Date:25/09/11
Fixture: League
Game: Battersea Casuals 7 v BAWFC Reserves 3

Players' POTM: Tracy
Manager's POTM: Chevaune

Author: Julia Steer

Line Up: Jane Little (GK), Kim (C), Anna, Chevaune (1), Elsa, Ebi, Fawisya (1), Harriet, Julia, Lucy, Mahreen, Natasha (1), Petra, Silvia, Tracy

BA reserves V Battersea Casuals at the lovely Clapham Common.

So...we had a very healthy number of players including: Anna, Chevaune, Elsa, Ebi, Fawisya, Harriet, Jane, Julia, Kim, Lucy, Mahreen, Natasha, Petra, Silvia and Tracy

We also had Nav as our coach/ mentor/ manager (thanks again Nav for all your help and taking time out of your Saturday for us). We also had great support from Preeti who was armed with her camera and Jo, so thanks guys for your support too.

First half...

We had a great start to the game. Our defence played really well even though the majority of the defenders were not normally defenders. Elsa did a great job right back. She marked well and did not let her player get the ball even with the throw ins. Elsa and Lucy did a fab job getting the ball back up to our half and up to Tash and Kim. They always knew where each other was on the pitch and they were running circles round Battersea. Ebi, even though she was still a little under the weather, was on the left and her throw ins improved so much during the game and did a great job in defence again not her usual position. Silvia showed her defence experience, strong and confident all the time getting the ball to Fawisya and (Mehreen who played a great first game to BA).

Only a few minutes in to the game Fawisya scored our classy first goal. Go BA! However only a few moments after that, Battersea scored one back. There were a few more goals in the first half, Tasha who was playing upfront scored our 2nd after a great team effort. I don't think I've played a reserve game with Tash not scoring us a goal! Chevaune then scored BA's third goal - her first match and she scores!

Half time: BA 3 Battersea Casuals 2. (note from ed: Chevaune scored in the second half so half time score was Battersea 3 BA 2)

Second half...

Jane had her work cut out a bit more the second half but managed to keep the majority of the shots out! Again defence worked really hard with Petra and Harry having to play some of the game back there, both did a great job, Harry clear in loads particularly in the last 20 minutes and cleared a corner with an amazing header. Battersea seem to find a few sneaky gaps in the centre of the pitch and scored a couple of goals from there. Even though Battersea did seem to score a few more goals than us, we weren't without our moments. We won several corners and nearly scored twice from there, Tracy with an amazing header just clipped the top of the post. Tracy had a great second half: quick, strong and skilled, she so deserved a goal.

Final score BA 3 Battersea Casuals 7

Great first game for BA and think we all enjoyed a good run around.

Well done to Mehreen, Tracy and Chevaune who played their first game for us.