Women's 2nd XI vs Gravesend W2

What a difference a week makes!

After another stressful week, with Ville still looking for a full 11 on Wednesday evening, it was a relief to have 11 to face Gravesend today. The opening exchanges were nervy with both sides trying to establish the early dominance in the match. Any early attacks were dealt with by the new look defense of Olga, Donna and Daisy-Jo, again marshalled by goalkeeper Elizabeth.

Eventually Ville began stamping their authority on their home turf with Penalty Corner opportunities and open play attempts coming aplenty. With a PC 11 minutes into the 1st half, and the ball pinging around the circle, Kerry struck home and following an umpire conversation the goal was eventually given.

But this was just the start for a dominant Cliftonville side, there was tidy movement of the ball from the midfield of Kerry, Ineta, Brooke, Holly and Sheena. It wasn't long later the Cat struck the ball cleanly and we were 2-0 up! Another lovely passage of play from our forward players and Holly soon lead to yet another goal, this one coming from Chloe and Ville was 3-0 up at the half time whistle...

The half time message was again very clear, keep working and the goals will come. And it was certainly true, despite Ville tiring as the 2nd half progressed as Cat bagged herself a 2nd goal 13 minutes from the final whistle. Again there was more tidy play from Ville with some excellent passing moving the ball around the pitch well and we had plenty of opportunities in that 2nd half but no more goals would come today.

But there were so many positives coming out of today's game, the debut of attacking midfielder Holly who made her mark on her new teammates, the excellent passing of the ball as Ville made the ball so the work and the restriction of goal opportunities for our opposition that meant goalkeeper Elizabeth did not need to make a single save in the 2nd half.