Cullompton Rangers LFC
Match Reports
15th April 2007
Pat Sowden v Gloucester (2-1)
Cully reversed last weeks loss and booked a place in the Pat Sowden Trophy final, beating Gloucester 2-1 on a hot afternoon at Speeds Meadow. Cully are now aiming for two cup winners medals and a league runners up spot as they have a fixture packed last few weeks of the season. Cully started brightly and attacked with vigour on the flanks with the pace and skill of Jess Hooper on the left and Laura Gough on the right. Early on the pressure mounted on the Gloucester defence as the crosses flooded in for strikers Angie Pope and Rachel Javan. Angie introduced herself early on, making a crunching tackle when the keeper spilled the ball on her line.
The central midfield partnership of Curly (Catherine Wright) and Josie Copp was strong, as they won headers and tackles keeping the pressure off the Cully defence. The first goal was scored after 15minutes and no one could argued it was a deserved one as they dominated the game. The defenders were unable to cope with the skill of Jess, and continued to be drawn into fouls. After receiving the ball from Bucky (Karen Buck) on the left, Jess was fouled about 30 yards from goal. Curly stepped up and her trademark freekick flew into the top of the net leaving the keeper floundering. The next 10 minutes saw Cully creating many more chances as they won possession and stretched the ball to the wings.
Rachels pace was a constant test and Angie continued to pounce on the through balls over the defence. It was Angies presence that led to Cullys second goal. Bucky played in Jess on the left and her cross was challenged by Angie. As she contested it with the keeper the ball fell to the edge of the six yard box, this was met by Curly who drilled it into the back of the net with her left foot. Curly was unlucky not to get a hat-trick soon after when Rachel won yet another free-kick on the edge of the box. Her shot thundered against the cross bar and flew over Josie as she followed in for the rebound.
The Cully defence was well organised by Kerry Powell-Tuckett as sweeper, with Becky Maunder alongside her man-marking. Becky stayed tight, not letting the young Gloucester striker have any space to creat with the flair she showed in last weeks game. Titch (Laura Carpenter) and Bucky supported well on the right and left and also had space to push on and support their wingers effectively. Gloucester tried to attack and pressure the Cully defence, but were continually thwarted as the home team were first to the ball and cleared the danger.
Rachel was unlucky not to make it 3 when she found herself through on goal. Bucky laid a ball from defence through to Jess, and it was two on two as Gloucester hurried back. Jess found Rachel who turned her player on the edge of the box, but on her weaker side her right footed shot went past the post. Titch at right back won her tackles and with her pace supported Goughy who made some penetrating runs and linked up well with Angie. Goughy was beating her player and crossing in well from the right. She was unlucky also not to score as from a free-kick her shot went into the side netting.
Gloucester got themselves back into the game just before half time. Cully defended a free-kick from the right, initially saw it cleared but as the ball dropped back in a Gloucester player broke free. As Josie attempted to make the clearance a wicked bounce saw it spin off her foot and head goal bound, Max Coupe was unlucky as she flung herself to her right, she could only tip it onto the post and watch as it rebounded into the goal.
Cully always knew Gloucester would come out of the blocks fast and a third goal was a must to keep the pressure off. As both teams knew how important another goal would be both defences were in for a torrid time. Gloucester attacked with numbers and played the whole second half with 3 strikers. The defence was well organised and supported as ever by Max in goal. Max was always heard shouting instructions, she dominated her box and was quickly off the mark when required. Gloucester were pacey and were looking to punish on the counter attack. As they attacked and players got tired the inevitable free-kicks came. As Gloucester tried to find numbers in the box Curly and Josie were dominant and cleared the ball with towering headers. Curly was again denied her hat-trick by the woodwork when she drilled in a right footed shot from the edge of the box. It rattled the post and evaded Rachel and Goughy as they attemped to close in on the rebound.
Angie, who pounced on every loose ball and went in for brave challenges with the keeper, was replaced on seventy minutes. A straight swap with fellow striker Emma Redwood. Curly and Josie continued to test the keeper from free-kicks, but a third goal evaded Cully and brought about a frantic last twenty minutes. With extra time a possibility the Gaffer brought on fresh legs, Chrissy Daniels replacing Rachel and Kim Betlam switching with Jess on the left wing. Josie, along with her team mates and the crowd, thought she had secured the game when she headed in from a Curly corner...only to see the referee disallow it. Despite the linesman not flagging a free-kick was given against Josie, albeit no Gloucester player was near her. All the Cully players dug deep as the referee played seven minutes of injury time. Gloucester had the last chance of the game as a cross from the right by line was pulled back into the danger area. Max was quick off her line, intercepted the cross and collected the ball safely into her arms. The game finished 2-1 and a cup final for the Cully girls at Saltash on Sunday 29th April. It was a great team performance, which one may argue was a direct result of the team bonding that occured on the Cully social on friday. Our thanks to Gaffer and Kerry, for their organisation of the entertainment with games music and many surprises. There were so many highlights it would take too long to mention but we must make mention of a few. Max was the highlight of the musical bumps game, her agility as a keeper was an advantage however she fell down more times than the music stopped! Bex Mitchell was the star of the frozen t-shirt competition, showing more skill and innitiative than Rachel who resorted to brute force, Richard Dingle came a close second not needing to resort to his boiled kettle trick! Tom (Chrissy's boyfriend) was on a par with Rachel when it came to removing clothes in the fasted time possible, with trousers and bras the respective items. Sue Copp was the winner of the coin game, not due to her success or prowess, but the amount of laughs she received as she continued to lose her coin...all of which she was oblivious to. Bill the chairman was determined his side won the banana game, showing them how it was done in the final game. The highlight of the evening was surely the bush tucket trial where brave volunteers Josie, Tom, Becky and Emma were subjected to eating some disgusting nibbles while blindfolded. These included stilton cheese, gerkins, prunes and pickled eggs. Photos of the entertaining evening will follow!
Next weeks match will be away against Bath City.