Roses grab late equaliser!
The Roses were well prepared for their first game of the season off the back of a good training session on the Wednesday before where every girl worked hard and showed good quality in practice.
Missing from today’s squad was Lily, Mimi and Sophie in this league opener against a talented Coalville side.
The game got underway and the Roses started well and looked a few times to play wide to Kiri who was looking to cut inside and play in Chloe G who was a real thorn in Coalville’s side with her determined running.
Coalville were looking dangerous out wide, with skill on one side and electric pace on the other, Esme did her best to keep up and recovered well many times and Izzy tightly marked her winger out of the game. If ever beaten both were covered well by Lenna and Caris.
Coalville looked dangerous from set pieces with their striker winning headers in the box. Lyla had to make a couple of smart saves in the first half, the first she dived low and pushed the ball round the post and a long looping shot could have caught her out but she judged the bounce well and pushed it over the bar. Any through balls she came out and cleared or collected.
The Roses did have the ball in the net in the first half, a cross was not cleared by Coalville and Kayleigh hit a shot on the half volley which rebounded off the post. Chloe G followed Coach Rob’s advice to follow up and she finished well on the rebound but the linesman flagged, the Bosworth coaches were not convinced it was the right call but had to accept it and move on.
Coalville scored late in the half, when the Roses were caught a little short defensively, Coalville found a gap to attack, despite initially recovering well and making a block, the rebound was finished by their winger.
At half time, the Roses were happy with the performance of the first half and had to remain patient, Ellie was causing problems in the midfield with her skill and Kayleigh was providing the energy alongside Evie who had made a few important interceptions.
Coalville were still dangerous in attack and kept bodies forward but looked to be shooting from distance and Lyla was dealing with them, no issues at all. She came out and punched a few corners clear to relieve pressure whilst at the other end, Chloe G, Chloe B and Lauren were chasing down loose balls and trying to keep the ball high up the pitch and waiting for support.
Katie hit a free-kick from distance which went wide, shortly after Tilly hit one over the bar from 18 yards. The Roses changed shape and pushed Ellie higher up the pitch in search of an equaliser and it came with 5 minutes to play, a good through ball was carried forward by Chloe G, she cut inside and her initial effort was blocked but she followed up with a rebound and finished with power to make it 1-1.
Despite Coalville’s late surge for the winner, the Roses continued to defend resolutely until the full-time whistle went.
The Roses were pleased with the performance, we knew the opposition had some talented individual players who would cause problems, even with a few playing higher level of football as well but they faced a steely Roses performance from start to finish. Determination in defence, midfield and attack and to get a late equaliser was the icing on the cake.
Player of the Match was hard to pick, it could have gone to all but for their individual contributions in the match, Lyla, Izzy and Lenna were awarded. We gave the girls a plan today, individual jobs on the pitch and asked them to execute it and they did it perfectly, Coach Rob said at the end, it was a mature performance which was the best way to describe it.
Lyla made a few really good saves, her decision making was great today and nice to see her owning the box on a few crosses coming out to punch or claim the ball.
Izzy marked her winger out of the game, so much so, the wingers swapped sides in the second half, playing with good aggression and intensity, absolutely solid again.
Lenna provided great cover for anything that did come through, given the rest of their defence had their hands full marking players it was an important role to play. It was good to see her calm on the ball and a win a few individual battles in the corner.
We’re in a really tough group for league fixtures and it was hard to remain balanced today with preferred positions, pitch time and competing but let’s keep up performances like that. Very pleased and proud of the girls today, all of them!
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