Bromley and Beckenham Ladies 1s vs Sudbury

Bromley and Beckenham Ladies 1s vs Sudbury, away, league, Saturday 9th December 2006
Lost: 4-1
Scorer: Anna Frizoni

Our last game before Christmas was a lovely local journey (?!) to Sudbury in Suffolk. Having finally arrived after a rather scenic countryside route, we were all raring to go and eager to finish 2006 on a high.

Despite conceding a corner in the first couple of minutes, we actually started the game strongly which made a very pleasant change! Everyone was showing their determination to win and we must have created more than ten goal scoring opportunities in the first 20 minutes. Unfortunately, our finishing was somewhat dismal and we failed to capitalise on our domination. As the game wore on without us converting, Sudbury became more and more confident and had a few chances created from quick breaks as they used their pacey forwards to put us under pressure. They utilised these opportunities to give us a lesson in finishing by scoring 2 goals in as many minutes. This knocked the stuffing out of us a little as these really were against the run of play and we were happy when the half time whistle went to give us a chance to regroup.

The half time team talk was generally positive as we really had been playing some excellent hockey at times. All we needed to do now was to make the most of our chances by being more clinical with our finishing, whilst not letting any in at the other end – simple!?!

We again began strongly with more chances going begging. However, in our eagerness to score we became more susceptible to being caught on the break. With 10 minutes gone we were left exposed in defence and they forced a short corner which was duly converted via a super routine. 3-0 down against the run of play and you’d think our heads would go down but they didn’t and our team spirit and drive was clear as straight away we pulled one back. Anna Frizoni was the scorer with a lovely reverse stick hit into the corner. There was still 20 minutes left in the game and we were all adamant that we could get something from it. However, it just wasn’t to be our day. We were again made to pay for some poor finishing and as we threw everything at them, they again broke quickly and converted to put the game out of our reach. Final score 4-1 to Sudbury.

Despite the poor result, this was ironically our best performance for a while. We played well as a team, had faith in ourselves and just failed to convert our numerous goal scoring opportunities. If we had, then the score would have been very different. We are still 2nd as the teams below us lost! Going forward into 2007 we need to try and combine performances with results and hope that Cambridge City slip up (quite a few times!!) if we’re to have any chance of promotion! Merry Christmas Everyone!

Squad: Alison Fox (GK, capt), Chris McNeill, Sarah Phelps, Tara Woodward, Sarah Bentley, Natasia Wiszniewska, Emma Shepherd, Anna Frizoni, Sarah Crosley, Lucy Shepherd, Emma Greenway, Louise Fox, Katie Lister

Bromley and Beckenham Ladies 1s vs Thurrock

Bromley and Beckenham Ladies 1s vs Thurrock, league, away, Saturday 2nd December 2006
Won: 3-2
Scorers: Anna Frizoni x2, Sarah Crosley x1

On Saturday we travelled to Thurrock for our last league game before the second round of fixtures start. Having never played Thurrock before, they were an unknown quantity and we were all eager to play well from the off in order to take the early advantage.

As is becoming a bit of habit of late, this plan failed and it was Thurrock who had the best of the opening period. Once we had absorbed this pressure though it was the Foxes who began to demonstrate why they hold a superior league position. A quick break resulted in the Foxes winning their first short corner of the game and Anna Frizoni struck superbly from the top of the D to give us the lead. This didn’t deter Thurrock though as they continued to batter our defence with all that they had. Some strong tackling in defence and quality saves by Alison Fox though managed to keep them at bay. The Foxes took advantage of Thurrock’s inability to equalise and shortly before half time doubled their lead. This time it was from open play with Frizoni turning provider with a sweet cross from the right to Sarah Crosley who had charged into the P-spot to slot the ball home with a classy finish. We went into half time with our two goal advantage in tact.

Where Thurrock had probably played slightly better than us in the first half, we were much the better side for the majority of the second. Our passing was improved and we forged several attacks and created chances left, right and centre. It wasn’t long before we got our 3rd with Anna Frizoni scoring from another well-struck short corner for her second of the game. From there it should really have been game, set and match which it pretty much was until the final five minutes of the game. With not much time left on the clock Thurrock converted a short corner for what we thought was just going to be a consolation goal. However, from the resulting push back they managed to quickly regain possession and despite an excellent initial goal line clearance from Hannah Westcar the rebound was struck onto her foot and a penalty flick was awarded. This was duly converted and resulted in a very tense final couple of minutes for the Foxes as Thurrock threw everything at us in a bid to get what had previously looked like an unlikely point. It seemed to me like the longest couple of minutes ever but thankfully we held on and the final score was 3-2 to the Foxes.

Another 3 points for us and we finish the first round of league games in 2nd place. Next week we travel to Sudbury in Suffolk for the last league game before the Christmas break.

Squad: Alison Fox (GK, capt), Chris McNeill, Sarah Phelps, Tara Woodward, Natasia Wisniewska, Hannah Westcar, Sarah Bentley, Anna Frizoni, Lucy Shepherd, Katie Lister, Sarah Crosley, Lynsey Askew, Emma Greenway

Saturday 2nd December league home
Result: 3-3
Scorer: Daisy Ridout
Man of the match: Daisy Ridout

Bromley and Beckenham conceded a goal 30 seconds from the pushback! The team - again with a new player and a different line up - took their time to settle and, despite having 4 across the middle, never really took charge of the midfield, with HSBC using their hard hits to bypass midfield and aim straight at their forwards. This left us on the back foot time and time again.
However, we did manage to equalise through a super solo effort by Daisy. But HSBC scored from a short corner in the dying moments of the first half.

Bromley and Beckenham put loads more pressure on in the second half but again conceded a goal from a short corner. Daisy had lots of possession and worked really hard in the second as did all the midfield, Kat (Surname?) in only her second game for the senior club played very well and made some telling tackles.

So, we were 3-1 down, but that only made us try the harder and eventually Daisy's shot from a short corner hit a defender's foot and found the goal. Bromley and Beckenham used the left hand side very effectively with Antoinette on the wing combining well with Kat and Lauren Underwood. And it was from a move down the left that Daisy managed to put away her third and equalising goal, slipping the ball through the keeper's legs into the far corner.

Everyone was disappointed to only draw this game, but we did have the determination to come back from 3-1 down at one stage and so should be proud of our performance this week. And many thanks to Jo Allen who offered to come along as 12th player and who was happy to be our number 1 supporter!

Squad:
Charlotte Walker-Jones (gk)
Gail Arnott (Capt)
Antoinette Whitfield
Delyth Davies
Jessica Judge
Grace Mansfield
Ellen Phillips
Lauren Underwood
Kat (?)
Daisy Ridout
Alex Bezant
Jo Allen (Sub)