25//08/13 Women’s Conference Division 1 Match Review by Admin - SWGB Bay Olympic (1) 3 (Shannon Goldstone, Brooke Smith 2) Lynn Avon United (0) 1 It was local derby time as this week the game venue was the Crum Park building site. The field of choice was the number 2 field. Unfortunately, for the players this is being prepped for an artificial surface. It will be nice when finished as it is set in a natural amphitheatre. But right, it is a muddy bog with sand on it. Why are we even playing on it? Leave it alone like the main field at Papakura. Why not Green Bay Domain? That way I can walk to the game…. To the game, Lynn Avon kicked off the game facing the Southern goal. They soon get into business as their number 4 gets on the end of a cross from the Western flank in the Western side of the penalty area. Her shot is saved by Saskia Porter to her right. We show that we are up for it with good build up work on the Western flank. Shannon Goldstone gets a side foot onto a through ball in the Western part of the penalty area. The ball was then heading towards the Eastern corner of the net before being cleared by a retreating defender. A pity as it was another example of the type of skills shown by Shannon during the season. The visitor’s number 15 then had a shot saved from the Western side of the area after getting onto the end of a cross from the Western flank. The shot goes wide of the Eastern post after getting a deflection. So far it is proving to be an even game with our speed advantage over them being restricted by the poor surface. Veterans like the centre back and ex kiwi international Terri Mc Cahill are also using all their old tricks to keep them in the game. The worst example being her trip on Brooke Smith in the second half when in a one on one situation just outside the penalty box. Luckily for her, Brooke was on the flanks. Had it been a run down the middle of the pitch? The next chance in the first half saw Alosi Bloomfield’s attempted shot blocked by their veteran keeper. However, again the visitors find some space down the Western flank. But a shot from their number 2 from the Western side of the penalty area goes wide of Eastern post. A few minutes later, their veteran number 11 produces a good in-swinging corner from the Eastern side of the penalty area which goes wide of the Western post. 1-0: but, we take the lead. Alosi Bloomfield breaks down the Eastern flank. Using her pace and close ball control, she cuts inside and squares the ball into the penalty area. Shannon Goldstone receives the ball and heads toward the Eastern side of the goal before placing the ball into the Western side of the goal. It is a good finish by Shannon and it also shows the good attacking work that Alosi is producing. In response, the Lynn Avon number 18 shoots wide of the Eastern post from the Eastern side of the penalty area. Several minutes later, their number 6 shoots wide of the Western post from the Western side of the penalty area after our keeper is caught in no man’s land. Thankfully, our keeper who came out, and then retreated was not punished for her indecision. The final chance fell to Brittany Saylor who steers a shot wide of the Eastern post from outside the penalty area. A good half sees us head into the half time interval up 1-0. The question is can we kick on and maintain our lead to win this game? 2-0: well, it looks good as we double the lead. Jessica Waterer on the Western side of the pitch finds Brooke Smith to her right. Brooke rounds the keeper and scores from a tight angle. A great finish from our ace goal scorer. Now I am hoping that we can keep a clean sheet. It would be good reward for our young keeper. I also know that 2-0 is a dangerous lead for us….anyone remember Metro? That was one game that I was not too upset that I missed most of…. 2-1: oh no, are we repeating bad habits? A low corner from the Western flank makes its way into the middle of the penalty area. Their number 12’s shot goes through our keeper’s hands. I was wondering if this was partially due to the wrist injury that I spotted being repaired on our keeper at half-time? I also kick myself for not shouting instructions to having one player to mark the corner taker as the player’s previous corner from the same spot was also low. The player was having problems with her foot placement in the boggy corner. But, then again who is to say that our players would listen to me…after all I am not the coach. 3-1: but my worries of a tight finish were allayed when we scored a vital third goal. A Shannon Goldstone pass from the Western half of the pitch finds Brooke Smith in the Eastern part of the penalty area. She applies the necessary finishing touch to restore our two goal lead. It seems that we are learning from previous games as we continue to apply the pressure. We create the next two chances. First, a Shannon Goldstone shot from the Western side of the penalty area is tipped over the bar by the impressive Lynn Avon keeper. The next chance sees Shannon Goldstone at it again as her shot from the Eastern side of the penalty area is saved by the keeper diving to her left. Their number 15 has the last chance for the visitors, but her shot from outside the penalty area went wide of the Eastern post. We have the final chance of the game as Katie Bennett shoots wide of Eastern post from the Eastern side of the penalty area. If this is the last game of the season, it is an appropriate end to the season. After all, we played Lynn Avon in the first game of the season, and barely had I gotten out of the car then we were 1-0 down. It was nice to win this derby, and to win both halves. It is also great to see the young faces play their part. Alosi had a terrific game winning the ball and tormenting the opposition defence. Thinking about it even more, I would rate this our best win of the season. Wins against this club have been rare in recent seasons, so I will take it….now, if we can also beat the likes of Three Kings, then we would have truly arrived. So, here is to next season….or will the Glenfield game be played? If so, that would mean the Men’s and Women’s first team playing their part in title deciders. Till next time… p.s credit to the coaches and team for proving my prediction wrong. More than happy to get that one wrong. Credit also for the insistence of trying to implement a passing game. Like the Men’s team who are also good at this, it is a pleasing style to look at for the spectators. Also, possession is an important element of the game. Finally, thanks to the support of the coaches for this facebook page. They were open to providing player’s names to help promote their games. They have also been open to provide their opinions. Something, which I guess the Men’s first team feel less likely to do. Post = 8th
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 09:06:36 +0000
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