Cullompton Rangers LFC
Cully fail to capitalise on Penzance slip up
24th Feb 2008
Bristol Uni 1 v Cully 0
Cully went down 0 v 1 away to Bristol Uni in a hard fought game that saw the home team score with a deflected goal.
It was the first time Cully had failed to score in a game all season, and their misery was compounded when they realised Penzance slipped up against in form Cheltenham. This however leaves the title race wide open with 3 teams in with a realistic chance of winning. Bristol were never underestimated by Cully and Gaffer started with a strong 4-4-2 formation.
The visitors saw their share of early possession and stretched the Bristol defence as Kerry Powell-Tucket and Emma Jones linked up effectively on the right wing. The crosses came in but were cleared well by the defence and Cully had no clear opportunities on goal. Both Jones and Catherine 'Curly' Wright shot from distance but never troubled the keeper. Strikers Angie Pope and Emma Redwood were marked well and despite their efforts couldn't carve out an opportunity. The first half saw both defences play well, each cancelling out the threat of the opposition. Frankie Stone came the closest to scoring for the Uni but she dragged her shot wide of the post.
The second half started with a flurry of corners for the home side and they were denied on two occasions by outstanding saves from keeper Maxine Coupe. From a Uni header Max dived to her right and parried the ball with a strong hand, only to see it fall to another Uni player whose shot from close range was spectacularly stopped by Max as she was getting to her feet. This then deflected off Kerry as she bravely dived at the feet of the attacker. Kim Betlem replaced Jones on the right and Cully again tried to stretch the defence and play down the wings. Both Jess Hooper and Kim beat their defender but the final ball eluded the Cully attackers. The Uni girls worked hard and were rewarded with their goal 20 minutes from time. A corner was initially cleared but was hit goalbound from a Uni player on the edge of the box. It looked like a comfortable save for Max but from close range it hit the knee of a Uni player, wrong footing Max and the ball fell into the net.
Cully went all out to get a goal and for the last quarter of an hour tried to break the Uni with 3-4-3. Curly was unlucky not to score when her shot from 30yds was well saved by the keeper. Cully fought bravely to get that equaliser and were again denied . Angie saw her header cleared off the line by the outstretched keeper. Bristol saw the ball in the net for a second time but it was ruled out for a clear offside. Cully hopes diminished in the final seconds when a handball in the area was adjudged not to be deliberate by the ref and he waved play on. It was an excellent game of football by both teams and played out in good spirit. Cully hope to claw themselves back into the title race next week but face another tough test at home to Larkhall Athletic.
Breaking News: Cully have received a 7 day approach from a local netball team, Kerry Powell-Tuckett should let the Gaffer know if she's interested!