Cullompton Rangers LFC
Cully win valuable 3 points
Cully returned to winning ways today after a months break enforced by the weather, beating Swindon 5-1 at Speeds Meadow. On a difficult pitch, sodden and muddy in the central areas, Cully started brightly and spread the ball wide to the grassy flanks. Dominating the midfield with three central players and two wide players the breakthrough came early on with Rachel Javan seemingly unaffected by the four week break. She picked up where she left off against Bristol Uni, causing no end of problems for the opposing defence. Having come close a few minutes earlier with a header she made no mistake on ten minutes when she volleyed in a cross from Jess Hooper.
An unplanned change early on saw Chrissy Daniels take over on the right wing, and Kim Betlam moving further up supporting strikers Javan and Emma Redwood. Cully seemed unaffected by the disruption and they doubled their lead on 22 minutes. Titch (Laura Carpenter) won a free-kick on the edge of the box, which saw Curly (Catherine Wright) float in a telling cross. The ball found Josie Copp on the far post who nodded it back into the danger area and Kim met the ball on the volley. A pin point finish saw it hit the inside of the post and into the back of the net. Curly and Titch dominated the midfield, feeding the wingers Jess and Chrissy. Jess had the beating of her full-back and she made some darting runs down the left and provided some great crosses. It was one of these crosses that set up the third goal just after the half hour mark. Emma played a vital park in the build-up as she won the ball and found Jess with an excellent pass. Jess beat two players and crossed to find Rach in the centre. She spun and her shot found the bottom corner, leaving the keeper stranded.
Cully were unlucky not to add to their tally before the break. Rachel saw her shot tipped onto the bar with an excellent save, and another go fractionally wide as she charged down the keeper, who under pressure kicked the ball into her path.
Cully came out in the second half as they finished the first, with Kerry Powell-Tuckett and Chrissy linking up well down the right. Emma held and spread the ball well as she played just in front of fellow striker Rachel and had some good strikes at goal early on. The fourth goal started with a ball from Kerry finding Curly, who switched the ball across the box. Titch left it for Jess who drilled in a low shot past the keeper, a well deserved goal for the young left winger.
Josie was as ever solid in defence, supported by Kerry and Bucky (Karen Buck), and was also unlucky not to get her name on the score sheet. A great corner from Curly was met by Josie, who saw her goal bound header cleared off the line by a Swindon defender. Emma was also unfortunate not to be rewarded with a goal as she shot just over the bar from close range. Swindon played their part and had a good spell for about 20 minutes which also saw them get on the score sheet. An impressive shot from the edge of the area, put Maxine Coupe under pressure. She backtracked and saw the ball late, she was temporarily unsighted by the late afternoon sun. The shot was tipped onto the bar but Max was unlucky as it fell, deflected off her and into the net. Swindon were understandable enthused by this and Bucky, Josie and Kerry, supported by their midfield were made to defend more in the second half.
An inspired tactical change by the Gaffer, fifteen minutes from the end, saw Cully grab their fifth and final goal. Defence switched to attack and vice-versa, as Josie and Bucky moved into the midfield and Kerry up to striker. Albeit slightly unorthodox none of the players let the manager down, showing the versatility of their games. It was play from the two new midfielders that created the final goal. Josie played a one-two with Bucky on the left, who turned her marker and from the edge of the box pulled it back. Josie then played in Kim, who lofted a stunning shot from the edge of the area into the net. Kerry then showed inspiration in her new position, after a one-two with Becky Maunder she crossed the ball into Rachel who was unlucky not to get her hat-trick, it fell to her weaker right foot and shot narrowly over the bar. Soon after Kerry saw her own shot from the edge of the box drift agonisingly past the far post. The newly formed defence also showed promise and determination, not allowing Swindon to breach their guard, supported by Josie and Curly who it seemed didn't lose a tackle all game. Every player ran until the final whistle, despite being weighed down by a pound or two of mud. Three points were secured and a Christmas drink and secret Santa present was the reward in the bar afterwards. With a 3 week break over Christmas the girls will play at least two cup games in early January before returning to league fixtures in the New Year.