Cullompton Rangers LFC
Cully prepare for cup final
13th April 2008
Cully 5 v Bristol Uni 1
Cully prepared well for their mid-week cup final against Plymouth Argyle with an emphatic 5-1 win over Bristol Uni. Despite not playing for 5 weeks the Cully girls played a great game with moments of 'sparkling' football. Cully were quick out of the blocks forcing the Uni keeper to make two early saves. Emma 'Redders' Redwood was denied as her left footed shot was parried round the post and Rachel Javan's shot soon after was cleared off the line having beaten the keeper.
The next chance fell to Angie Pope from a Catherine 'Curly' Wright corner. Karen 'Bucky' Buck met the cross and headed it goalwards, Pope was unlucky to volley over the bar from close range. The Uni girls battled well and survived the early pressure but could do nothing about the opening goal. Kerry Powell-Tuckett and Redders started the move on the right and held the ball waiting for Kim Betlam to join the action. Kim sprinted down the wing and provided an inch perfect cross for Pope who headed in well from close range. The second goal came on 25 minutes and was an individual effort by Josie Copp. She picked up the ball in midfield and skillfully rounded two players, took the ball into the box and finished clinically from 10 yards.
Redders got a deserved goal to make it 3-0 when her persistance chasing a defender paid dividends. Linking up with Rachel she initially lost control of the ball, but as she pressured the defender she won it back. She ran into the box and drilled a low shot past the keeper. Bristol then had a 5 minute spell where they pressured the Cully back four but centre halves Sam Bell and Bucky thwarted the runs through the middle with Kerry and Emma Jones doing likewise on the wings. Kerry and Jonesy then found themselves with space down the flanks and linked up well with their midfielders Kim and Rachel. It was a move started at the back with led to the fourth goal just before half time. Max passed an early ball to Kerry who carried it past the half-way line and found Curly in midfield. With time and space Curly took it to the edge of the box and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top left corner of the net.
Bristol looked to put in a better second half and started the second 45 brightly. Max was called into action early on and made a cracking save tipping the ball around the post at full stretch. Cully quickly got back into the groove and Josie produced yet another magnificent pass to find Pope running through the middle. Pope was one on one with the keeper but her chip was well saved by the Bristol keeper. Bucky was the next to have an opportunity to extend the lead. From a Curly corner that was initially cleared the ball fell to the Cully defender on the penalty spot. Unfortunately she volleyed it just over the bar. With one eye on Thursday evening the Gaffer made a triple substitution with 30 minutes to go. Jess Hooper, Mandy Earle and Kaylee Symons came on for Kim, Redders and Sam. Mandy almost made an immediate impact when she was unlucky not to score with a shot from close range. A ball through from Curly found Mandy one on one with the keeper, who produced a great save to deny her.
Max was called into action making two excellent saves in quick succession. A ball over the top eluded Emma Jones in defence but Max made a strong save to deny the Bristol striker. Soon after Max held her onto a cracking volley hit from the edge of the box. Angie Pope got her second goal of the game, this time making no mistake with a low shot drilled past the keeper. Kaylee can claim the assist as her ball through from defence set Pope on her run. The Cully girls were disappointed not to keep a clean sheet when they conceded a penalty 5 mins from time. Striker Frankie Stone twisted and turned in the box and was brought down by Symons. Stone got up and converted the penalty, Max unlucky as she got a hand to it.
Overall an excellent team performance which the girls can take it Thursday nights cup final...Coach Road 7:30. All supporters welcome!!