Date: 03/02/08
Game: Watford Youth V BAWFC (Russell Cup 2nd Round)
Author: Nav
Player of the match: Nicole

Watford Youth V BAWFC (1 - 2)

Team: Svitlana, Simone, Preeti, Mandip (Gilly), Char, Katie(1), Lou, Nav, Heidi(1), Marie (Lynsie).
Subs not used: Rachael, Petra.

We were all up for a win after a disappointing exit in the League Cup. Gerry drilled into us that we must get a win today - our only chance of some silverware this season. Losing was not an option! With the deal of Gerry getting free pints in the bar for the rest of the year if we lost today, a win was the only option we had.

Katie decided to treat everyone to a super energy drink beforehand, note to all: out of date caffeine Lucozade sports keeps you up all night!

With everyone caffeine fuelled ready to battle it out on the pitch all we had to wait for was a football pitch. After a last minute equaliser in the boys game, then extra time, and then penalties our game was cut to 40 minutes each way. We were ready for the game and tactics were sorted: ‘if we are winning just kick it over the fence and make them fetch it’ - inspiring words from Char....

Heidi opened the scoring in the first few minutes. She dribbled past the Watford midfield. Found herself in the box after dribbling past a couple defenders. Everyone shouting 'SHOOT! SHOOT!' That wasn't good enough for our Heidi, she wanted to dribble around them again, we are all still shouting 'SHOOT! SHOOT!'! She played around with the ball a few yards from goal before finally slotting it past the keeper. One nil BA! Heidi made the Watford defence look so average that we thought this was going be a easy game - but we were so wrong!

Watford then attempted a come back, but our back 4 was solid. They weren't having anything go past them. The game then got a bit rowdy. Their players showed us the impressive new words they learnt in language class: Bad Language Class. Even Petra, who was doing a fantastic job of running the line, was being taught the new lingo. I thought the referee might give them a card or something, maybe a talking too - but I think instead he gave them a A* for effort!

We then looked like getting a second after a great long ball from Nicole to Char, who was almost through on goal. Char could only find the side netting.

Our second goal came from Katie who saw the Watford keeper off her line. While their players were busy telling us all the new words they learnt that started with the letter 'F', Katie hit a beautiful strike from 30 yards out and lobbed the keeper. 2 nil BA! Katie was so surprised by her effort that she didn't even realise it went in until the BA girls all ran towards her screaming in delight. Like girls do.

Watford then had a great opportunity to get one back, through on goal, but Svitlana to beat. Svitlana aint that easy to beat! She managed to block the shot and take out the Watford no 5 at the same time. No 5 shouting for a penalty. But she didn't even get a corner. Oh, and No 5, No 5...... enough said. Moment of the half, apart from the 2 goals obviously, was Preeti asking No 5 if she had 2 balls...

Gilly came on for Mandip, who was looking lively after a narrow win in her Rugby game. Mandip's twiglet's still giving her trouble. Gilly went to left wing and I replaced Mandip at left back.

We had a couple more opportunities to score but just couldn't get a decent shot on, and our defence were pretty solid and played the off-side fantastically well.

Lynsie came on for Marie with a few minutes of the first half remaining.

Half time: Gerry again told us we cannot lose. He does not want to hear any excuses. A win is a must! We were keen to get back on the pitch as the wind was bitterly cold. We were also keen to finish this game off with a win.

We looked a bit shaky just right after half-time, and we spent the majority of the half defending our lead. The opposition had a few decent corners and for some reason we had little Char marking their tallest player on two occasions! Don’t worry it soon got switched around. Their best chance from a corner coming when I was on the post about to head it out and Svitlana decides to give me a helping hand by punching the back of my head. Thanks Svit, remind me to pay to back this Sunday!

All the defending and they still didn't look like scoring. It was unfortunate mis-kick from Preeti that gifted Watford a goal. Holding her head in shame, but learning a valuable lesson - don't hestitate.

We then had a fabulous opportunity to get back our 2 goal led. Heidi finding herself with an open goal to shoot at but hitting it way over.

Lynsie shortly afterwards becoming an official ba member after missing an open goal, while their keeper was lying in agony on the floor. The Watford keeper tried playing on the pitch for the last 10, but decided with 5 minutes to go she'd had enough and sent the remaining time on the sidelines crying. No, no one went to help her or see how she was.

I then spent a bit of time on my back side. Don't ask, nobody about tackling me, I don't know how it happened. Even the opposition stopped to laugh at me while I went to kick the ball, totally missed it and landed on my behind. Thanks for clearing the ball up Nic.

Nicole saved the day was an awesome block in front of goal 5 minutes from time, she was on fine form and got the well deserved POTM this week.

Great support from the sidelines, inc Elsa who forgot what team she was supporting - 'come on B....................................ummm....A!'

Manager Gerry was really impressed with us getting stuck in, and was very happy with all of us on the pitch. In fact he was still thinking about it while painting a wall at work the next day.

The game finished 2-1. And performance wise maybe not great, but one of our best wins this season. Looking at everyones' Facebook status I could tell we all went to bed smiling and dreaming of the win.