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Kensington Dragons Girls 3 - Ruislip Rangers Girls 0
A miserable Saturday was brightened up by yet another great performance by the under 13 Dragoness. Playing their first fixture against an established girl’s team, the Dragons pitted their wits and their football skills against Ruislip Rangers at the Westway sports centre. The Dragons captained for the first time by Burne started the first period brightly and the tone for the match had been set- the slick passing football of the Dragons against the resolute counter attack of the Ranger’s. Although Dragons had much the better of possession in this first period, chances were limited and of the two decent opportunities that came Da Silva’s way she was thwarted by excellent saves from the Ranger’s goalkeeper.
The first quarter ended and the management duo of Thompson-Smith and Murphy rallied the troops asking them to be patient as the possession they were enjoying would be converted into goals. A change in personnel saw the introduction of Carter- Rogers and Chogi and a change in formation.
Score 0-0
The second period saw the Dragons immediately on the offensive and their possession was rewarded with 3 excellent strikes by Da silva much to the delight of the Dragons home supporters. With Bailey, Clark and Burne pulling the strings in midfield backed up by the industrious work of Tackie and Pope the Dragons never looked in danger of conceding possession let alone a goal for the remainder of the quarter. Da Silva combined well with Clark with the former coolly slotting past the advancing keeper to give the Dragons a deserved lead. Some slick interplay involving Tackie, Burne and Bailey ended with Da Silva racing through to calmly finish and claim her 2nd goal of the game. The third goal resulted from a counter attack. Carter –Rogers made a great headed interception which released Tackie. Her penetrating run saw the ball find Pope. Her first time shot was blocked and after some ‘ping pong’ in the visitors area, with the ball failing to be cleared, Da Silva managed to stab home an untidy third goal.
Score 3-0
Quarter 3 started and for the first time in the match Ruislip enjoyed a period of sustained possession and opportunities during the period. However Permaul who had replaced Carter-Rogers during the break marshalled her defence superbly thwarting all of the Ruislip attacks. On the rare occasions that Dragons ventured into the Ruislip half possession was lost quickly and the defence was called into action again with Wallace (who was now in goal) making 2 excellent saves to maintain the Dragons 3 goal advantage.
The quarter ended and the management of the Dragons sensing that the comebacks of all comebacks could be a possibility were quick to get the Dragons refocused. There were calls of possession, patience and calm underpinning the team talk.
Score 3-0
With this in mind the Dragons started the 4th and final period and quickly regained the ascendancy they had previously enjoyed in the first half of the game. As Ruislip tired through their hard push in the previous quarter the Dragons began to capitalise on the spaces that were occurring and began to create numerous chances. However chances that were created were either missed or saved due to the excellent goalkeeping of the Ruislip Goalkeeper who made some outstanding saves. The Dragons ‘huffed and puffed’ but could not break the resilient Ruislip defence and the whistle was soon heard to end a very competitive fixture played in a good spirit between the teams.
Although the Dragons had won the game they know that they have a lot of hard work ahead on the training ground if they are to emulate their heroes in the women’s premier league, but for now they will enjoy their hard fought victory.
Final 3-0
Team: Permaul, Tackie, Clark, Burne, Bailey, Pope, Carter-Rogers, Da Silva, Chogi
Goals: Da Silva (3)
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