Due to Northampton only able to get 8 girls to play, we had to play this league game as an 8 a-side match. Even when playing 9-aside our home pitch seems big to our players, so playing 8 a-side meant there were going to be a lot of tired legs out on the pitch. After our not so good cup performance last week against Denham, it was a worry how the girls would approach this game. Sure enough it seemed that the Ruislip Rangers girls had lost a little confidence, and started with not much composure about their game, and with the pitch being muddy and slippery, the first 10 minutes, Niamh had to be alert and come out to the edge of her penalty area numerous times to collect those balls being kicked from Northampton midfield. Just after 10 minutes into the first half our midfield managed to get the ball behind Northampton defence for Sophie to run on to and slot the ball into the back of the net to make the score 1-0. This goal helped settle Ruislip Rangers and get back a bit of confidence, and 5 minutes after scoring the first goal, Hayley won the ball in midfield and put a great ball behind the Northampton left back for Lauren to run on to, who put in a great cross into the penalty area for Amy to hit the ball first time into the back of the net to make it 2-0. Just before half time Ruislip failed to close down the ball and Northampton took a shot outside Ruislip penalty area which went over the keepers head and into the back of the net to make the score 2-1. Due to Northampton scoring their goal just before half time Ruislip made a nervous start to the 2nd half, and Northampton started the 2nd half with a few scoring chances which either went wide of the post or over the crossbar. But five minutes into the second half Ruislip fought hard and started to win the ball and get the ball into the Northampton penalty area. Ruislip 3rd goal came when Hannah won the ball and took the ball into the penalty area and got pushed over by a Northampton defender which gave Ruislip a penalty. Hayley stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to make the score 3-1. Ten minutes into the second half with the score at 3-1, Northampton put pressure on the Ruislip goal and won a corner. The Northampton corner then went through a crowded penalty area to the back post where Northampton kicked the ball into the back of the net to make the score 3-2. Ruislip then responded fifteen minutes into the second half when Amy took a shot just inside the penalty area which the keeper palmed away, but straight into the path of Sophie who kicked the ball into the back of the net to make the score 4-2. Ruislip kept pushing the ball forward for Amy, Sophie and Lauren to run onto, only to be saved by the Northampton keeper, or go wide of the post. Northampton also kept the pressure on, but the Ruislip defence of Annabel, Ellia & Megan stood firm and challenged for every ball to keep the score at 4-2. The last couple of minutes saw the ball from a Ruislip corner floated into the penalty area, which found its way to Ellia just outside the penalty area who had a great shot saved by the Northampton keeper. All the girls worked hard, especially with only 8 girls covering the whole pitch. Hayley was given Girl of the match for tirelessly covering every blade of grass and supporting the defence and forwards.
