South East Counties Womens Football League - Div 1[W] - 23rd Oct 2005
Haywards Heath Town 2nds 1 [Natalie Trend] Crawley Wasps Res 1
Heath went into this match after a two week break, which is always hard. Heath started well, with lots of forward play, using Alison Field and Rebecca Smallman supporting wingers Francesca Pritlove and Jo Stevenson (Managers Player of the Match) well up the wings. With the central defence of Julie Hawthorne and Gemma Paull working well together and communicating with keeper Claire Imray (Player of the Match) returning from university for the weekend, Crawley Wasps were kept at bay and any form of attack was quickly dispersed. Ten minutes into the game one of Heaths attacks was broken down and Wasps quickly proceeded forward down the right wing, with their striker attempting to put in a cross the ball drifted over Imrays’ head and into the top left hand corner of the goal. Lucky was not the word!!!
Heath continued to battle with strikers Keveena Mosen and Yoli Rietmann having chances missed and Fran Pritlove went close with a header following a freekick. Just before half time Alison Field was struck in the face by the ball and very close range, necessitating a hospital visit, and was replaced by Eve Todhunter.
After half time Heath were determined to get an equalizer. Central midfielders Lou Rice and Natalie Trend both had chances as did Pritlove and Stevenson, but somehow Wasps survived. Imray made several saves, with Hawthorne and Paull putting into some amazing and vital challenges to stop Wasps extending their lead. With 5 minutes to go, Manager Sarah Miller made a vital decision to swap Rietmann with Trend, and with the perfect ball and Trends pace split Wasps defence and Trend slotted the ball past Wasps keeper. Finally Heath had the equalizer they so readily deserved.
This is easily the best performance that we have seen so far this season against a young and fit side, and shows with fighting on to the end you end up with rightly what should be ours. A point!!!!!
Team: Claire Imray, Julie Hawthorne (captain), Gemma Paull, Alison Field (Eve Todhunter, 38mins), Rebecca Smallman, Louise Rice, Natalie Trend, Jo Stevenson, Francesca Pritlove, Yoli Rietmann, Keveena Mosen
To return to the "Results" page