3-0 Win for Ladies 2s in first league game of the season

Report by Pauline Dempsey

Crawley Ladies 2nd XI got their season off to a fine start with a good win against Brighton and Hove Ladies.

Playing at the coast on a day that was more like mid-summer, with a clear blue sky and warm sunshine, the game began evenly. Possession switched between the teams and much of the early action took place in the middle section of the pitch.

As the half progressed Crawley began to look the more threatening of the two sides. Gemma Edwards and Sophie Lomas moved the play forward and the action was now taking place in Brighton’s defending half. Brighton however had an experienced and solid back line and it was clear that Crawley would have to manoeuvre the ball past them to have any success.

Meanwhile the home side was keeping Crawley’s defence on their toes. Although not as frequent, Brighton’s possession resulted in some quick counterattacks. Liz Ford, Sym Savage and Hannah Banton were at the heart of Crawley’s back line and their efforts kept Brighton’s attempts at goal down to three in the whole of the first half. With keeper Rachel Cordery behind them, she blocked, saved and dealt with the shots on goal very clinically.

By contrast Crawley were becoming more of a threat and Brighton’s keeper Karen Edwards had to make more and more saves. Jill Donaldson and Kathryn Cordery were supporting their forwards as play progressed up the pitch and link player Sanjit Saraw was everywhere as the pressure increased.

After twenty minutes following a penalty corner, it looked like Sara Bolton had taken the lead for Crawley only to have her goal ruled out because the ball missed the backboard by millimetres. Undeterred it was only a few minutes later that Crawley were shooting at goal again. The ball rebounded off the keeper and from the melee that occurred in front of goal it was Sara Bolton again who was on hand to get her stick to the ball and guide it into the net to establish a goal lead at the break.

From the restart Crawley took the game to Brighton. Sophie Killick, Gemma Edwards and Kathryn Cordery covered vast areas of the pitch, supporting attacking moves, closing down spaces to put in tackles when Brighton had possession.

Shortly after the restart Crawley won a penalty corner, taken by Sanjit Saraw. She played the ball to the top of the circle where Pauline Dempsey dodged an oncoming defender to create a yard of space before striking the ball into the goal to double Crawley’s lead.

Crawley were in their stride now. Gemma Edwards found space on the left and as play switched Kathryn Cordery was supporting on the right making overlapping runs as Crawley continued to look for more openings. Sophie Killick and Sara Bolton were also playing a big part in Crawley’s build up play and a further wave of momentum came from Sophie Lomas and Pauline Dempsey. Finally the pressure was rewarded when Sanjit Saraw scored to give Crawley a more comfortable three goal cushion.

At this point Brighton had nothing to lose. They piled on the pressure moving forward. While they had their best and longest spell of possession at this stage of the game their actual attempts on goal were kept to a minimum by timely tackling and covering from Liz Ford, Sym Savage and Hannah Banton.

Rachel Cordery kept a clean sheet in goal and Jill Donaldson, Sophie Lomas and Sanjit Sanwar ensured the midfield was dominated by Crawley, thus achieving a fine 3 - 0 win in their opening game of the season.

Player of the match was awarded to the whole team for its fine performance. Rachel Cordery, Liz Ford, Sym Savage, Hannah Banton, Jill Donaldson, Sophie Lomas, Kathryn Cordery, Sophie Killick, Sara Bolton, Sanjit Saraw, Gemma Edwards and Pauline Dempsey.