South London Laces 6 – 2 Wandsworth Borough Women

Goals: McAllister x2

Assists: Marshall, G Manley

Joint POMs: Bryant, Humphry

Report by Andy Proudfoot

A second trip to Barn Elms last Sunday, having played the same opposition in a pre-season friendly a few weeks earlier. On that occasion, we were introducing several new players and adjusting to a new system and succumbed to a 5-1 defeat. On this occasion, we were introducing several new players and continuing to adjust to a new system and succumbed to a 6-1 defeat. But in reality, there was no comparison between the two performances.

We had a pleasant surprise before the game, with Sarah and Freya announcing that they were expecting a baby. Don’t remember this happening much when I was playing!

Apart from Sarah, we weren’t in the best shape before the game, just 12 players with several carrying injuries or short of fitness, though confident that the growing team spirit would ensure an enthusiastic performance. And so it proved in the first half, with the sides evenly matched. Nicole and Freya were solid at the back, with Lou Bryant making her debut in goal looking safe and confident. Going forward, Gemma and Chloe were prompting Leah and Mozza up front to maintain a threat which the Laces couldn’t ignore. Half-time, 0-0, an excellent effort by all.

At half-time, knowing that we would inevitably tire, we shifted to a 5-3-2 formation to try and cement our first point of the season while sustaining a threat down the wings. Becky and Luci slotted in alongside Freya at the back, with Rachel and Wiki at full/wing-back as the situation demanded. Nicole slotted into central midfield to ensure that we had defensive cover as well as supporting Mozza and Leah up front.

For 15 minutes this worked well, but then Laces nicked a goal and presented us with a problem. But within a minute we were level with an early candidate for Goal of the Season. Hopefully you can see this for yourself elsewhere in this newsletter, but a flowing move down the right wing between Nicole, Chloe and Gemma culminated in a fantastic cross from skipper Rachel which was met by Mozza McAllister at the back post. Brilliant stuff. 1-1.

Alas, our predictable tiredness given our injuries and lack of (though improving) fitness started to kick in around the 70-minute mark, affecting our concentration at the back as much as making any physical impact. The last 20 minutes saw Laces add 5 more goals, increasingly making one-on-one situations against Lou in goal. A shred of respectability was salvaged in the last minute, as Mozza latched onto a fine pass by Gemma to grab her second of the game.

So a disappointing result, but much to be proud of until the last 20. The opposition Coach commented on the improvement since the pre-season game, and there is no doubt we’re progressing. The team are getting used to the system and their roles and their colleagues’ strengths and weaknesses. Hopefully a few injuries will have eased for this weekend, an important match at the bottom of the table against South East Parakeets. #UTB