Match Report - BITTON AFC GIRLS - 15 Oct 2022

Hard Earned Point!

Wimborne’s first away game of the season meant for a trip to Bitton near Bristol. The girls were looking to build on a good start to the season whilst their hosts looked to get back to winning ways after an unusually heavy defeat at Andover on the previous weekend.

It seemed from the whistle that the team were struggling to settle, Bitton harried and hassled, getting the ball forwards as quickly as possible and before heads had cleared the girls found themselves a goal in arrears. With less than 5 minutes on the clock, Bitton’s centre forward was given too much space in the area and made the team pay (1-0). The girls picked themselves up, dusted down and went in search of an equaliser. Liv came close to levelling, a chipped effort that drifted narrowly wide prior to Emilie again showing her qualities, winning her one on one duel before crossing for Izzy to slot home on 12 mins (1-1). The game reverted to type, a lot of bitty, start stop play that suited the hosts and broke up any continuity the team could manage. The half time whistle blew and gave the teams a chance to regroup.

HT 1-1

A better beginning to the next period saw Emilie set free from Carly’s pass although a well struck shot was equally well turned around the post. Judging on the previous matches of the season so far, the girls seemed a little out of sorts today and with 13 mins remaining positional issues lead to a straightforward finish that again put the team in arrears, although to be fair it was a well struck shot (2-1). If the team showed anything today, it was character, twice down but certainly not out! With 10 minutes remaining Izzy was to have her say again, her direct driving run from her own half into the goal area halted with a desperate challenge that earned a spot kick. Meg ignored whatever pressure there may have been and drove the spot kick wide of the goalkeeper to resume parity (2-2). This sparked Town’s best attacking spell of the match but they could not force a winning goal although Izzy again went close. The match was in the balance until the end and a very direct home team could have pinched the win if it hadn’t been for Jess’s perfectly timed sliding tackle before the shot was taken.

FT: 2-2

POM: Eva (lead by example in a tough match for defences….strong, determined and focussed).

Summary: To be fair, not the best watch this one. Very early days but the team had shown passing qualities in previous matches that were not there today, getting caught in a game of attrition making for a scrappy affair. Also, travelling has an effect, some of these girls are not used to a 2hr road trip before a match, this will be added to their sporting knowledge and built on.

All in all, a little under par today but a point well earned!