Cullompton Rangers LFC
Curly hat trick secures 3 points
Cully 5 v Exeter Uni 1
1st Nov
Cully did the double over Exeter Uni when they beat them 5-1 at Speeds Meadow on Thurs evening. A superb hat trick from midfielder Catherine 'Curly' Wright put the game beyond a battling Uni side. Gaffer stuck with the 3-5-2 formation that was so effective the previous Sunday, with the only change being Angie Pope starting as wing-back. The first 20 minutes was fairly unsettled, and when Cully attacked they lacked a deadly finish in front of goal. Rachel Javan and Josie Copp both had efforts go just wide of the mark and Karen 'Bucky' Buck was the first to make the keeper make a save. Just inside the box Bucky turned and curled a right footed shot across goal, the keeper scrambled across and clawed it away for a corner. On the balance of play Cully deserved the lead, and the breakthrough came after 22 minutes. After an attack down the left the ball was pulled back to Curly who unleashed a perfect strike from 25 yards. The Uni girls fought back well and were lifted as midway through the first half a handful of very vocal supporters arrived to cheer on the student side. The back three of sweeper Kerry Powell-Tuckett, and full backs Sam Bell and Kaylee Symons defended solidly as a unit and denied the Uni any clear cut chances.
Josie Copp had a cracking first half an hour, winning every tackle and making some great cross field passes to the wingers. Curly somehow bettered her first goal just after the half hour mark as she again finished from distance. Picking up the ball some 45 yds from goal she ran forward purposfully and struck a thunderous shot from 30yds out, leaving the keeper rooted to the spot. Josie was then forced to leave the field of play after aggravating a previous leg injury, substitute Mandy Earle replaced her in midfield. Mandy made an immediate impact, almost scoring with her first touch. Jess Hooper won the ball in midfield and placed a perfect ball through to Mandy in the box, as she was set to shoot the keeper came out bravely and saved at her feet. Angie and Bucky were the next to have chances on goal, Pope put a header just past the post from a left wing cross and Bucky shot wide in the penalty area. Jess, Curly and Mandy were linking up well in centre midfield, chasing and battling for every ball. Spreading the play wide stretched the Uni defence and Cully continued to attack as the half drew to a close. Just before the break Emma 'Redders' Redwood yet again got on the scoresheet to make it 3-0 to the home side. Jess played the ball through and in form Redders cooly poked the ball past the keeper.
Exeter Uni started the second half the brighter, and with the encouragement of their supporters they pushed forward in numbers. Sam and Kaylee kept tight on thier attackers and prevented the visitors from making many runs on goal, when they did break through sweeper Kerry cleared any danger. Their persistance paid off on the hour, pulling one back after winning a free-kick. The cross was initially cleared, but from the edge of the box it fell to a Uni player who struck a fine shot on the half volley into the corner of the net. Spurred on by this the visitors pressured the home team into making mistakes and the Cully girls found it hard to keep possession. Max on several occassions came out to the edge of her box and cleared up well behind the defence. Mandy Earle was again unlucky not to score from a cross field ball from Bucky, but mishit her shot as she entered the penalty box. As the Uni pressured trying to get another back Cully took full advantage and scored on the break. The play went down the right wing and Jess played a neat one-two with Curly on the edge of the box. As Curly got it back she placed a right footed shot, low and hard, past the keeper into the bottom corner. With the pressure lifted in the last 15 minutes Cully returned to playing neater football, Rachel nearly capped a fine performance with a goal but was unlucky as her left footed shot flew across the face of the goal. The fifth goal came 10 minutes before the final whistle. Angie Pope made a run from Cullys own half and played in Rach on the left edge of the box, her cross found Jess who clawed the ball into the net from close range. That was to be Popes last action of the game as she felt the effects of a previous tackle, making way for sub Beccy Mitchell. Mitchell with fresh legs made a nuisance of herself up front, ensuring the Uni defence worked hard in the last 10 minutes. It was a battling display from both teams and a good natured game of football. Cully had a break from fixtures this weekend, so the girls will enjoy the festivities of their 'Cully-Ween' party....photos and videos to follow!!