Never has a draw seemed more like a victory as the Foxes fought back from 3 nil down to earn a point.
Without training yesterday, and with several players under the weather, the Foxes headed for Bradley Stoke for a delayed kickoff.
After a 'Football Remembers' joint photo, the teams lined up with the Foxes kicking off into the wind.
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| Football Remembers |
Hoping to take the tremendous form of last week into the game, the coaches were confident that the girls would turn on the style again.
Sadly it all went wrong in the first ten minutes, as the slow starting Foxes allowed Stoke to run at will down both flanks. From an early goal kick the hosts were in front as a miss kick found the Stoke striker on the edge of the box, who made no mistake from close range. Worse was to follow as a defensive clearance was sent looping back over the stranded Foxes keeper to send the home crowd wild. 2-0 down and the Foxes finally started to play, dominating territory and forcing 2 point blank saves from the home keeper. A tactical change replacing Izzy with Lily saw the Foxes start to enjoy more possession and territorial advantage, and it felt like it wouldn't be long before the reward came.
As the first half finished the Foxes went into the break still confident that they would get some reward for all the chances they were creating.
With the wind behind them the Foxes started the second half brightly, but disaster struck as Stoke broke away and the away defence failed to clear. 3-0 and it looked all over……
Another change as Ella, the second ill Fox, was replaced by Molly. What followed was the greatest determination to succeed that we have witnessed from the girls. Molly started to play simple passes that had been lacking and suddenly the home team looked vulnerable as the Foxes moved the ball more effectively. Several moves were lacking only an accurate finish, before Mara outpaced her marker to get into the box and beat the keeper at the near post.
3-1 and a faint glimmer of hope as the Foxes poured forward, forcing a number of corners, before, with time running out Daisy forced home from close range! 3-2 game on!
The hosts continued to break, but Betty was quick off the line to block the strikers and thwart further danger.
Despite the multiple interruptions to the flow of the game as the home side made sub after sub, the referee indicated that there was still 5 minutes to go. The rejuvenated Foxes piled forward, with Mara, Daisy Sim and Lily playing almost as a front 4 with Rhiannon, Lulu and Molly recycling the ball and getting it forward as quickly as possible. Daisy had a couple of strikes, one saved and one over the bar. The bench thought the chance had gone, but as the game entered the final minute, Mara broke down the left and fed through to Sim who smashed it from the edge of the box. The keeper could only palm the ball into the net. 3-3 and the team and supporters went wild!
Just time to kick off before the ref blew the final whistle. Another 5 minutes and who knows what might have happened.
When the dust has settled, whilst it was a great escape, on another day, had all our chances gone in, we could have taken more from the game. We need to play with the intensity of the final 15 minutes from the first whistle if we are to avoid this again……but what great spirit!!
Captain of the week: Daisy
Girl of the Game: Molly
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