South East Counties Women’s Football League – Premier Div
Crawley Wasps 0 Haywards Heath Town 2 (Mel Bramley, Del Cook) - 4th Sept 2005
HEATH 1sts WORK REWARDED
In blistering heat Heath’s fitness, tactics, work rate and team spirits enabled them to claim a valuable well deserved away victory against well fancied Crawley Wasps.
For the first 15 Minutes Heath stuck to their plan of conserving their energy and soaking up Wasps pressure, after which they gradually began to assert their authority with Leigh Farley and Mel Bramley having chances to put Heath ahead whilst Heath’s keeper Vicki Lank was quick to respond to any possible threat, although on one occasion a high bouncing ball required Kim Donno to clear off the line.
Kim Strong, recently re-signed from Lewes after a season away, blended well with the rest of the well organized defence, where Penny Gittins [Heaths Player of the Match] was outstanding. Cath Diffey, returning to the Club after many years away from football , showed she will also be an asset. George Thomas who filled in at left back due to injuries and illness received at least half a dozen kicks on or around her knees from poorly timed Wasps tackles, most of which went unpunished.
The half ended goalless but with Heath doing most of the attacking.
Now playing against the wind Heath maintained their attacking mode and within 10 mins went ahead after a good shot by Karen Bridgewater [on her 1st Team debut] had been parried, Mel Bramley gained possession and fired high into the goal from the edge of the area to put Heath deservedly ahead.
With defender Dawn Gaston , who bravely started the match despite being unwell, substituted for new signing Del Cook, Heath increased their attacking strength and with Wasps clearly running out of steam Heaths fitness and team spirit saw much pressure on Wasps goal, with the pressure finally yielding a 2nd goal. A long ball from Mel Bramley was well anticipated by Jenny Greenfield whose effort was parried by the Wasps keeper only for Cook’s selfless running to be rewarded as she shot calmly into the net to record a debut goal with less than 10 mins remaining.
The midfield battled bravely throughout with Kim Donno and Leigh Farley demonstrating their commitment with some tremendous runs. This was a great performance by the whole team who all gave 100% in a game where the performance mattered as much as the result, and were rewarded for all the hard work put in preseason by both them, Manager Dave Gittins and Coach Steve Weller, this was a great start to a potentially successful season.
Team Vicki Lank, Dawn Gaston [ Del Cook 58 Mins] , Kim Strong [ Emma Skilton 85 Mins] , Penny Gittins (Capt), George Thomas, Mel Bramley, Catherine Diffey, Kim Donno, Leigh Farley, Mel Bramley , Karen Bridgewater, Jenny Greenfield.
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