Girls Team

Great attacking performance sees Fillies smash eight

A great attacking performance on a freezing cold day saw the Fillies move up to fourth in the table after a deserved win against a stubborn GPR Sapphires side.

The girls and spectators braved the cold to turn out for the crucial match against GPR, and the spectators were rewarded with a very entertaining game.  The Fillies attacked from the off with Caitlin McCartney, playing as striker, having a good early run and shot.  Soon after this Caitlin then played Anya Stead in with a lovely pass, which Anya coolly finished.  1-0 to the Fillies, and we were looking for more goals to go in to help keep us warm.   A couple of attacks duly followed, although the spectators were jumping up and down when somehow we managed to miss an open goal.  We were then punished for that when the pacey GPR attackers broke away to equalise.  The scores were not level for long however.  Caitlin charged down a GPR goal kick, ran forward strongly and finished well, giving the goalie no chance.

Sophie Waller then doubled the lead, prodding home a cross from the right wing from close range. 

It was then that the real entertainment started, with Caitlin and Emilie Budd at the centre of it.  First of all Caitlin and Emilie provided some great interplay, and Emilie finished well when played in.  Arguably the goal of the match then followed - Emilie played a good pass in to Caitlin and then continued her run.  Caitlin spotted Emilie's run, and played the ball perfectly back into her path, which Emilie then slotted away fantastically.  Those two goals were the result of great football, and showed an almost telepathic understanding that Caitlin and Emilie have developed.  It was a reminder of Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush at their best (how Man Utd could do with two such fine attackers!).

Caitlin then scored her second to make it 6-1 with a deft flick around the goalkeeper.  Just before half time GPR reduced the deficit with a second breakaway goal.  6-2 at half time, and the Fillies came off for a well deserved break.

The Fillies eased off somewhat in the second half, a combination of a slight lack of concentration plus the effect of some of the girls playing in some unfamiliar positions.  Tia came on to play up front, and Liberty also played in defence.  Although fairly unfamiliar positions for both Tia and Liberty, both did well and showed how versatile they can be. 

Midway through the second half the weapon of Anya’s throw in’s seemed to pay off when she scored  direct from a throw in, which unfortunately  the ref disallowed. 

Most of the second half was played out with not that many chances, although the GPR goalkeeper was having an excellent match - without her the score could easily have been doubled.  Rumour has it that Sir Alex Ferguson sent a scout to watch the GPR goalie, since after Saturday's mauling at the hands of the mighty Red machine that is Liverpool he has realised that he needs to replace his waste of space keeper called De Gea.  I actually think a one eyed blind dwarf with a wonky leg would be a better keeper than De Gea, but what do I know! 

Which brings me on to the joke of the day – Kenny Dalglish, Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Harry Redknapp and David Moyes are having a drink in a bar.  Ferguson buys the first round of drinks, then Redknapp, then Moyes and Wenger.  Dalglish gets up to get his round in, but only buys four drinks.  He gives them out and Ferguson is left with no beer.  “Where’s my drink” asks Ferguson angrily.  Dalglish looks at him and says “this is the fifth round pal, and you’re not in it!!!”.

Back to the action, and Caitlin completed her hat trick when she tackled well, ran on strongly and hit a low hard shot to the keepers right and into the corner of the goal. 

The final action saw Jodie Sharpe, playing up front for some of the match,  pass well to Caitlin in the area who finished with a strong shot.

Mention must also go to the defence, who comprised Sophie Elphick and Molly Borthwick for much of the match.  They both faced some pacey GPR attackers and did very well to nullify a number of attacks and keep a clean sheet in the second half. 

Girl of the match was awarded to Sophie Elphick who recovered well after a nasty fall and marshalled the defence throughout.  She also pulled off a great bit of skill that had Richard trying to convince a dubious group of spectators that he had taught her everything she knows.  Mmmmmm!

Next week we have the cup semi final against Mole Valley - if we play with the same determination and skill we showed today, especially in the first half, then we are in for a really strong match and the chance for the Fillies to reach a cup final in their first year of existence.  We also need to make sure we stay together as a team - that is the only way to win.

And so to the girl of the match song - this one to the tune of “My Old Man’s a Dustman” by Lonnie Donegan!

Sophie Elphick is our left back

She runs on down the wing

She whips in loads of crosses

And puts hard tackles in

She confuses opposing forwards

With her twists and with her skill

And when she does that clever drag back

She leaves them feeling ill