Match Report |
07. 03.20
Euan Temple reports
Ladies 1st XI v Redhill 2nd XI for club.
South Nottingham arrived at the Redhill ground 40 minutes before push back to warm up, a full 20 minutes before Redhill were on the pitch. Fully committed. But a rather tense side on arrival as we needed a win to clinch being League Division leaders for the season. 8 of our 1st XI squad are under 18, which shows not only our club’s strength in depth, but is great promise for the future.
Redhill took advantage of South’s nervousness and dominated the opening play. But Elizabeth Turner in goal regularly and powerfully sent them packing, those at least that had managed to get past Eleanor Wallace’s brilliant barn-door defence, as sweeper, snuffing out threats.
This enabled South Notts to settle down and “resume normal service”.
Scarlett Duckett, Sophie Runciman and Alice Hounslow played forward of Eleanor, pushing up behind midfield all with sharp, thoughtful performances. And speeding back in planned defence, skilfully and athletically cutting out Redhill attacks, time after time. More barn doors!
India Clark in midfield was as dynamic and creative as ever, passing the ball wide for Abbie Rimmington and Becky Lindley to create time and space to scorch up the wings and centre it to Emma Turner and Captain Bethany Marshall. Or India kept Redhill guessing, and dummied and shimmered, drilling it through direct to Emma and Bethany.
Ruby Ryan, Poppy Scothern and Izzy Brackenbury covered miles of ground in hard-driving support. Monstrous and rocketing constant shifts around the park, with great purpose and massive effect.
Not totally sure what position Katrina Blunden was playing in, as she was back in defence cutting off Redhill passes, and was (at the same time) up in attack being speedily creative. This was sustained, ferocious, outstanding pressure by Katrina, and a superb performance throughout.
Sustained pressure by South Nottingham, peppering the Redhill goal, should have resulted in several goals, but the Redhill keeper was playing a ‘blinder’. At half time it was still 0-0. A real head of positive steam was developing in South’s play.
The same pattern in the second half was broken by Bethany Marshall, weaving and slaloming her way into space, slipping a pass to lurking Emma Turner, who poached a thunderous goal. 1-0 to South Nottingham. At last. Great cheers from the growing crowd of South Nottingham supporters who were really feeling the tension!
To give the younger players opportunity to shine in this key League match, Caroline Brackenbury generously held herself back but available, until 10 minutes before the final whistle. She then came on as a substitute, fresh as a daisy, superbly, with a towering performance, to redouble the pressure on Redhill at a critical moment of the game. A penalty flick by South’s Emma Turner went in, cheers of relief, but it was disallowed. Cheers faded, Redhill continued its real fightback but were given no joy.
So the score-line at the final whistle remained 1-0 to South Nottingham .Confirmed League leaders with 62 goals and now promotion for the Team. Well done everyone.
Thanks to Simon Recaldin for umpiring, and thanks for the noisy touchline support of friends and relatives. Injured Jo Shaw was back only on the touchline but her voice in support was as vibrant as ever!
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