Date: 13/01/08
Game: BAWFC V Fulham Compton
Author: Marie
Player of the match: Simone

BAWFC Vs Fulham Compton (0 - 1)

Team: Svitlana, Simone, Preeti, Nicole, Mandip, Char, Lou, Gilly, Nav (Katie), Donya, Marie (Heidi)
Subs: Katie, Heidi, Lynsie

BA's first league match of 2008 saw third placed BA take on second placed Fulham Compton. After an early meet for a pre-match tactics session with Gerry, we were all ready and raring to get at them.

Throughout the first half, BA played some lovely football, with some incisive passing between the midfield, forwards and wingers creating a number of opportunities in front of goal. Char was particularly unlucky with a shot going just wide and another which was well saved by the Fulham 'keeper. Speaking of the Fulham 'keeper, one particular comedic incident cannot be allowed to go unmentioned. During one BA attack, she rushed out of her goal to dive on the ball. As she fell onto the floor, her cap came off…nothing unusual there….except along with the cap, her long Beyonce-like hair also lay in a heap on

the grass! First time I've ever seen a player wear a wig during a match - nice she felt the need to make the effort for us!

When the halftime whistle was blown, BA came off the pitch feeling a little disappointed not to be in the lead. We'd been more than a match for the higher-placed team. We came back out onto the pitch for the second half, determined to make amends and put the ball in the back of the Fulham net. The back four continued where they'd left off in the first half, looking very solid and coping with everything Fulham could throw at them. However, midway through the half, Fulham took the lead. A corner taken from out on the left was hit low towards the box. From where I was standing it looked to have harmlessly gone out of play for a goal kick. A second later, the ball appeared to have somehow stayed in play and had crept in at the near post for a very scrappy and somewhat fortunate Fulham goal. Coach Gerry responded to this setback by switching the formation and playing three at the back and throwing three players up front. As BA searched for the equalizer, Fulham had a breakaway attack which ended with Svitlana catching the striker's leg as she dived for the ball, resulting in the ref blowing his whistle pointing to the spot. Svit pulled off heroics in the goal though, diving to brilliantly save the ensuing penalty and keeping BA in the match. Unfortunately full time came all too soon and the match ended with BA not quite able to come up with the equalizer. A good performance all round though meant we could go into the final part of the season confident of continuing the good play and pushing onwards and upwards.