Report

A sad day in some respects - the last as a Girls team, but with a promise of a McDonalds after the game a happy ending was hoped for.

Marston soon put Rubery under pressure it was defended well. Rubery almost took a surprising lead after some good football ended with a shot from Sophie that went past the post. After some close shaves and good saves and defending Marston finally made their pressure count with a unstoppable shot from close range. A second followec later after some generous defending. Nevertheless the overall team work was holding up against a very good team that had beaten RPS the week before, with virtually every player in the action. It was disappointing to concede a 3rd goal just o nthe stroke of half time, again with what looked like generous defending after some otherwise sterliong work.

Half time 0-2

We decided to be more advenbturous in the 2nd half i nan attempt to geto nthe scoiresheet. Kayleigh asked to sit out the start of the second half and immediately it proved to be a problem ofr us as Marston scored two quick goals within a few minutes. From our point of view very soft goals. But their 6th goal soon after was the best quality produced in the game, a stunning volley after a good passing sequence.

Our response was to get Kayleigh back on and push Caitlin fiorward in support of the two Sophie-s. That solved three problems - it stiffened our defence, gave us renewed energy in midfield and allowed us to enjoy a period of pressure. Sophie scored with a well judged lob over the advancing keeper after outpacing the chasing defenders. A few minutes later she almost repeated the trick and had two other chances.

Marston responded to this threat by closer marking and eventually restored the order they had previously enjoyed and the game was now back to where it had been in the ealry stages, plenty of pressing by them and dogged defending by us. Another couple of lapses in concentration cost us two more goals but it was still a valaint effort by all the girls.

Marston had played very well and we had done as best we could. A kind sporting gesture from Marston-s linesman ( lending his boots to Caitlin in the 80th Minute after a stud went missing) typifiied the excelent spirit of the game amongst all players, officials and parents. It almost proved beneficial as Caitlin almost scored in the last minutefrom an acute angle. .

Full time: Rubery Warriors 1 - 8 Marston Green