Bedlington Town Wildcats v Cramlington Town

19 November 2011 

Today's opponents, Cramlington Town, were the first team we played in the Under 13s and we had very little idea just how we were going to perform against older girls at that time; we have a far better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the league now and can be pleased with the way our girls have performed.  We won well at Cramlington to get the season underway, and were pleased to welcome them back to our place on a mild November morning with a bright sun low in the sky.

The pitch was soft underfoot, so it might sap the strength of both sets of girls as the game progressed but we would soon see if this was the case. We needed to play our usual fast game of football and to work hard for each other against a team which were by and large much bigger (and stronger?) than the Wildcats. On the large pitch, our passing game should enable us to make best use of the space which will be available to us and if we play our usual game (and take our chances) we should have a great chance of picking up a further three points to take us equal with North Shields, (who do not play today) while still having a game in hand over them.

Bella was not available for the game, but the rest of the squad were ready and willing to line up for the Wildcats. Monty had the girls warming up by taking shooting practice and then sent out Moley in goal with Caz, Ellie and George in defence; Mazie, Amy and Demi made up the midfield with Alice and Lauren as the attackers. Erin was asked to bide her time.

Cramlington kicked off with the sun in their eyes, and were soon back in their own half defending as we won the ball and set up our first attack winning a corner from which we were unable to take advantage. Cramlington began to make some progress up their right side with a series of throw ins, but we intercepted one of these throws then George found Amy on the half way line and she was able to out sprint the defenders, get a clear view of the goal and fire a shot hard to the right of the 'keeper and into the roof of the net to open the scoring.

We quickly doubled the score when Lauren was able to dummy a defender and advance on goal where she was able to pick her spot and beat the goalie. Two good goals within the first five minutes of the game had put us on the front foot and we continued to attack, winning corners, shooting wide and having our shots blocked or saved. Two goals almost became three very quickly, but we were blown up for off side and from the resulting kick, Cramlington launched their first real attack and while we were able to half clear the ball, it fell to a mid field player who struck the ball past a helpless Moley for the first goal to be scored against us since the middle of October; it was a good strike and impossible to defend against.

The goal against did not alter the general pattern of play as we continued to attack with last minute tackles and interceptions thwarting us on a number of occasions. We were having a lot of joy down both wings with our girls being both trickier and faster than the defenders marking them.

Erin came on for Amy who seemed to have picked up a bit of an injury in a like for like swap. Lauren had a shot cleared off the line by the goalies leg and we continued to apply pressure on the Cramlington goal, winning corner after corner without the luck to turn the chances into goals.

Cramlington were also showing as an attacking force now and again, and their big forwards were providing our defenders with some work to do after some less than busy games for them in recent weeks. Our girls had not forgotten how to protect their goal however and we always looked solid when needed.

Erin fell awkwardly and was substituted by Amy, before Lauren increased the lead when she fought off two defenders to poke the ball over the line for a scrappy but welcome goal. Lauren almost scored again shortly afterwards when she latched on to a defensive error only to see her shot fly over the bar. Erin recovered quickly and was back on the pitch in place of Alice and the play continued to be concentrated in the Cramlington half and the whistle for the end of the first half blew just after Demi had a shot well saved and a couple of corners came to nothing.

It had been a half of strong Wildcats attacking and we were well worth the 3 - 1 score line. We were playing players in their best positions and every one was involved in the game for the first time in the last few games and this meant that those of us watching were treated to a much more entertaining morning. We needed to keep our concentration and would be able to look forward to the second half with confidence. Monty would remind the girls to work hard and to close down quicker when Cramlington had the ball and he kept the Wildcats together in a huddle well after Cramlington had taken to the field. With Mazie rested and Alice back on in her place, we were able to keep the same formation again on the re-start.

As the second half got under way, it was noticeable that Cramlington had pushed some of their bigger girls forward to put us under pressure. Our first attack broke down and Cramlington charged forward but Caz was on hand to break up the attack and send Demi away down our own right wing to relieve the pressure. The relief was only momentary however when Cramlington attacked again and a speculative shot found its way through legs and past Moley into the net to reduce our advantage to one goal. This goal gave our opponents some encouragement and another of their shots was easily picked up by Moley who got the ball well up field where Wildcats supporters wanted to see it.

Good runs by Amy and Alice came to nothing; a Lauren shot was placed just wide and an Amy cross was agonisingly just in front of Alice who was clear on our right. An excellent inter passing move saw the ball end up between Alice and Demi in a position where neither of them was able to take advantage. This increased tempo was to pay dividends when first of all Demi collected a ball from Alice and was able to power her way towards goal from the half way line, no one was able to keep up with her as the goal got closer and she was able to put the chance away for a well taken goal.

Lauren then picked up the ball near our own goal area and ran the full length of the pitch only to shoot just wide of the far post. Amy twisted and shot from ten metres out and her shot went in off the post for goal number five. Numbers six and seven were claimed by Demi. The first resulted from another right wing run and she left the goal keeper with no chance; the second was a carbon copy following a pass from Mazie.

This period of Wildcats pressure seemed to have taken the heart out of the Cramlington players who were looking the more tired of the two teams (chasing the game helps with this of course !) but they were still dangerous on the attack and Ellie needed to be alert to stop an attack involving four forwards and confidently play the ball out of the danger area to set up another attack.

Lauren sent Erin in on goal but her shot was well saved and she was on hand again shortly afterwards only to be very well tackled as she was preparing to let fly. Erin was injured again in this attack, but was soon back on her feet.

After the rush of four goals in quick succession, things had quietened down for a while until Alice took advantage of slack marking on the right and she found Lauren with her cross and she made no mistake for goal number eight.

Moley was called into action to claim a Cramlington free kick which she was able to push around the post for a corner which was easily cleared to Demi who collected the ball and set off on another run at the Cramlington defence scoreing her fourth goal of the game at the second attempt via the backside of a defender. It was then the turn of Alice to take a run at defenders and her solo run down the right wing left her with the opportunity to pass the ball into the back of the net for her first goal of the game.

The game was drawing to a close when Lauren gratefully accepted a goal kick in the centre of the pitch and returned the ball over the goal keepers head into the net for her own fourth goal of the game and what turned out to be the eleventh and final Wildcats score.

The final whistle blew at the end of a very entertaining game in which Wildcats were on top for the majority of the time, but were pressed when the score was pulled back only to show that they had the ability to fight hard to regain the advantage. Our girls worked very hard in all areas of the pitch and this work rate was matched by a skill level which enabled them to gain a very well deserved victory. Monty was delighted with the performance of the girls and thanked them for their efforts.

Girl of the game was given to Demi and Monty's award went to Amy.

The up to date league table shows us in third place on the same number of points as North Shields but with that game in hand over them, so we can look forward to next weeks game away to Wallsend needing to win to maintain the position. The Wildcats ladies can be proud of the way they have performed this season.

League Table

19 November 2011