LIGHTNING IN COMMAND

2/5/21

The under 13 Lightning squad never fail to entertain and this game was no exception! Credit to both teams in a highly competitive game played in good spirit.

Home to Ravenshead Reds in our first league game for nearly 6 months, on a bright day with a gentle breeze, Vicki only had 13 available and the starting line-up was:

Olivia in goal, Sienna, Isla and Edie as the back three, right to left, the “diamond had Chloe as defensive mid with Evie as attacking mid, Autumn wide left and Gracewide right with Sharay, up top.

Subs: Kayleigh, Keeley and new recruit Ebony

Lightning got off to a steady start, the midfield imposing themselves on the Ravenshead counterparts and then getting into control of the game. We then began to knock the ball about with confidence and searching runs from Autumn and Grace gave Sharay a couple of runs on goal, her shots just fizzing wide. Chloe was pulling the strings, using both wide players, with Evie’s strength creating holes in the Reds defence. Incredibly, in the space of 5 minutes Sharay had four shots on target, but all at the keeper, who pushed them away.

The Reds play on the break and one long ball resulted in their striker racing clear of the defence and hitting a powerful shot to the left of goal; amazingly, Olivia flicked out her hand and pushed it out for a corner. But we had been warned!

15 minutes gone and we clicked into top gear, playing good football from the defence, through midfield to Sharay and Evie. Autumn and Grace were running at the defence and getting behind them every time, with Sharay shooting wide a couple of times, but the signs were promising and so it was. A ball from Edie to Chloe was passed on to Grace, who effortlessly turned her marker and placed a ball through the channels for Sharay to run on to. She smashed her shot towards goal, the keeper fumbled it because of its power, and Sharay followed up and slipped it into the bottom corner. 19 minutes gone 1 – 0

We brought the subs on shortly after, Ebony replacing Grace, Keeley replacing Chloe and Kayleigh on for Isla. The team shape remained the same and the players were starting to understand the diamond shape, expansive when attacking and narrow when defending. Several more chances were created before half time, with the Reds under pressure all the time. But again they had a breakaway with Edie shadowing their winger into the box and Olivia coming out to clear – there was an almighty “coming together”, the ball from Olivia came hurtling into the Reds half, all three players went down…and all three got up and carried on!

The back four (including Olivia) were having a great game, denying any space to the Reds, putting strong challenges in and setting up attacks. Sienna was faultless in her tackling and distribution, Kayleigh was strong at centre back and Edie equally impressive. Ebony, in her first ever league game, had a couple of nice runs and was very lively. And Keeley was Keeley! Running at the opposition with pace and control.

The score remained 1 – 0 at the break.

We started the second half with Isla back on for Edie, Evie replacing Chloe and Autumn playing at the top of the diamond. From the off we were at them. After 7 minutes we struck again; a good turn from Ebony allowed her to slip the ball to Autumn who used the space in front of her to unleash a cracking shot that the keeper could only parry…back to Autumn, following up, who placed it past her. 42 minutes gone 2 – 0

There was very little threat from Ravenshead because we were retaining and re-cycling the ball, pressing them all the time. Inevitably we got a third goal – a great ball from Sienna went over the defence for Sharay to run on to, with a crisp shot past the keeper. 55 minutes gone 3 – 0

Time for a change with Olivia being replaced by Edie, to give her more match practice in goal.

The last 15 minutes saw us camped in the Reds half, although the Reds had two breakaway moments, both worth mentioning because of two classic pieces of defending. The first saw Isla mis-judge a long ball, leaving the Reds player to get behind and head for goal; Isla recovered and in classic style closed the player down, forced her wide, resulting in a wild shot that went well wide. The second saw a good long ball go over the defence, leaving Evie stranded; Kayleigh showed a turn of pace not seen before and caught up with the player, before putting it out for a throw; again classic defending.

Now there was one more goal to come and what a goal it was. Ebony won a ball on the left and raced off down the wing, tapped it to Evie who cut in, looked up…and smashed it into the top right corner – absolute belter! 63 minutes 4 – 0

We could have had more but we can honestly say that this was the best team performance we have seen in 4 seasons with these girls. The passing and movement, the desire to win the ball, the determination and the skill – it was all there today. So well done to every player out there today.

Player of the Match was shared (in truth the whole team deserved it) between Evie and Autumn, faultless all game