Gedling Southbank v Lightning 4.10.20

The opening game of the 2020/2021 season, on a sunny day with a moderate breeze, saw Lightning with an opening line-up that included new signing, Autumn:

Olivia, Isla, Sienna, Kayleigh, Grace, Autumn, Chloe, Edieand Molly with subs – Keira, Keeley, Mia, Evie, Sharay and Crystal. Scarlett was unavailable

The first couple of minutes saw a GSB side settling better than Lightning and getting a couple of shots away, nether troubling Olivia. Then we started to get into our game, with our new diamond formation in midfield, Chloe as an attacking centre-mid and Edie the holding centre-mid. Grace and Autumn were the wide players and using the space offered vey well. The three at the back, Isla, Kayleigh and Sienna were solid and their passing was superb. We started to control the game and on 15 minutes Molly received the ball from Chloe and burst through the defence, planting a firm shot to the right of the keeper. 0-1

On 20 minutes we brought on all the subs, joining Olivia, Isla and Kayleigh. This unsettled GSB and Sharay’s presence saw her gain the ball near the edge of the box and place her shot wide of the keeper. 0-2

The game then settled into Lightning controlling midfield with GSB playing on the break. This served them well as a break down their left forced Isla to pass back to Olivia; it fell short and the speedy winger nipped in, rounded Oliviaand tapped the ball into an empty net. 1-2

GSB took control for a few minutes and nearly equalised but for a snatched shot that went wide. Olivia made a couple of good saves, coming off her line to deflect shots away for corners. Then we broke away a couple of timesbut good defending cleared the GSB lines. It was approaching half-time when a typically strong run from Evie saw her burst through the defence and bury her shot into the net. 1-3

As the second half kicked off we seemed more determined and began to play our passing game with more fluidity, forcing GSB to play on the break. Keira slotted in at the back and with Crystal and Keeley wide. On 40 minutes Crystal forced a defender to give the ball away to Sharay in midfield, who slipped it to Keeley and she cut in from the right, glided past 3 defenders and shot, the ball squeezing between the keeper and the post. 1-4

Before we could get our breath back Sharay herself won the ball from a goal kick, eased her way past two defenders and slotted the ball in. 1-5

GSB hit straight back moving the ball through midfieldand a great shot beat Olivia. 2-5

Then we had a spell swarming over the GSB defence but unable to score. Mia had a cracking shot from 10 metres out that the keeper smothered with another a couple of efforts going wide and some resolute defending kept shots out. The pressure finally paid off when a defender conceded a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box; Evie took control and placed the ball around the wall into the bottom corner. 2-6

We weren’t finished yet, either! On 50 minutes a delightful through ball from Autumn released Molly and she powered a shot into the net. 2-7There was still time for their keeper to pull off a couple of great saves and for GSB to break away and score a third. 3-7

Player of the Match went to Molly.