Cullompton Rangers LFC
Cully take runners up spot
17th May 2007
Cully entertained Penzance at Speeds Meadow last night in the final game of the season, a win for either team would clinch runners up spot in the league so medals as well as pride were at stake!
Penzance started the brighter, obviously unaffected by the long journey, the back three of Karen Buck (Bucky), Kerry Powell-Tuckett and Becky Maunder were tested as Penzance spread balls wide and down the flanks. Penzance had the first clear opportunity of the match when a shot from close range missed the target. Defence was soon organised and the pressure was then put onto the Penzance midfield and defence. The wide midfielders of Jess Hooper and Leanne Griffiths soon got into their stride and created problems for the opposition. Josie Copp, Curly (Catherine Wright) and Redders (Emma Redwood) in the centre of midfield won the tackles and the ball was played to flanks at every opportunity. Jess and Leanne attacked with purpose and were causing problems for the Penzance defence. Goughy (Laura Gough) and Kim Betlam created an effective partnership as strikers, both having early shots on goal and testing the keeper. Cully continued to dominate the first half and took the lead with the first goal on 20 minutes. Good play down the right by Leanne saw her take the ball into the box and cut it back to Redders who had lost her marker. From the edge of the penalty area Redders cooly sidefooted the ball into the corner of the net leaving the keeper rooted to the spot.
Jess caused havoc down the left and Penzance had to resort to hacking her down to stop her. A cynical foul on the edge of the box gave Cully an opportunity with dead ball specialist Curly standing over the ball. Her trusted right boot saw her unleash a shot that beat the keeper but the ball hammered off the cross bar and out to a Penzance player. Knowing the Penzance defence were struggling with Jess and Leanne Cully pushed forward with defenders Becky and Bucky supporting their wide players. The second Cully goal started with a move down the left, Bucky played the ball over to Jess who ran down the line and was supported well by Kim. As Kim drove to the by-line she won a corner. From the resultant corner the Cully players and crowd saw what they had been waiting for all season.....a goal from Josie. It was just a shame her proud parents were holidaying and not their to see it!! Another perfect corner from Curly saw Josie attacking at the back post, and thunder a header into the back of the net. A Penzance defender on the line did her best to stop it but the power beat her. A deserved goal from the captain that brought her tally back to minus two for the season!
Cully were unlucky not to make it three just before the break when Redders had another shot on goal. As the ball came out from the Penzance defence she found space, chested it down and looped a cracking shot goalwards. The keeper did well to retreat and save it on the line, but her momentum made her spill and Curly followed in to pounce on the loose ball. Credit to the Penzance keeper, who recovered well and retreaved it safely.
In the second half Cully reverted to 4-4-2 as Penzance put 3 strikers up to try and salvage the game. Josie dropped back into defence and left the midfield to Curly and Redders. Penzance looked more threatening with the change in their attack but they were matched by Cully with Josie leading from the back, being supported well by her fellow defenders. With Penzance pressing more the game opened up and Cully found more space on the counter attack. Goughy linked up well with Leanne on the right and made a strong run into the box. She brushed her defender aside but her shot went wide of the post. Leanne was the next to cause Penzance problems as she attacked down the right wing. Kerry threaded the ball through from defence, playing in Leanne. As she cut back inside Curly was waiting on the edge of the box but her shot went uncharacteristically over the bar.
Penzance then attacked with promise, and sustained constant pressure from a series of corners. As Penzance took the fourth corner in quick sucession Max Coupe pulled off an astonishing save to deny Penzance a certain goal. A close range shot was smothered by Max as she saved on the line with her amazing reflex actions. Kim then attacked at the other end and almost made it three to Cully. As Kim was played in her pace took her past the last defender, the keeper ran out to close her down and Kim cleverly tried to chip the ball over her. The Penzance number one did well to get her hand to the ball, and as it fell to Kim again her shot was superbly closed down by a Penznace defender.
Titch (Laura Carpenter) came off the subs bench to put a solid 20 minutes in midfield after Redders had run herself into the ground. Angie Pope then swapped with Goughy in attack, Goughy unlucky not to cap a good performance with a goal. Angie almost made an immediate impact when her cross from the right beat the defence, but it just evaded Kim and Jess at the far post. With 5 minutes left Penzance got a deserved goal for their great attacking during the game. Enevitably it also denied Max an equally deserved clean sheet. A ball through from Julie Lawrence in midfield was met by a Penzance striker in the box, when it seemed Kerry had averted the danger and taken the player wide she unleashed an unstoppable shot that left Max with no chance. It was a stunning strike that left Cully with a nervy last 5 minutes. However the girls held strong, and cleverly kept the ball away from danger. The game ended 2-1 and the three points going to Cully, securing the runners up spot. All in all a good first season for the girls as described in the chairmans overview. A few weeks break before pre-season starts on July 1st.