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Missed chances are just pants for Brighton

Missed chances are just pants for Brighton

Shaun Pimley4 Dec 2018 - 19:52
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Women's weekend review - Sumi scores twice for table-topping 2s, 6s enjoy best win of the season

Brighton and Hove go into the second half of the South Women's Clubs League season on Saturday away to Tulse Hill and Dulwich knowing they need to capitalise on their attacking opportunities if they are to climb away from the bottom of the table.

Reflecting on a 2-1 defeat at Reading on Saturday and a first half of the season which has brought just one win, one draw and five goals from 11 matches, captain Amanda Billington is convinced the team is making progress. "Another loss but we’ve come so far in a long half season and at least we are now attacking the opposition's goal," she says.

Reading went into Saturday's game third from bottom, three points above Brighton, so this was going to be a crucial match but it was a familiar tale of chances not being taken.

"It always helps if players can get their pants on the right way round before the game - Rachael Hore!" reports Amanda. "She was jointly awarded DoD with Fran Crossley, who also had an underwear issue: trying to put two bras on after her shower.

"Brighton attacked from the start, winning the ball off the opposition immediately. We then created a constant barrage of shots and attacking short corners which would not go in our favour and we found ourselves 1-0 down from a single drag flick short corner after the 15th minute. We continued to pepper the goal. Surely the Reading goalkeeper must have had clingfilm over the front of the goal as the ball would just not go in, including three off the line.

"Reading gained confidence still being ahead after 10 minutes into the second half and began to link their passes up the pitch. Brighton tried to overload and gain a goal back but found themselves too far up the pitch to defend and allowed Reading another goal from a three-on-two.

"Brighton continued to drive forward with MoM Pip Tanner at the heart of many attacks and were finally rewarded as Bara Kavanova placed the ball with pinpoint accuracy from Jenna Duffield’s initial shot at a short corner.

In stark contrast the 2s are enjoying a successful season, sitting pretty two points clear at the top of the Sussex League premier division. But, as Nivene Raafat reports, their latest victory - a 3-0 win at home to East Grinstead 3s - was far from straightforward.

"Things got off to a rather bizarre start with our team suffering a warm-up injury and EG having to get proceedings underway with only 10 players and no keeper as one of their cars was delayed. We dutifully piled the pressure on but weren’t able to capitalise.

"We then managed to win a couple of shorts, converting one of them in the first 10 minutes with a deflection on the post. It was then our turn to soak up some pressure, as EG pounded the ball through our press repeatedly and put our back line under strain. Fortunately, Hannah’s E and P and Amanda were able to clear the ball out of danger but it was keeper Jess who really saved the day, making save after save from long and close range. Sadly, Lauren got caught in the crossfire after just a few minutes on the pitch and had to sit the rest of the game out with Jo, taking us down to 12.

"We went into the second half determined to play our game and managed to rejig our press to block EG’s route 1 balls, but we just couldn’t seem to add to our tally. With EG always threatening and making some dangerous runs down the wing, all of us were on edge. There was some beautiful play down the right and left, with Hannah E and Redders linking up beautifully with Kelly to feed the ball to player of the match Amber, who with speed, determination and buckets of skill worked the ball into the D time and time again to set up Irish and Sumi on the posts.

"There was another injury to take us to down to 11, but we kept the pressure up, and Sumi’s relentless running paid off with two close range goals in the final 10. Another super second half performance, 10 wins out of 11 and 48 goals to our name - things are looking good for the mighty 2s!"

The 3s picked up their second win of the season, edging out bottom club Worthing 3-2 in the same division.

Missed chances also cost the 4s in a 1-1 draw with Lewes 3s and they remain fourth in division one.

"On a cold, wet day the Fours dragged themselves out to Portslade to face Lewes. Spirits were lower than usual when we realised that not only were we not going to get teas but the Fives had enjoyed BLTs at Lewes a few weeks prior," reports Kate Smith.

"The Fours were a strong side but Lewes swamped us and crowded the D so we struggled to convert our possession into goals. Lots of chances but, alas, when we finally got our goal Lewes, within minutes, converted a short corner into a goal.

"1-1 draw at the end but another game where the Fours dominated play. Frustrating but once we start converting our chances into goals we'll be laughing!"

Amy "Drinky" Drinkwater was surfing a wave of happiness after the 5s 2-0 win over South Downs in the same division.

"As I ride on the back of this dolphin, I can't help but reminisce about our epic win on Saturday," she reports. "Although drenched to the bone and wringing our socks out at the end, we started out as a group of Orcas hunting for a win against bottom of the league.

"Coming together as penguins, we stayed solid and strong throughout the match and braved the awful weather. Like playful seals darting this way and that, the game was all ours. All the play, all the possession and all the pressure on them.

Only on a rare occasion would South Downs get a break and try to test our keeper, who stood cold and lonely. She was a sea urchin stuck on a rock with nothing to do. The relentless rain did not dampen our spirts and like slippery squid, we got through their defence countless times. We hammerhead sharked their goal.

"Like Nemo, we never gave up and although we should have won 100-0 we settled for a goal in each half and won 2-0. The waves of victory came crashing down at the final whistle. A soggy, soaked, wet and wild team left the pitch shivering with happiness."

In division two the 6s enjoyed their biggest win of the season, thrashing Chichester 3s 5-0 at Blatchington, to move above their visitors.

The 7s feel they are making progress despite a 3-0 defeat against high flying Lewes 4s on Saturday.

"It was cold, it was wet, we lost but it was fun," reports Laura Ortiz-Ruiz de Gordoa. "We already knew that Lewes was a good squad; that’s why they are second from the top in the league. However, we were as ready as ever.

"We managed to hold them back for most of the first half; however, their first two goals came right at the end. We felt frustrated, so the captains and the goalie injected much needed encouragement at half time.

"With the notion that we were doing a lot of good things on the field, we started the second half full of fighting power. The second half saw Lewes’ third goal and us breaking their defence on a couple of occasions.

"Even though, we did not come out victorious, we felt we are gelling more and more as a team and felt proud to know that we are getting better and better."

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