Date: 21/10/2007
Game: BAWFC v Fulham AFC
Author: Simone
Player of the match: Gilly

BAWFC Firsts 8 - AFC Fulham Belles 0

Line-up: Gilly, Marie, Ailsa, Lou, Nav, Char, Mandip, Nicole, Preeti (C ), Simone, (the mighty Svitlana)
Subs: Kim, Kate

Hmm... what’s worse? Knowing before a match that you have been nominated to write the match report of after? (as was the case this time round!) Memory is a bit dodgy at the best of times, even ‘though I’ve been using Alice’s "Brain Training" game for a week or so - haven’t quite reaped the benefits yet!

Well, it was a lovely sunny afternoon in Cranford and the mood in the dressing room was one of quiet confidence - and it’s amazing the effect a pair of new shorts has on these girls.

The girls started strong with the words "shape" and "nice and easy" going through their heads. It wasn't long before Gilly started the goal feast off with her first of the day. (Yes Nav - I have "tapped into" your Guardian report but why re-invent the wheel?) There was some lovely play between Lou and Char, who got the ball in the box for Gilly to score. Gilly went on the score number 2 soon after - I don’t think Fulham knew what to do with her! The 3rd goal was sheer class - Nav left 2 Fulham defenders for dead and neatly side footed the ball into the bottom right hand corner. Gilly then got her hat-trick by taking on AFC's defence before cutting it back inside and slotting it past the keeper. All this time Fulham really didn’t get out of their half - the midfield dealt with a lot of their attempts and the back 4 passed the ball around between them, nice and easy, a fairly new phenomenon, which has resulted from the appearance of Nicole as our centre half, and all that hard work in training. In fact the back 4 did an excellent job all round (which I know ‘cos the coach said so!) and Fulham only really had one good chance which Svit took care of by making a fantastic double save. Anyway, Marie got her name on the score sheet just before half time, and shortly after that Ailsa got felled by a tackle and had to be carried off the pitch with a knackered ankle. Enter Kim, just before half time, her debut for BAWFC first team.

After a quick half team talk with a happy coach we started the second half relaxed. The second half goals were not up to the same in quantity, but the quality was priceless. Nav made the Fulham defensive look cumbersome again and made a great cross to Char who slid in and smashed the ball into the top right corner. Marie notched her second with a powerful and accurate strike from just inside the 18 yard box and Lou made it 8 goals with another superb strike from outside the box. About halfway into the half Katie came on for Marie, and was like a little terrier off the leash (not saying she’s a dog or anything - just meant in terms of her energy and determination!)

I don’t think there was any doubt that we were going to get a good result today, but the way we completed the job was classy to say the least. There was passing, there was shape, there was teamwork, there was more shape. Bring it on, Westside!