Red Rose FC welcomed Heartsease for a knockout match on Saturday 2 March, with the Red Rose girls starting at a frenetic pace, pressuring the visitors’ goal with a dominating grip on the game.
This soon resulted in the first goal for Red Rose after a great challenge from Marcie to win the ball just outside the penalty area and slip it through neatly for Natalia to side foot accurately past the goalkeeper to establish an early lead.
Red Rose continued to dominate the half forcing corner after corner. Eventually, in a textbook training ground practice routine, from one of the many corners the ball was delivered to the penalty spot area as Jessica arrived with a late run to side foot the ball neatly past the keeper to put Red Rose 2-0 ahead – a lead which they held comfortably until half time.
In the second half the opposition came out with real determination and briefly dominated possession. The result was a brief loss of concentration which allowed Heartsease to get a goal back to 2-1.
However, usual service was resumed with Red Rose players Bea and Marcie able to smash in shots which the goalkeeper either managed to save or were just off target –one effort being deflected onto the post and another shot trickling along the goal line, then more point-blank saves from the keeper.
An “illegal” throw-in surprised the Red Rose defenders and put a Heartsease striker straight onto the goal to score a surprise equaliser and level the match at 2-2.
More pressure from Red Rose followed but still failed to break the deadlock, until in the last seconds of the match a forward run by Bea beat three players and drew others towards her.
She then laid the ball across the goal to an unmarked Natalia who side-footed the ball past the stranded goalkeeper for the winning goal with literally no time left to restart the match. Final score: Red Rose 3, Heartsease 2.
The opposition choice for Red Rose Player of the match was Bea; the referee’s choice for player of the match was Evie.
Red Rose FC encourages girls in school years 5 and 6 to try girls-only football. For further information, contact Paul Willmott 07926 004994.
Paul Willmott
All players’ names are changed to comply with FA rules.
Cup success for Red Rose FC girls’ football team. Photo: Red Rose FC