Report

Hampshire Invitation Challenge Cup Final

Sunday 13 May 2012

Shanklin Reserves Ladies FC V Winchester City Flyers Red


Final score – Shanklin 3 Winchester 2

Winchester City kicked off and Shanklin immediately broke down their early play and

started to push forward, turning the Winchester defence around and holding them back

in their area with some good strong tackling. Although winning the ball well, the football

played in the early stages was untidy, mainly due to nerves. Shanklin went into the lead

after 15 minutes when an excellent cross from Rachel Cox saw Dannie Regan break free

of her marker and place the ball under the oncoming goalkeeper. While Shanklin

remained on top in terms of winning the majority of the tackles, the football they played

was below their normal standard. Ten minutes later a shot from Georgia Dye was not

gathered by the goalkeeper and player of the match, Sarah Wright, followed up and

scored into an empty net.

Shanklin then probably played their best football for the next 10-15 minutes and it

looked as though a third goal was the most likely event which would have put the

Winchester City Flyers out of the game. However, with half time looming only about 10

minutes away, the Winchester City Flyers goalkeeper had an injury to her arm and the

game was stopped for 10 minutes. Fortunately she was able to continue and from the

re-start Winchester City Flyers hooked a long ball forward over the back of the Shanklin

defence and their Centre Forward, Zoe Jessy, lobbed the advancing goalkeeper Paula

Hill. The 10 minute break appeared to have affected Shanklin’s concentration and a long

shot was well tipped over by Paula Hill. With half time rapidly approaching a similar

situation with a ball over the top saw Zoe Jessy again have a shot that was blocked only

for it to be followed up by Harriet Eastham to level at 2-2.

The second half started with Shanklin back on top after some harsh words at half time

and Sarah Wright pounced on a loose ball behind their defence and Shanklin went ahead

in the 53rd minute. They continued to stay on top and some good play saw Heidi

Borgmann play a ball through the back four and Rachel Cox shooting from 20 yards

skimmed the bar which would have perhaps wrapped the game up at that point.

However, as the game wore on Danni Regan suffered a slight calf muscle strain and was

replaced by Kayleigh Tayler, being the youngest player in the squad and only joining the

Club this year, worked tirelessly up front with Sarah Wright keeping their back four under

pressure.

   The game continued, Winchester City Flyers started to push more players forward so

the back four of Shanklin, Megan Alder, Kelly Thorne, Beki Rider and Kelly Smith, all

stood firm and restricted the attacking players to long shots from outside of the box

which gave Paula Hill no real problems with her handling, particularly in the air, being

exceptionally good.

Shanklin held out right to the end and were worthy winners of the trophy. Carl Russell,

the Manager who has now been with the Reserves for a number of years, is fully

dedicated to the Club as a whole and all of the girls were pleased to be able to win the

trophy for him and the Club.

Shanklin Team

– Paul Hill, Megan Alder, Kelly Thorne, Beki Rider, Kelly Smith, Shannon

Kilcullen, Heidi Borgmann, Georgia Dye, Sarah Wright, Rachel Cox, Dannie Regan.

Subs:  – Tash Thornton, Tiff Moul, Delphine Davis, Kayleigh Tayler, Holly Smith, Sophia

McGauley-Cave, Kirsty Bennett.

Photos

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