St Austell Ladies Vs Duchy1

Saints travelled away to Pool today to play top-of-the-table Duchy 1s. With Saints having regular players missing, this meant that they were only able to field a team of bare 11 and had a few players playing out of position. Despite this, Saints were determined to work together and make Duchy work hard for a win.

Unfortunately, it took Saints a little while to settle into the new positions and Duchy took advantage of this, managing to intercept the ball right from the off and slotting it past the keeper within the first couple of minutes. Duchy’s attack continued to stay strong and they were awarded a short corner 7 minutes into the game, which they also converted. Goals 3 and 4 were also scored within the first 14 minutes of the game.

With Saints now feeling a bit more settled into the game, they were able to give Duchy more of a fight and had a near miss of their own at about 21 minutes into the game. After some great play up the left wing the ball went to Hermione Crowle who had a shot on goal, but unfortunately it went just wide of the right post. Saints were then awarded a short corner after Laura Tregunna made a cracking run up through the middle of the pitch and her strike hit a Duchy foot. Tregunna hit a fantastic shot from Yasmin Barrot’s injection but Duchy’s keeper cleared the shot. Duchy continued to play well, demonstrating why they are top of the league, and made a break just before half time, resulting in a 5th goal for Duchy before half time.

Half time 5-0

After a half time team talk from co-captains Laura Tregunna and Yasmin Barrot, Saints came back onto the pitch stronger and determined not to allow the previous half to continue into the rest of the game. Play was definitely more balanced in the second half with more attacks from Saints; Lucie Oakley picked up the ball and played it up to the D but unfortunately the goalie cleared it before Holly Bunt had the chance for a shot at goal. Then later in the half Beth Horwell and Yasmin Barrott worked the ball nicely up the pitch but a strong Duchy defence denied Saints any chance of a shot at goal despite Amanda Crowle being ready to take advantage of any opportunity. A couple of minutes later, Duchy were awarded another short, but Miranda Ball and Maisie Moule’s strength in defence meant that Duchy were denied another goal. Following this, Nikita Williams had her work cut out for her, and despite saving multiple shots from Duchy’s attack, after some pinball play one of Duchy’s shots made it past the keeper.

There was another brilliant save from Nikita Williams in the closing minutes of the game, but unfortunately, this was counteracted with another attack and Saints hearing the backboard one last time. A short corner was awarded to Duchy at the final whistle of the game; shout out to Debbie James who took on the body shot to save the goal!

Full time: 7-0

MOM: Miranda Ball and Nikita Williams

Donkey: Laura Tregunna, for hitting the ball up into the air and then allowing it to fall onto her own head!

Team: Nikita Williams, Debbie James, Miranda Ball, Maisie Moule, Hermione Crowle, Lucie Oakley, Laura Tregunna, Yasmin Barrott, Beth Horwell, Amanda Crowle, Holly Bunt