South East Counties Womens Football League - Div 1[W]
Whitehawk Res 2 Haywards Heath Town 1 [Fran Pritlove ] - 4th Nov 2007
Against “Top of the Table “ Whitehawk Heath knew that they were in for a challenging game and so it proved to be.
Heaths keeper and “Player of the Match” Rachel Virgo saw plenty of action in the opening spell, suffering an injury in a collision with a Whitehawk forward within minutes of the start but courageously carrying on .Despite making a superb save near the post she was powerless to prevent Whitehawk scoring as the ball went free with just 7 minutes of the game gone. Heath had one or two chances but it was the “hawks” who were mostly in control and it was no surprise when they added a 2nd midway through the half, a shot following a corner giving Virgo no chance.
Whitehawk continued to press forward but Heath defended resolutely, suffering another injury when Penny Gittins fell awkwardly in a bid for the ball and was taken to hospital, Donna Onslow replacing her.
After a tactical change at halftime Heath were much more into the game and in the 60th minute Mel Bramley sent a high ball into the “Hawks goal area where Fran Pritlove was on hand to meet the ball and steer it home to reduce the deficit. For the last half hour Heaths “5 across in middle” of Mica Saunders, Onslow , Bramley, Jo Ashworth and Pritlove , and a hard working defence of Eve Todhunter, Captain Julie Hawthorne , Lou Creasey and Debbie Johnson in front of the ever reliable Virgo thwarted “Hawks attempt to regain a 2 goal advantage whilst Ashworth , Karen Bridgewater and Saunders made sure the Hawks defence couldn’t relax. With 15 minutes to go Michelle Winnard took up the role of rightwing with Pritlove replacing Bridgewater who worked tirelessly up front by holding the ball up several times and laying off to the supporting mid-fielders.
Although coming away without any points Heath can count many positives, with a very hardworking 2nd half that would have seen victory against many opponents in a match that was an excellent advert of the Womens game, played hard but fair in an excellent spirit.
Team: Rachel Virgo; Debbie Johnson; Penny Gittins [Donna Onslow 43 mins] ; Julie Hawthorne(Capt); Eve Todhunter; Fran Pritlove; Lou Creasey; Karen Bridgewater (Michelle Winnard 75 mins); Mica Saunders; Mel Bramley; Jo Ashworth. Sub not used: Mel Conniff.
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