Despite playing with only 10 from their own squad due to holiday commitments and borrowing Sophie Shorrock from our Under 18s to play at her usual age group, Wyrley put on a tremendous show of quality passing football and commitment against a team of ladies who are currently top of the Staffs County Womens League in this friendly.
Wyrley had the better of the first half in terms of possession and quality of passing football but still found themselves 3 – 0 down with 2 goals that came from high balls over the top and the third a quality strike into the top corner from a very narrow angle. Leah Fanning and Emily Downes supported the width of Sophie Shorrock and Cath Davies as well as being combattive in the tackle. Amy Marshall had an assured game with Saff Hicken spraying passes to all corners of the pitch. Sophie Shorrock was tripped as she drove into the box and Cath Davis was brave in stepping forward to take the penalty in the absence of our usual penalty taker, but her strike went just wide. The first of Wyrley’s goals came just before half time when a super passing interchange between Cath Davis and Jemma Clews led to a cross from Davis hit home on the volley at the near post by Rachel Hall.
Half time – 1 – 3 with the wind and the blinding sun now in Wyrley’s favour for the second half.
Wyrley continued to press and Clews made the most of a goal keeper error to take the ball round the keeper and despatch with confidence. Game on! Another poor tackle on Shorrock led to a second penalty and she stepped up to smash the ball into the roof of the net to level the scores at 3 – 3! This spurred Burntwood into a period of pressure and a deep cross from the right was superby volleyed home past a helpless Nia Jay in goal. Jay had few other shots to save but had to pick the ball out of the net 4 times! Hall supported the midfield well and her driving runs caused concern in the Burntwood defence. Wyrley heads didn’t go down, however, and a long ball into the box was diverted past the keeper by Shorrock to level the scores. Turner burst through to a pass from Beth Crook and chipped the keeper from the edge of the box to deservedly win the game for Wyrley.
Girls – a tremendous performance against a much more experienced team pushing to win the County League and who have only conceded 21 goals in 16 league games! Particularly pleasing was the quality of passing and the desire to win the ball. Well done from a very proud Manager!
Our thanks go to Dave Hood and his team for agreeing to the friendly – good luck in the League!
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