Phoenix City 1 : 2 Saltash Youth

The weather forecast was not as predicted and the unexpected rain came down over night and early Saturday morning. I carried out a pitch inspection, then another with a parents Mark and Paul, the ref called to say he would not be arriving as he had swine flu. Then another pitch inspection with the Saltash manager, and then again with a ref from the ranks of Saltash, and after removal of some surface water we kicked off.

We started with Jess in goal, Emma and Atty in defence, Georgina, Charlotte and Chelsea in midfield and Dionne up front. We started slowly although, as the game went by the current good standard of football which the team has been producing started to shine, and the chances at goal came, but with the final ball a little rushed and played close to their keeper, and, the Saltash keeper pulling off two top class saves which helped her gain our Player of the Match Award. Jess also pulled off some great stops during the match. Alice came on as a sub, then Sophie and Kat came in the field of play, and then after a lot of hard work Dionne got her goal close to half time.

2nd half, when a team is leading one nil, playing well and creating scoring chances but not scoring its a situation, not safe should the other side score, which is exactly what happened when a Saltash player ran from the half way line past three of our players to score, this was a shock, but not as big as five minutes later when a shot slipped from Jess hands into the net behind. We put in a lot of hard work although the final ball in front of goal was still lacking and the Saltash defence were well organised. When the final whistle came we were left again thinking what should have been

Saltash awarded Georgina their Player of the Match and we gave ours to Alice for her control with the ball in the centre of midfield, sometimes when you jump into tackle and don’t stand up, when not enough effort is put in to the pass to make it travel all the way, or its too soft so as it does not reach, sometimes you get away with it, but not today. Way forward? Keep playing good football and things will go our way. TJN.

Teams: Phoenix City v Saltash Youth
Date: Saturday 24th October
Final Score: Saltash 2 - Phoenix 1 (Igalawuye)

PHOENIX Players of the Match: Alice (from Phoenix) and Georgina (from Saltash)

We had a good first half playing uphill and when Dionne picked up the ball 20 metres out she lashed the ball past the despairing Saltash keeper. 1-0!
We were hopeful that more goals would come when playing downhill but unfortunately the Saltash keeper made a number of outstanding saves and their defenders closed us down much more quickly.
Then Saltash scored with a hopeful ball towards goal which somehow found the back of the net. Unfortunately we then let in another Saltash goal with 15 minutes to go.
We had a desperate last 10 minutes with everyone shooting at the goal but no-one found the net.
Even though we lost everyone played really well.

Match Report supplied by Georgina.