A positive result against top of the league

Following their first win of the season last week Dawlish ladies were not expecting to continue the form facing tough opposition in new team Ashmoor. Ashmoor are top of the table, unbeaten this season and have racked up an impressive goal difference almost reaching double figures on a number of occasions. It was therefore not a win that Dawlish Ladies were aiming for on Saturday but to keep the goal average below double figures!
As expected Ashmoor started strongly with positive attacking play from a slick and organised squad. But with a positive attitude still with the Dawlish team from last week’s win they held strong at the back and it was clear that Ashmoor were going to have to work for this victory.
Dawlish’s back two Mandy Lovell and Natasha Bailey took everything that was thrown at them putting in solid tackles to keep the Ashmoor forwards from getting all but a handful of shots on goal despite their control of the game in the Dawlish half. The few shots that did get past the back two were kept out by Dawlish Keeper Sarah Webster with some impressive athletic saves.
Dawlish did have positive breaks forward on the counter attack and forced a short corner 15 minutes into the first half. Lizzie Reed passed the ball to Lottie Young whose hit on goal beat the keeper; the goal was not given as it was deemed Young’s shot was outside the D, however Dawlish proved they were not just there to defend.
As the half time whistle got nearer it became clear that Ashmoor were becoming frustrated with their inability to break the Dawlish defence and open up the scoring, but the half time whistle did come with the scores still at 0-0.
The second half started with Ashmoor even more determined to open up the scoring against Dawlish. Sarah Webster made a great diving stick save but the top of the table side kept the pressure on and with Webster on the floor Ashmoor finally got a goal to take the lead.
Dawlish continued to keep up their impressive work rate with their half’s putting in 110% to keep the Ashmoor forwards from running away with the game. Gemma Wilkes ran all afternoon tracking the Ashmoor forwards on their favoured right wing. Some impressive individual play from the Ashmoor captain led to their second goal, a well taken short corner left a tried Dawlish side three goals down.
But Dawlish were not finished, a strong team performance was sealed after some great work by Amy Reed to win the ball in the Ashmoor half, Anne Darby drove the ball into the D and Jess Green kept her head to give Dawlish a well deserved last minute goal. It was a positive Dawlish team that finished the game with a 3-1 defeat having put in an impressive team effort.