The Foxes arrived in bright sunshine for an early 9:30 kick off in Hanham. With only 2 points required to claim the BGL title spirits were high, but we had seen how impressive Boco had been in their match the previous week, and knew we were in for a tough encounter.
With formalities over and the referee finally in attendance the game could get underway. Sim won the toss and gave us the advantage of having the still low sun on our backs for the first half.
The starting line up was familiar, with Betty in goal and Rhiannon and Amelia in defence. The Foxes resisted the temptation to play a third defender, feeling confident that we could take the game to the opposition. Lulu, Ella and Mara started in midfield with Sim up front.
Having seen the speed that Boco played the ball forward, the game plan was to run the ball out from the back whenever possible, and to use the channels going forward to link up play, or force the home defence to concede set piece situations that Lulu could exploit.
The plan played dividends as the first Foxes goal came from a familiar source as Lulu whipped in a corner that the defender could only steer into her own net under pressure from Sim. We knew the first goal would be vital as the teams boasted the league's meanest defensive records.
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| Lily takes them on! |
Boco, not surprisingly, came back strongly, and a break down the right put a cross to the centre of the penalty box to the unmarked striker who fired low to Betty's right. The keeper took off and palmed it round the post to wild cheers from the travelling Foxes fans!
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| Betty fires forward! |
A blow to Ella brought a change for the Foxes, and, as has happened so many times this season, Lily took over and made an immediate impact as a fine Foxes passing move, started by a great cut back by Mara, found her in space in the box to coolly strike the ball back across the keeper and into the far corner of the net!
Half time and a 2-0 lead. The plan was working!
We knew that Boco would regroup, and, sure enough they came out in the second half and really made a game of it. They went on all out attack, with two and sometimes three forwards intent on playing as much of the game as possible in the Foxes half. This called for stout defending, and Betty was again called upon to pull out a couple of fine stops. Rhiannon and Amelia continued some determined tackling, and, with Ella restored to the midfield, the Foxes looked to hit on the break.
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| Molly goes in! |
The third goal was the result of a great run down the left by Ella, who didn't give up when the opposition thought the ball would run out of play. She pulled it back for Sim to fire home!
Molly entered the fray on the right of midfield and made some strong challenges and runs before succumbing to a leg injury.
Boco pulled a consolation goal back when the striker fired a shot from the byline that Betty palmed onto the post, but was unable to gather as it crossed the line.
The Foxes played out the remainder of the game without further incident and the ref's final whistle prompted wild celebration as the significance of the result sank in!
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| Rhiannon's slide rule pass! |
Captain of the Week: Sim
Girl of the Game: Betty
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