Date: 21/01/2007
Game: BAWFC v Comets
Author: Katie Youell
Player of the match: Char

Foreword: Don’t worry this won’t be anywhere near as long as Preeti’s match report for the match against London United.

Well, welcome to my first match report for BA ladies and hopefully my last for a little while, much to talk about this week, it being our first game under the watchful eye of our new coach Richard on a very bright but windy day in Cranford.

We started off with a very in depth briefing (in depth by previous standards anyway) by Rich including the use of a number of props (very impressive), used to help explain positions, roles and tactics. We would be starting with a 5-4-1 formation, the back 5 being Petra, Preeti, Sarah, Emma & Jacinta, the midfield 4, Danni, Katie, Lou and Char, and Nav up front and our rock Svit in goal. After the briefing we then went on to our structured warm up, which included group running and then some passing exercises and finally some attacking and defending work. A final few words from Rich and the obligatory hand holding BA shout complete, the starting whistle ensued.

Things didn’t really go that well from the start to be honest, we lost the toss and had to play into the sun for the first half, things started relatively conservatively from a BA point of view, with a reasonable amount of possession but no real attacking prowess, not due to a lack of Nav’s running may I add. We didn’t capitalise on the chances we did have in the first half and were made to pay, when comets scored about 30mins into the first half by a good goal. Not letting our heads drop we kept pressing on and Lou was on a good run when she was fouled inside the box, the ref blew for a penalty and Sarah was nominated to take it, she coolly slotted home to make it 1-1, but didn’t exactly look too happy about it.

We went in at half time with the score at 1-1, Rich gave us all a serious talking too about being second to the ball and a bit slow to respond. Oranges and drinks were consumed and we started the second half with one change a straight swap with Cindy replacing Sarah in the back 5.

Again things started badly we conceded a goal within the first 5 minutes of the restart, and I think heads dropped a little, we still continued to be second to the ball and were relatively lacklustre all over the park, with the exception of some good running by Nav and Char. Things went from bad to worse as we somehow conceded a 3rd. Rich made a tactical change replacing Petra for Marie, a defender for a midfielder to give us 5 across the middle. Things carried on rather slowly and there was little action either end for a period of the half, rich then made one final change replacing me with Kirsty, and low and behold we scored about 5mins later, with about 5 minutes to go. We showed more effort in the final 15/20mins than we showed all game, but unfortunately it was too late, and the final score was 3-2 to the comets.

Thanks to our supporters; Karen, Majid, Trent, and Olive, sorry if I missed anyone.