Ladies 5's 5 - Wycombe 1

Firstly, thank you once again to Sophie Boycott for being an absolute star both for turning up to support us every week and for writing most of this match report!

This week was really important for us, we have been p[laying really well for the last few weeks and were just ready for this match!
Maidenhead had first push back, but typically we had a slow first few minutes and Wycombe had three early chances, which were thankfully off target.

Ruth had an amazing chance, but the ball ended in the goal without a Maidenhead touch in the D - someone needs to be on those posts to pick those up!

Unfortunately Wycombe scored on the counter, as we left only a few Maidenhead players in the D to defend and protect Kiera.

We turned the momentum around to earn our first short. It started well with a good push from Amelia, but the shot was saved and got trapped at the top of the D, and we could't manage to put the rebound back in.

The play flipped again and we successfully defended a Wycombe short, with a great hard run out from Ruth, and the following two shots saved by Keira.

We really started to up the energy after that, and kept the ball in the Wycombe half and put loads of pressure on. Roo took a shot that was saved by the keeper and sadly the rebound couldn’t be put in the goal but the hunger was there and their back line couldn't get the ball back past us.

This culminated in Anji driving into the D and taking a hard shot from the top which was saved by the keeper, but rebound was beautifully followed up and put in by Elouise.

Half time was called at 1-1

The half time team talk focussed on us needing to release the ball earlier, up our communication levels and emphasizing the importance of pick up the rebounds!

Wycombe pushed back for the second half, but it was a slow ball and we picked it up immediately and went straight on the attack and got two shorts in a row but didn't manage to convert them.

We kept that drive up and after some more play we earnt another three shorts in a row - the last of which was finally converted into a goal; Amelia with a lovely push to Hayley at the top, who slipped it to Katie who took one touch and fired it into the goal.

Wycombe really weren't having any luck with their pushbacks as we picked it up again and went immediately back on the attack to score another! Annabel with a lovely drive into the D, and Anji was there to finish it off!

After a small amount of play, Anji drove with the ball down the right hand side of the D, a lovely pass in the air fells to TJ, who just managed to touch it and help it roll over the line to bring the score to 3-1.

Maidenhead then had to defend two shorts in a row; lovely running from the two defenders whilst the post players stand firm to keep it out. This was followed by a third defensive short and once again it was cleared out of the D by the defense.

We continued to pressure Wycombe, really keeping their defence moving and working really hard. Annabel picked the ball up at the half way line and did a lovely run through four Wycombe players, all the way into the D, and took a reverse shot which ended up with Katie at the top of the D who did an amazing reverse stick shot that fired into the bottom right hand corner.

The final whistle blew and the score was 5-1 to Maidenhead!

We did a really good job improving on the things we identified at half time, but we still need to make sure we have people on posts in the future!

Eleanor got Man of the Match for a really great game played across almost every part of the pitch (Only her 2nd game in the Ladies 5's) - she worked really hard and seemed to always be in the right place!

Back to the Club House and we celebrated in style with the Wycombe ladies with Lindsey making cakes for the birthday girls Hayley, Boycott and Tegan.

TJ