Lydney 5 – Falmouth 2
Saturday 14th January 2012
The first match after the Christmas break was always going to be tough. Even more so when it is against a Falmouth team who have proven to be tricky over the past few years.
Lydney’s Captain, Emma Biddle, was hoping to quash this once and for all. She demanded a fast, efficient and professional performance from her team feeding off the recent excellent run of results in the league, leaving Lydney 2nd
The team did not disappoint in the opening 5 minutes looking to settle into the game quickly. There were some end-to-end attacks as both teams looked to make use of space in the midfield areas.
It was some aggressive play from young forwards Lauren Thompson and Chloe James, which put Lydney in front. Thompson put a ball through to James, penetrating the Falmouth defence. James nudged the ball past the only remaining defender and then coolly pushed the ball past the keeper to put Lydney on the front foot. Lydney’s next goal came when Amy Biddle cut in from the flank and found herself quickly at the top of the Falmouth circle. She deftly turned an oncoming defender before hitting the ball hard and low to Lauren Thompson giving her plenty of time to reverse stick strike the ball into the goal.
Lydney’s players held much more possession now before the half time whistle and there was just chance for another goal from Chloe James taking the score to 3 – 0 at half time. Lydney seemed to have taken a strangle hold of the game.
Lydney seemed to lose concentration going into the second half and Falmouth were only too happy to take advantage of this putting two goals past the Lydney defence in quick succession. Although the momentum had definitely swung in Falmouth’s favour the Lydney defence was resolute clearing a Falmouth attack and turning it into a Lydney goal.
Jane Box cleared the ball, it was collected by a Lydney players racing back from the half way line and played swiftly out to Emma Biddle on the right hand side, she in turn played a quick long ball down the line to Lauren Thompson. In a classic training ground move James was a move ahead and having led to the baseline played a deft one two with Emma Biddle before Thompson played a quick shot at the Falmouth goal. Although the initial shot was well saved, the Falmouth defence had been stretched by the pace of the move and the rebound was dispatched by a well-placed Amy Biddle.
Minutes later the Lydney team got the match clinching fifth goal. Now playing with much better shape and structure, Lydney were able to move the ball around the pitch in what is fast becoming their signature style. It was some great combination and inter-passing that found Amy Biddle in space on the attacking right hand baseline. With calm and composure she picked out Lauren Thompson who tapped in the eventual winner.
All in all a job well done and three more valuable points on the board. With other games postponed due to the frosts, Lydney moved to the top of the South West Premier 2 division;
Player of the match for Lydney – Chloe James
