Date: 08/10/2006
Game: BAWFC v Croydon
Author: Louise Dutton
Player of the match: Line

I did say I wanted to write about our first victory, but on this one occasion I don’t mind writing about a loss only because everyone worked and played so well...... So looking at the game in that way we are winners!!!!!!!!

After an early night of celebrations for Preeti and Nav’s birthday, everyone seemed wide awake and ready to play.. (Even Nav who had plenty to drink!)

Our warm-up wasn’t looking impressive as we couldn’t even follow a simple drill of passing, but after our team talk everyone was ready to play

British Airways playing against a very verbal Croydon leaded by their very very verbal captain..... But that wasn’t to put us off our game, we kept our cool!!!

BA kicked off playing from left to right (Never understood that when they say it on the TV!), we spent the first ten minutes or so defending well, can I just add some great defending by Line and Preeti where Line tackled the ball just on the edge of the box, she done a great job holding up the ball then Preeti overlapped Line for Line to simply lay the ball off to Preeti for Preeti to casually clear the ball!! (You guys been watching Chelsea??!!)

We also made some good attacks and some good passing, there was a long-range shot from Char but unfortunately we didn’t really test their keeper.

Again Croydon was pressing on our defence and made some good passing, and was able to get a shot in which was blasted straight at goal, and Svit had no chance of getting it!!!

There was no way our heads were going down, and still we was pressing on Croydon in there half, and was awarding a free-kick for a sliding tackle on Nav (I think!). The free kick was just outside the 18-yard box, Lou stepped up to take it, and saw a perfect gap and the near post, but she fluffed it!!!(Sorry guys!)...... Still attacking we was able to win a corner, a perfect ball from the left, but still we was unable to finish!!! (Come on BA get our scoring boots on!)

More attacking by Croydon, lots of play for there wingers, and Sim and Danni done a great job keeping them a bay.

Finally it was our time, with a cross to Nav who managed to scuff the ball into the back on the net, which was helped along with their goalie!!

Shortly after a shot was taken by Croydon but unfortunately Svit was unable to full get hold of the ball and there follow lead to Croydon second goal (The lead to a question to whether it was a foul on our keeper or not)......

Half Time!!!!!!!!!!

An encouraging half time talk by Bob!!! A change of play for the second half, Nav changed with Char for Char to play on the wing and Nav to play upfront along side Marie.

From my point of view the second half didn’t start, as we wanted; Croydon controlled the game in the first 10 mins, but as such a strong defence we had they didn’t test our keeper too much..... The second half of the game was very physical and lots of verbal talk from both teams. Another push in the back on a BA player for which even the Croydon Lineman signalled for a foul!! It wasn’t all one sided as there was also a fair few challenges on the Croydon players which to me wasn’t exactly kosher..... With decisions not going our way BA still kept there heads up, lots of switching play between Nav and Char which even confused me, so how Croydon kept up with I dunno know!! And a perfect ball from Line flying over all players and Char made a great run onto the ball...... But if only she was 3 inches taller then maybe she wouldn’t have hit the post and ball would have gone into the back on the net!! (Never mind girl, keep your head up!)

With about 10/15 before end of play we made our first change Marie came off for Kirtsy..... Kirsty made a good impression on the team with a few runs and some good passes.

The final whistle blew, with score of BA 1 Croydon 2.

Well done girls, a good game!! Keep our heads up, our Victory will come soon!!!!!!!!

A big thanks to Bob for coming and giving our team talks, Lee, Karen, Beej’s Brigade, Char’s friends, and of course the most enthusiastic supporter of them all Happy!!!!!!!!!!