Saturday 24 January 2009

A 5-1 victory

Following a shaky start to the New Year in last week’s local derby and a heavy training session Dawlish Ladies were determined to start their home game against Paignton II strongly and come away with a win.
It was not however the start that Dawlish had hoped for, the young Paignton side broke early into the Dawlish defence and within 10 minutes Paignton were 1-0 up. A rather shell shocked Dawlish re started the game and it was not long before it became clear that despite their poor start it was the home side who would control this game.
Lottie Young and Lizzie Reed held the ball in midfield and took on the Paignton defence to feed the the Dawlish forwards. As the first half continued Dawlish had opportunity after opportunity to test the Paignton back line with Mel Barnes and Yvonne Hudson coming agonisingly close.
It started to feel like it was not going to be Dawlish’s day and after Lottie Young took her second clout of the day, this time splitting open her finger, things looked like going from bad to worse. Down but not out Young took the next hit of the game finding Helen Nicholson in acres of space, Nicholson went round the Paignton backs and with a quick turn and reserve stick hit levelled the scores.
With the scores open for Dawlish the pressure continued and it was not long before a second goal took the home side ahead. Natasha Bailey, playing out of position on the left midfield, played a strong ball and Jess Green converted Yvonne Hudson’s initial strike on goal making it 2-1 at half time.
Dawlish came out for the second half and completely controlled the game, 90 percent of the play was in Paignton’s half with Dawlish back Mandy Lovell joining in the action with some great runs down the right wing. Unlike the first half Dawlish were able to capitalise on their control of the game and it was not long before a great play starting with Denise McMahon at the back ended with Jess Green scoring her second of the day.
The only real action Dawlish keeper Sarah Webster had in the second half was to question how Dawlish had so little short corners from all their pressure in the Paignton D? Despite the umpires decision not to reward Dawlish for their pressure they continued to increase the score line; Anne Darby switched from her normal right mid position played the ball to Nicholson whose second strike found its way round the back of the keeper.
As the game drew to a close Paignton seemed to be drained by the constant Dawlish pressure and an unmarked Nicholson once again found the back of the Paignton goal. With a 5-1 victory Dawlish were happy and hoping that their form will continue to improve in 2009.

Saturday 17 January 2009

Local Derby

Having had a succession of games canceled, due to frozen all weather pitches, this Saturday’s league game was not only Dawlish ladies first match of 2009 but their first in over six weeks.
Starting the year with a bang Dawlish faced local rivals Teignmouth for the always competitive local Derby. Dawlish were without regular back Mandy Lovell with young player stepping in Rhiannon Depla to fill the gap, a strong Dawlish side took to the field with ambitions to start 2009 with winning ways.

The match started with both sides giving very little away and playing tight in midfield where the real battle for the game was fought. Both sides had opportunities to break into the oppositions half and take on the defense; the Teignmouth forwards could not find a way past and Natasha Bailey who both Rhiannon Depla had solid performances all match at the back. The central Dawlish midfield of Lottie Young and Lizzie Reed were able to feed the ball to Helen Nicholson who took on the Teignmouth backs but could not quite find the other Dawlish forwards to covert the good work into a goal.

As half time approached Dawlish’s lack of match fitness was beginning to show, they were not using the width to reach speedy wings Jess Green and were Mel Barnes struggling to get the ball through the Teignmouth line from their own hit outs. Dawlish Captain rallied the troops and half time with some tactical changes and threats of cardio training.

The second half started much as the first with no team controlling the match and a battle in midfield to maintain possession, but it was Teignmouth who eventually took an attacking control with the ball reaching a Teignmouth striker on the top of the D un-marked whose shot found its way past the Dawlish keeper to open the scoring.

Teignmouth’s goal seemed to be the motivation Dawlish needed to take control of the game, with Amy Reed playing out wide and the striking power of Gemma Wilkes on the forward line Dawlish put constant pressure on the Teignmouth goal mouth forcing a succession of short corners.

The Dawlish equalizer game from a strong cross field pass by Young to Anne Darby out on the right, Darby drove the ball into the D which eventually found its way to Helen Nicholson who pushed the ball home for the well deserved equalizer. The Teignmouth players attempted to dispute the goal, however both umpires were happy and the score remained at 1.1 for the final whistle. Although Dawlish would have liked a win against local rivals and certainly game very close to getting it in the later stages of the second half a draw seemed like a fair reflection of the tight fought local Derby.