Brentwood 4- Colchester 1

The ladies 1 XI were determined to get some points back this week after suffering their first loss of the season away the previous week. The warm up was very lively and the team seemed to be up to the task. The away team started with the push back and managed to keep possession in the first 10 minutes of the game however strong defending from Haylee Adams and Sandy Pass stopped any chances on goal. The home team then seemed to find their rhythm and settled in to the game, using midfielder Natalie Gilder to distribute the ball. Their first goal came when Shirley Osmotherly crossed the ball to man of the match, Nikki Brimson, who calmly passed it by the keeper. The home team enjoyed keeping plenty more possession and penetrated the opposition’s dee several times. After Lisa Payne’s initial shot was saved by the keeper, she managed to find the deflection and calmly flicked the ball over to get their second goal. Lauren Simmons and Lucy Partridge worked very hard to defend from the front line, winning back possession from the Colchester hit outs, which allowed Ruth Tilsley and Emily Wright to advance up the pitch and help the attack. Ruth powered the ball in to the dee which found Anna Guida for a routine deflection in to the goal and the home team leading the game 3-0 at half time.

The home team knew that Colchester would come out hard in the second half so the half time team talk was simply to keep doing what they were doing. They started off well again and applied plenty of pressure in the first 15 minutes making it hard for the away team to get out of their half. Charlotte Holt and Anna Guida were making fantastic runs from the midfield to support the forwards and again found themselves penetrating the dee, creating plenty of chances but unfortunately none turning in to goals. Colchester managed to find a way back in to the game applying some pressure on Brentwood which resulted in a short corner, however great keeping from Lorna Parsons meant that their chance did not succeed. They also managed to find a way in on an open goal but Ruth Tilsley was there to cover the line and save the goal. Colchester continued to apply pressure and did manage to win back a goal when their key player managed to come through unmarked slotting it pass to get one back. Not wanting a comeback from the opposition, the home team stepped up a gear and settled back in to the game. Another chance came from a penalty corner which was played back to Charlotte Holt who’s deflection caught a defender’s foot on the line resulting in a penalty flick. Captain, Emily Wright, stepped up and calmly powered the ball into the goal. The home team played the second half out with plenty of possession and managed to create more chances which they couldn’t quite convert.

Both coach and captain were extremely pleased with the team performance and can take plenty of positives into next week’s home game against Waltham Forest, who are only a point behind them in the league.