RAF Ladies vs HM Prison Service
RAF Uxbridge – 9 Jan 07
The RAF Ladies Representative Team played host to HM Prison Service Ladies in their first match of 2007. There are a great deal of similarities between the RAF team and the Prison Service. As the RAF gear their season towards their Inter Servicesmatches, the Prison Service are doing the same for the World Games in Adelaide. This is a season of rebuilding for the Prison Service and their new manager Nick Buff, who has only been running the team for a couple of months.
Playing with the wind the RAF Ladies probed at the Prison Service defence but, more often than not, the wind didn't help and the ladies of both teams found it hard to keep the ball under tight control. The Prison Service's first real opportunity came when they put together some excellent, and very quick passes, that scythed through the midfield of the RAF team and created a shooting opportunity on the right for Helen Mills, who’s shot flew just wide of the post.
The Prison Service capitalised for the next 15 minutes and created a number of very good chances. After 22 minutes, Lynsey Turner, a very pacey and classy player (description of RAF reporter), put in a cross that held up in the wind to allow team captain Justine Beatson to head in the first goal.
The RAF team were really struggling at this point to contain the Prison Service team who should really have gone 2-0 ahead. Once again, Helen Mills sent an excellent pass to Lynsey Turner, who was denied by a superb save by the RAF goalkeeper.
The next attack saw the RAF draw level, much against the balance of play. After an interchange of passes up the right wing, the ball fell to the RAF captain Claire Bridgett on the edge of the 18 yard box, who played an inch perfect pass to Miranda Park, who slotted home to make it 1-1 at half time
Just 5 minutes into the second half, the RAF took the lead through Sarah Thomas, who managed to squeeze the ball in off the keeper and the right hand post. The lead lasted only 4 minutes thanks to a fantastic piece of football from the Prison Service midfield.
The ball was won in midfield and a quick pass put in Justine Beatson, who made the decision to shoot rather than allow the RAF team a chance to close her down and she hit a fierce shot into the net for 2-2.
A period of end-to-end play eventually resulted in a goal for Brid Carroll to take her team ahead, but with 12 minutes left the RAF forced an equaliser through Sarah Thomas.
The game finished in a 3-3 draw, in a real flurry of effort but both teams were glad to hear the final whistle. The wind took its toll but credit should go to both teams for battling until the final whistle. Overall, the draw was probably the correct result.
RAF Ladies |
(1) 3 |
(1) 3 |
HM Prison Service Ladies |
Miranda Park, Sarah Thomas (2) |
Justine Beaton (2), Brid Carroll |
|
