Cullompton Rangers LFC
3rd Sept 2006: League v Team Bath
Cully dominated their first league encounter at Speeds Meadow, versus Team Bath, but somehow came away empty handed. Team Bath won 1-2,
their manager quoted to say "I can't say the best team won". However, many positives should be taken from the game and the players should not be disheartened, they ran
endlessly for the full 90 minutes. Team Bath went 0-1 up after 20 minutes with their first attack of the game. From a Cully shot, Team Bath quickly turned
defence into attack. After attacking play down the right a shot come cross found Jess Hooper on the left, the Team Bath defender threaded a ball over the top
splitting Josie Copp and Becky Maunder at the back and the attacker ran through, cooly slotting the ball into the corner leavin goaly Max Coupe with no chance.
Cully kept their heads up and came close to equalising soon after, a ball from Bucky (Karen Buck) at left fullback found Jess who had a shot saved from the
edge of the box. Pressure from Cully was soon rewarded when Curly (Catherine Wright) found the ball, found Jess on the left, whose cross was met by Chrissy Daniels
who found the bottom corner with a perfect side footed shot.
The second half started brightly for Cully but they found it hard to break down well organised Team Bath. With Baths first attack of the second half a ball just inside the box
was adjudged to have been handled by Becky Maunder and the referee pointed to the spot. From the resulting kick Max pulled off a magnificent save, diving to her right...
unfortunately the kick was ordered to be taken again after the linesman decided Max had come off her line too early. The Team Bath player, at her second attempt, put her shot to
the same side and high into the net, just inches away from the diving keeper.
It seemed destined not to be Cullys day, the last 30 minutes was spent in Team Baths half with defence, midfield and attack all peppering the goal with shots.
A corner from Curly was met by Josie, who hammered a shot into the ground, agonisingly it bounced over the bar. Both fullbacks pushed forward, Kerry Powell-Tuckett linking with
Chrissy on the right and Bucky with Hayley Sharrod on the left. Crosses came in thick and fast but Cully were unable to convert thier chances. A free kick from Curly from 35 yards
looked to be dipping in but Team Baths keeper got her finger tips to it to put it over the bar. Goughy (Laura Gough) did put the ball into the net but was penalised for an
alleged handball in the build up. Cully then hit the woodwork when Bucky attacked from defence. She won the ball in Team Baths half, took it forward
and unleashed a left foot shot from 25 yards, with the keeper stranded it seemed to be going into the top of the net but it hit the corner of the bar and post and rebounded out.
Despite the girls running their hearts out, it just wasn't meant to be, and the final whistle was welcomed by Team Bath players and manager alike.
The girls hope for a better result next week when they travel away to Cheltenham.