were clearly becoming frustrated. The biggest danger was coming from their #13, who was dropping back from her advanced role and feeding their speedy right-winger. Sure enough, one such manoeuvre caught us out but there was no stopping the terrific lofted shot their winger produced to sail over Amy in goal and into the far corner. Undeterred, we continued to cause them problems and our industry was rewarded after half-an-hour when Charlie took a pass from Chantal and looped a similar shot over the keeper into the top bin. 1-1 and a very even game at that point.

Just as half-time was looming, one of the opposition needed lengthy treatment for an injury which afforded us the chance to regroup and have a quick tactical chat. However, we failed to regain our concentration after the break and conceded two almost identical goals right down the middle to the same player in the couple of minutes before half-time. So a very different atmosphere at half-time than we had envisaged just a few minutes before, but confidence was still high as we set out to repeat our efforts in the second half.

Sport London stepped up their game somewhat and we started to come under sustained pressure, but we defended well until the hour mark when the game hit a crucial turning-point. A quick break caught us out down the left-wing and, as the cross came in, Rachel bundled over the oncoming centre-forward who had an open goal. A clear penalty, but to our horror the referee rushed in and brandished a red card to Rachel for DOGO – i.e. Denying an Obvious Goalscoring Opportunity, not abusing a passing spaniel. Though technically correct, a yellow would surely have sufficed in the context of the game without any clear intent from Rachel. A small form of justice prevailed when Amy superbly saved the resultant penalty, but we still needed to last half-an-hour with 10 players against an increasingly confident opposition.

Alas, this proved beyond us as we inevitably tired and Sporting racked up 4 goals in the last twenty minutes, and in truth could have had more but for good saves from Amy and some lax finishing.

So a sad end to a promising performance and collective disgruntlement at the harsh treatment meted out to Rachel by the referee, an action which undoubtedly changed the game.

Onto next week’s final game, both for the team this season and for our wonderful Captain Emma Connell, who plays one more time before retiring to assist coach Dave next season. Thanks for everything Emma, we’ll miss you on the pitch!!