Sat 06 Feb 2010
First we'll take the positives out of this game, the result is actually the first time in a season and a half that the Belles side have failed to score in a match out of a total of 33 matches played in league and cup over the last 2 seasons - in those same 33 matches, we've kept a clean sheet for ourselves an amazing 20 times! That must feel quite good for a Handsworth side to know that they've stopped us from scoring when the might of Barnsley and Crosspool have never before managed it.
Now to the match. Yet again the club had to cancel all grass matches at balby Carr due to waterlogging and therefore our match only survived because we had access to the 3G pitch, which as we all know is a big pitch. I'd like to think that the pitch was a bit too big for the girls at this age and with the benefit of hindsight I should have opted for a match at our secondary venue at Campsall's Ryecroft Rd fields... we'll know in future!
The girls played well enough and although Handsworth came out of the starting gates as if they really meant business, we recovered our composure and within 3 minutes were asserting our own pressure and Molly ecott could have had a hat-trick inside 10 minutes, had her shooting boots been a little better, she carved the defence apart down the right wing and each time managed to contrive a shot which went straight into the keeper's hands.
Until half-time, the Belles had by far the bulk of the play whilst the visitors struggled to get into our half for more than the occasional brief sortie; although in fairness the attacks that they did have, only came to nothing because Shona, in goal was alert to the dangers. Mostly though it was a case of great possession by the Belles but without the clinical finishing that we've come to expect.
In the second half, Handsworth had a lot more of the ball and may even have shaded the half, although I think that tiredness of both teams showed as the game slowed almost to a snail's pace at times. Jess Lacey had a few good chances as did Lori Hudson and even Amber Warren weighed in with the occasional shot from distance, unfortunately our shots were from too great a distance. Niomi Thewlis and Jazz Frost looked lively (until Jazz suffered an ankle injury during a 50/50 challenge and had to come off) Holly Housley did well with limited exposure down the left wing and started to change wings with Molly to good effect; Alicia Garfoot harried and chased with great purpose although she never quite managed to get a clear cut shooting chance that her efforts deserved. At the back, Chloe Boyer made some great surging runs and challenges before succumbing to a leg injury late on. Amber Warren always had the Handsworth right winger in her pocket and the 2 Ellies/Elys in central defence were always comfortable, with Miss Raven impressing once again with great maturity on the ball save for the odd mis-communication with the keeper, whilst Miss Bratten just never gets flustered and clears the lines to great effect.
In the end a draw was probably a fair result - certainly Handsworth deserved something out of the game, but then again so did we! Apologies to Amber Huddart, who only got the last 2 minutes on the field, and to Jordan Leigh Checkley, who didn't get on at all. I'll try and recompense you with pitch time aplenty this week.
Lass of the grass - Ellie Raven for the maturity of her play and her committment to the cause.
