CR Dream Team

Back to league action today against another well established Tier 2 team. We are finding the step up in quality noticeable, but the girls are really sticking to their task well and proving to very competitive at this level.

Motspur Park are an athletic and physical side, but they also play some nice football and really pile on the pressure with direct balls over the top for their strong forwards. So the defence really had their work cut out and coped brilliantly in the face of waves of attacking.

The first half was a tight affair with limited clear cut chances. Our defence was being turned, but showed great composure to play the ball out with skill and confidence. Deni was owning her box well and claiming balls over the top that were running through. Fleur and Eva started in the centre of defence and showed how their relationship is really growing, and this allowed Evelyn to push into midfield where she could try to dictate play.

Whilst Motspur felt like the team on top, our pace and skill out wide from Liv, Bea and Eloise was also a threat, and it felt like we could create chances on the break.

Approaching half time the Motspur Park pressure looked to have paid off, as their striker forced herself into space and created a one on one with Deni. But Deni got her angles right and what looked like a cool finished actually cannoned back off the post and our alert defence were there to clear.

Dead ball situations were certainly causing problems, but there was some extremely brave work being done by our girls. Deni was her standard self, throwing her body on the line, but Millie and Bea also made incredible challenges when called into action.

So 0-0 at half time and we started the second half on the front foot. Eva played a wonderful ball over the top early on for Eloise to use her pace and get to first, but the keeper closed things down quickly and their defence covered the danger. This step up in quality really shows all over the pitch, and chances really are hard to come by with the athleticism of the opposition.

But this proved we could cause them problems and that was shown again when Liv picked up the ball midway in the Motspur half. She cut her defender in half, drove forward, and unleashed a wicked shot that looked certain to be a goal, only for their keeper to pull off a full length dive and tip the ball round the post.

At this point it felt like we were in the ascendency, but Motspur stayed calm and kept playing football. Super strong in the middle of the pitch they found time on the ball and used both their width and pace up front to cause us a variety of problems. So it was a shame that their opening goal came from a long punt downfield which just evaded our midfield and defence on the bounce and allowed their striker to forge forwards and finish cleanly. Another example of the constant pressure at this level and the concentration needed against these teams.

But heads didn’t drop and the girls kept fighting to the end. There were some bright moments, and it still felt like we might be able to find an equaliser, but alas, after some solid pressure Motspur scored a second.

Their deliveries from set pieces had been strong all game, but what followed is something you don’t normally see at this level. A whipped corner into the box was met on the volley by their striker, who claimed her second of the game and closed out the match.

A really excellent effort though. As mentioned the defence were brilliant all game with Fleur showing real composure, Talulah always looking for attacking options when on the ball, Eva winning some wonderful strong tackles, and Mille and Evelyn showing their versatility by being strong in both midfield and defence.

Sylvia showed some strong bite in the middle, Jess was claiming high balls as always, Eve was her normal determined self, and Sophia showed some great play when dropping a little deeper, winning tackles and distributing with real class.

Shame we couldn’t get a result but a really good performance and one the girls looked to enjoy.

Player of the match today was a tough pick, with the defence especially strong, but the award goes to Eva who coped with the pressure all game with great style, covering attacks, winning tackles, and distributing with real skill and calmness.

Goals: None
PoM: Eva

League Cup game today and we were drawn against Epsom and Ewell who currently sit top of Tier 4. Hopefully a game where we could get a little more time on the ball and work on the skills we’ve developed in training.

We started the game with a back 4 to stay solid and compact, but the first 5 mins were the Liv show as she beat her defender time and time again. Only some good goalkeeping, and some shots barely past the post, prevented us from taking the lead.

But from one of these saves we won a corner. In incredibly rushed short corner plan had been developed around one minute before kick off, but Charlotte and Liv pulled it off perfectly. Liv to Charlotte. Charlotte drew the defender and laid if off to Liv. Liv bangs a wicked shot that the keeper got a lot on, but could only palm onto the post and into the net. 1-0.

We looked solid, but couldn’t quite find the second goal. Sophia had a couple of chances saved, Eve was running the show in the middle of the pitch, and all the wingers were causing havoc. Our defenders were also showing great disciple and concentration to quell the few attacks coming their way.

When it looked like one goal would be all we had to show for our efforts Lara played Bea in with only one defender to beat. Bea took her player on, and from there the finish into the bottom corner was never in doubt. 2-0.

So half time, and it would have been easy for the girls to relax, but this never happened and they kept at the top of their game. We switched to a back 3 to give us more bodies in midfield, and we created a huge amount of chances in the second half, with only their keeper and the woodwork keeping the score sensible.

