WHITCHURCH V TGLFC - 17TH FEBRUARY 2008
The game got off at breakneck pace with Whitchurch having the best of the early play forcing a scramble in the TGLFC box and then creating a one on one chance with Nat Edwards that the keeper came out to clear well. Play then switched to the other end with a spell of TGLFC pressure, Beth Hughes put the ball just wide, but play stayed in the Whitchurch half. The home side cleared a corner but only a far as Tommo who put the ball back into the box for Jade Hill to fire across goal. The breakthrough goal came when Tommo chased the ball down the right wing then lobbed the keeper from 30 yards for an excellent goal. 1-0.
Play remained in the Whitchurch half with TGLFC having the majority of the play, forcing another corner, before the home side broke to create a great chance that the TGLFC did a good job of defending. After 15 minutes Beth crossed from the left wing for Anna Sorbom to fire a shot just wide. Jade forced the 3rd corner of the game for her side, which Tommo took but Whitchurch headed clear for Kerry Walker to race onto and cross into the box, the defence cleared for a throw.
TGLFC's 2nd goal came on 20 minutes from another excellent cross by Beth which Anna ran onto and shot into the left side of the net. 2-0.
Play went from end to end as TGLFC's 4th corner was taken by Chick and headed wide by Lou Smart, and Whitchurch broke away with a great piece of wing play, only for Nikki Mason to pull of a last ditch tackle and clear for a throw in.
On the stroke oh half time TGLFC were 3 -0 up when Whitchurch got an unfortunate own goal, the ball appeared to come off the head of the player who was down in the box. 3-0.
The second half saw Whitchurch come quickly out of their blocks, with Kerry Walker in particular in sparkling form; it was her run which forced Nat into making the challenge that gave away a penalty. On 55 minutes Lucy Ratcliffe made no mistake from the spot bringing the game back to 3-1. As good as Walker was on the day, Deb Slater must take the credit for making sure that her former AFC Telford team mate did not dictate all of the pace and Deb's excellent distribution and link play with Jade won her Player of the match after a classy 90 minutes. Dom Soler looked certain to score but again it was Deb who popped up with a clean challenge to keep Whitchurch out. When Whitchurch's 2nd goal came it was no real surprise when Walker skipped the challenge of the keeper to shoot the ball into an empty net. 3-2. Chances were coming thick and fast at both ends, but when TGLFC's keeper was sent off they could be sure that Whitchurch were going to hit their 10 men with all that they had. Walker had her chance to make it 3-3 but shot wide with 2 defenders beaten, then Ratcliffe fired narrowly over the bar.
In the last minute of the game Whitchurch thought they had grabbed a point but the flag was already up for offside and at the final whistle it was:
Whitchurch 2 - TGLFC 3.
Whitchurch Player of the Match - Dan Soler
TGLFC Player of the Match - Deb Slater
REPORTERS - MANDY BINNS AND AMI CRUMP.