Date: 30/09/2007
Game: Dagenham & Redbridge Reserves v BAWFC Reserves
Author: Petra
Player of the match: Lilian

Eleven of us (plus captain & coach) travelled to the London Marathon Fields for the second reserve fixture of the season – half of us setting off on the epic journey from the Concorde Centre (thanks to Tanya’s sat nav), Belinda from Clapham (where our first team was just about to win another 3 points) and the rest of us travelling the entire length of the Central Line from Ealing Broadway to the other side of London.

So, out of the changing rooms and onto the pitch, this is how we lined up:

GK: Lyn/Kirsty/Jo
LB: Jo/Suzie
CB: Kirsty/Preeti
CB: Belinda
RB: Tanya/Suzie/Lilian
LM: Petra/Nav
CM: Natasha
CM: Lyn/Ailsa
RM: Lilian/Petra
CF: Cherelle
CF: Nancy
+ Loads of Support (Roger, Gerry, Lou, Mandip + some of the above) from the sidelines! And thanks to Lee for running the line!

Yes, the match was as exciting as the above evolving line-up suggests. With Julia still out due to a back injury, Jo was warming up in goal, but by the time we kicked off, Lyn had taken the gloves of her leaving Jo in her favoured left back role. So far so good, and the next thing I remember is Tanya limping of the pitch. Oh, and I think we may have conceded a few goals during this time of re-organisation as well. Ooops.

Anyway to make matters worse, Kirsty somehow hurt her leg (still managing some great goal-kicks though), after which the opposition may have scored a few more. Some good football from Dagenham & Redbridge, which Tanya enjoyed from the sideline where she was soon to be joined by fellow-injured Lyn.

Ailsa’s and Nav’s arrival in midfield coincided with the hand-over of Julia’s goalie gloves to Kirsty, and after the initial confusion we finally managed to contain the hosts’ attacks – with some great clearances by Belinda. Natasha, Nav and Ailsa combined well in midfield and Cherelle and Nancy started pushing forward more.

And then it was time for half-time oranges!

And afterwards another shirt change – Jo back in the grey goalie dress. The defence regrouped with Preeti and Belinda in the centre joined by Suzie on the left and Lilian on the right thus reaching the final formation of the day. Phew.

In the meantime the opposition continued their attacking football. Somehow we conceded at least three penalties (I think one of them may have been in the first 45 minutes), one of them nearly saved by Jo and another one sailing over the bar. Phew.

Even though it may have felt as though we were constantly defending, we did push forward and ventured into their half. I remember a great corner by Ailsa with the ball falling just in front of me, and I still somehow managed to miss it. Oh dear.

And I could write more about some of the movement, clearances, balls bouncing of the crossbar etc, but then Jo would tell me off for going on for too long, so I’d better leave it...

All in all not a great result for us, too many injuries, but a good team effort (albeit sometimes disjointed) and some encouraging performances from individuals.

And finally congratulations to Lilian who was awarded player of the match!