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.