Cullompton Rangers LFC
Cully triumph over Team Weston
12th August 2007
Cully came out convincing winners in a pre-season friendly against Team Weston at Speeds Meadow on Sunday. The visitors who play in the higher league of the South West Combination gave the Cully girls a tough test in their second game in three days, but the home side outplayed their opponents in a 4-0 win.
Cully started the game brightly and built on their strong performance against Newquay on Thursday, and played like a team who hadn't had a summer break. The Gaffer again had 14 players in the squad with Leanne Griffiths and debutant Mandy Earle replacing Kim Betlam and Vonnie Cockram who had prior commitments. The starting line up consisted of Maxine Coupe, Karen 'Bucky' Buck, Sam Bell, Kayleigh Simmons and Kerry Powell-Tuckett in defence. Jess Hooper, Josie Copp, Catherine 'Curly' Wright and Emma Jones in midfield, with forwards Angie Pope and Emma 'Redders' Redwood. The excellent Speeds Meadow pitch allows Cully to pass the ball on the ground and saw them dominate the early part of the game. All the players were confident on the ball, this saw play start at the back from captain and keeper Coupe. She used full-backs Kerry and Bucky who developed attacks from defence supported by their wingers. Despite having most of the play in the first twenty minutes the crucial finish eluded Cully. Angie and Redders both had chances just inside the box but their finishes were wide of the mark.
Jess on the left wing was as ever effective and caused the Weston defenders problems as she cut inside and provided numerous crosses. Supported by Bucky behind her the crosses came in thick and fast and on 25 minutes brought about the first goal. A cross from the left was met by striker Pope in the centre, her shot was blocked but the rebound came out to Jess whose left foot strike found the corner of the net.
Cully continued to pressure and looked for further goals immediately, Kerry and Emma Jones worked well on the right and both found themselves in good attacking positions. They were the providers of the second goal as an attack on the right saw Emma win a corner from her cross. Curly's excellent corner was attacked by Angie whose glancing header eluded defenders and keeper into the goal. Josie and Curly were solid in midfield, both winning headers, tackles and delivering balls to the forwards and wingers. With roll-on roll-off subs Gaffer madea triple substitution on the half hour with Sam making way for Becky in defence, Emma and Leanne swapping on the right wind and Angie being replaced by Mandy as striker. The change of personnel didn't disrupt Cullys attacking play and the third goal came just before half time. A cross from Leanne on the right wing was superbly volleyed into the net by Jess.
The second half started with Weston determined to make their mark and show why they are a combination side. Many attacks were thwarted by the Cully defence, and when that was broken Max was solid in goal. From corners and free-kicks she dominated her area and collected the ball confidently, she even relied on her knees when she juggled her shot from a free-kick, before eventually trapping the ball safely underneath her. As the game went on and the players tired in the heat there were fewer attacks, however it was Cully who had the final say in the 89th minute. Sam won the ball in defence and found Leanne on the left, Jess then took the ball forward and crossed it into the box. It initially looked like Emma Jones had missed her opportunity, but as she took it on her unfavoured left foot she chipped a great ball over the keeper. Several others also had opportunities to get on the scoresheet earlier in the game, Curly with shots from the edge of the box, Kayleigh heading from a cross and Kerry at a corner. All in all another solid team performance with some excellent passing and finishing.
The girls travel away to Barnstaple this weekend for their third pre-season friendly.