Millie was having a great game on the right wing having moved to her normal position. She was calm on the ball, finding space and sensible passes, but always looking like she could get a shot off. And so it was, when Eve found her with a lovely pass she chopped her defender, cut inside, and whipped a ripper of a shot over the keeper from outside the box. A wonderful first goal for the Eagles!

But the girls did not let up. Eloise was denied by the keeper on a couple of occasions, and then looked to have smashed a goal in from a similar position to Mille, only to see it canon back off the crossbar. Undeterred Eloise continued to get into good positions, and repeated the trick 5 minutes later, probably hitting the exact same part of the crossbar! But like any good footballer she’d learnt to follow her shot in…..casually volleying home the rebound to make it 4-0.

Still the Eagles pushed. Sylvia and Charlotte were using the ball brilliantly in the middle of the pitch, and Sophia was testing their defence with killer ranging passes. So when Sophia won the ball in our box from an E&E corner it was no surprise that she used it effectively. Liv came short and drew their defender allowing Sophia to whip a long pass to Lara on the left wing. Lara cut inside her defender with her first touch and carried the ball before slotting between the 2 central defenders with a pass for Eve to run onto. Again it felt like the result was never in doubt as Eve cleverly took the closest defender out of action with her first touch, before slotting calmly past their excellent keeper. A real team breakaway goal.

So a clean sheet, first win of the season, and into the next round of the Cup. A good Sunday!

Performances all over the pitch were excellent today with Sophia and Lara probably having their best games for the team, Liv and Bea causing constant problems for their defence, and our own back line brilliantly defended Denis goal. Eva and Talulah especially recovering brilliantly on a number of occasions, Emily stepping in to play centre back with great skill, and Fleur looking super composed. Millie had a wonderful game and brings some real class to the team with her running and communication, and fantastic skill on the ball. Jess was her normal calm self and took down countless high balls. But todays player of the match is Eve who covered the ground of 3 players, passing with great control and skill, winning tackle after tackle, and finally getting a deserved goal.

Well played girls!

Goals: Liv, Bea, Millie, Eloise, Eve
PoM: Eve

Another game with no match journalist, so a quick summary….

Guildford are probably favourites for the league, and we gave them a massive scare, although the game didn’t start brilliantly as we conceded within 4 minutes! Guildford built on this and we needed to suffer 20 minutes of pressure, but held out well. In fact, almost scoring on an Eloise break which went just wide.

We made it to half time at 1-0 which was an excellent effort in the circumstances, and started the second half the stronger. After 15 mins this pressure paid off as Liv (playing in an unusual left back position) found Eloise. She played a slick one-two with Lara and was through….slotting into the near post to make things 1-1.

At this point it looked like we could pull off another epic result in our new division, but alas, Guildford picked up a free ball from our own goal kick and made us pay with a cool finish.

Then right before the end of the game a long up and under from their keeper was allowed to bounce, and they made it 3-1 with a blasted shot from close range, giving Deni no chance.

So a defeat, but a brilliant performance against one of the strongest teams we’ll play this season.

Millie and Eloise were working well together, so great to see this relationship on the pitch building, but player of the match goes to Evelyn who marshalled the defence with great skill.

Goals: Eloise.
PoM: Evelyn

So with the manager sunning himself in Portugal it was up to Toby and James to take the girls into their first league game of the season, and will also mean this match report is mercifully shorter than normal!

This was our first game in Tier 2, but we had played Balham in the Cup last season which resulted in an 8-0 defeat, so this was going to be a good test of how we would find the level. Evelyn, Eva and Millie made their official debuts for us, with E&E forming a central defensive partnership in a back 4 (which was also getting its official debut!).

The first few games of the season are always interesting, with players finding their feet and fitness after a long break, so it was great to see our girls so composed and professional against such strong opposition. Bea opened the scoring and we held onto the lead until half time.

Balham came out strongly in the second half, getting 2 quick goals to take the lead, but the Eagles heads did not go down. A fantastic ball over the top played in Eloise who finished coolly in off the post via the keeper. But wait! A bit of scandal. Had the ball gone in via the side netting? Fortunately we had our own VAR on the side of the pitch and the goal was given. 2-2.

But the girls didn’t hold out for the draw and instead pushed for the winner in the midst of some strong home support and an under pressure referee. Lara was booked for a bit of friendly wrestling, and when a blatant penalty was waved away we were left with a point, but a massive sense of pride from such a strong performance.

As is the way with this team, everyone contributed and there were excellent performances all over the pitch, but Deni takes the player of the match award for her incredible bravery.

Goals: Bea, Eloise
PoM: Deni