Close to a Win

Once again Dawlish Ladies were traveling away from home with a depleted side fielding only a nine man side for the second week in a row and it was not a positive team that took to the pitch.
But despite the lack of numbers the Dawlish team that made the trip to Exeter to face the young ISCA 4ths team gave 110% from the push back.
Mandy Lovell and Natasha Bailey were solid at the back putting in strong tackles to keep the ISCA out of shooting range. Sarah Webster the Dawlish goalie gave the young ISCA forwards who did get through a battle to open the scoring.
However on the counter attack the ISCA forwards broke the Dawlish back line and ISCA went one nil up.
Lizzie Reed and Lottie Young were strong in central midfield and controlled the game but with only two up front Dawlish fail to capitalise despite Jess Green coming close with a one on one with the keeper and ISCA make it two nil at half time.
Half time and Dawlish are determined that they can come back from two nil down, Dawlish start to control the game with some great runs from the right by Jess green. Dawlish finally get the break they have worked for and a shot from Helen Nicholson finds it way round the keeper to put the scores at two one.
Dawlish continued to put pressure on the ISCA backs with Anne Darby making some great attacking runs and the Dawlish forwards putting the ISCA goalie under constant pressure.
As the final whistle drew close Dawlish just could not get the ball into the back of the ISCA goal despite some shots great shots coming close from Lottie Young and Gemma Wilkes.
The nine man Dawlish side played a with the strength and passion of a full side but were always going to be in trouble playing with two men short. But for the second week in a row they left the pitch so close to a win which it seemed would have been simple had they started with a full team.