Post by thelittlerussian23 on Nov 1, 2010 18:12:56 GMT
Katri – GK
Sarah S – RB
Cris – CB
Cameron – CB
Alison McG – LB
Chloe - RM (Alison F 75 mins)
Rachel – CM
Nat – CM
Ellie – LM
Amanda – CF
Belinda – CF
Current league leaders Wythenshawe got a Hallowe’en fright from Rovers this week who matched them in every department, and but for one or two terrible refereeing decisions would have come away with at least a point. Rovers have not done well against Wythenshawe in the past and at times their meetings last season threatened to boil over with many an exchange of opinion between the two teams overshadowing the football at times. This match was different though and both sides let the football do the talking with very few crossed words. Rovers set their stall out to attack from the beginning and went ahead after just five minutes; good approach play down the right-hand side allowed Belinda to find space in the six-yard box and finish well between keeper and post at a tight angle.
The rest of the first half was very evenly matched, Katri making some important saves and the Rovers defence looking strong and winning the majority of the aerial battles. Despite a promising start however, Rovers found themselves 2-1 down after half an hour, whilst Wythenshawe may not have had the greater possession; they were dangerous going forward and took their chances when they came. But Rovers stuck to their game plan and their came towards the end of the half; following a penalty area scramble, the ball found its way to Nat just inside the box who shaped herself and hit a high and powerful shot over the keeper and just under the bar. 2-2 was nothing less than Rovers deserved at half-time.
Coach Graham reiterated at half-time that if Rovers have real promotion ambitions, they need to be beating the teams around them at the top and that in the first half the Greens had matched the league leaders. Wythenshawe made a couple of changes in the second half and looked to attack Rovers more, this they did but most of the danger was snuffed out by the defence. However, the home side did manage to score quite early into the second half and with the referee giving Rovers nothing and turning down cast-iron penalties and free-kicks; Rovers faced an uphill challenge (or a team of twelve, depending how bitter you are!). Rovers did not give up though and were very lucky not to come away with at least a point, creating a number of chances they just couldn’t convert into goals.
A testament to how far Rovers have come is that the home side put their most influential and creative player in goal, presumably expecting the three points to be a formality...they had had second thoughts by the second-half when she was playing outfield and made the winning goal. So 3-2 it finished with Rovers unlucky to come away with nothing, despite some rustiness having had a fortnight off, they played well, fought for every ball and will be determined to put this defeat behind them and take all three points from an away match at Oldham Vixens in a fortnight.
Players’ player of the match – Katri. Despite taking a nasty knock to her knee in the first half, Katri made a string of good saves and was quick off her line to eliminate any potential threat. Well played Kat.
Sarah S – RB
Cris – CB
Cameron – CB
Alison McG – LB
Chloe - RM (Alison F 75 mins)
Rachel – CM
Nat – CM
Ellie – LM
Amanda – CF
Belinda – CF
Current league leaders Wythenshawe got a Hallowe’en fright from Rovers this week who matched them in every department, and but for one or two terrible refereeing decisions would have come away with at least a point. Rovers have not done well against Wythenshawe in the past and at times their meetings last season threatened to boil over with many an exchange of opinion between the two teams overshadowing the football at times. This match was different though and both sides let the football do the talking with very few crossed words. Rovers set their stall out to attack from the beginning and went ahead after just five minutes; good approach play down the right-hand side allowed Belinda to find space in the six-yard box and finish well between keeper and post at a tight angle.
The rest of the first half was very evenly matched, Katri making some important saves and the Rovers defence looking strong and winning the majority of the aerial battles. Despite a promising start however, Rovers found themselves 2-1 down after half an hour, whilst Wythenshawe may not have had the greater possession; they were dangerous going forward and took their chances when they came. But Rovers stuck to their game plan and their came towards the end of the half; following a penalty area scramble, the ball found its way to Nat just inside the box who shaped herself and hit a high and powerful shot over the keeper and just under the bar. 2-2 was nothing less than Rovers deserved at half-time.
Coach Graham reiterated at half-time that if Rovers have real promotion ambitions, they need to be beating the teams around them at the top and that in the first half the Greens had matched the league leaders. Wythenshawe made a couple of changes in the second half and looked to attack Rovers more, this they did but most of the danger was snuffed out by the defence. However, the home side did manage to score quite early into the second half and with the referee giving Rovers nothing and turning down cast-iron penalties and free-kicks; Rovers faced an uphill challenge (or a team of twelve, depending how bitter you are!). Rovers did not give up though and were very lucky not to come away with at least a point, creating a number of chances they just couldn’t convert into goals.
A testament to how far Rovers have come is that the home side put their most influential and creative player in goal, presumably expecting the three points to be a formality...they had had second thoughts by the second-half when she was playing outfield and made the winning goal. So 3-2 it finished with Rovers unlucky to come away with nothing, despite some rustiness having had a fortnight off, they played well, fought for every ball and will be determined to put this defeat behind them and take all three points from an away match at Oldham Vixens in a fortnight.
Players’ player of the match – Katri. Despite taking a nasty knock to her knee in the first half, Katri made a string of good saves and was quick off her line to eliminate any potential threat. Well played Kat.