Under 13 Girls Win Away at Bassett
Wootten Bassett 1 - 2 Melksham Town
The girl’s first game since December 12th and a pleasing performance against a side that we always find difficult to break down.
I considered playing a percentage game and getting the ball into the opposition box as quickly and as often as possible, Bassett play with one striker and what appear to be five defenders, they do so effectively and are ably assisted by their goalkeeper who had another good game. I decided not to revert to a game plan with that little imagination, but asked the girls to move the ball quickly, work hard and be patient.
Not too long into the game an uncharacteristic lack of concentration allowed the Bassett striker a run on goal, Imy making a fine save one on one to produce a corner. Again a lack of concentration saw the ball roll across the face on the empty goal for a Bassett player to tap the ball in! This was the first goal conceded since the opening game of the season … that’s three in total now!!
The first half was all Melksham, the goalkeeper keeping Bassett in front. Several goal mouth scrambles, a few clearances off the Bassett line, Lauren hitting the post …. just a normal game against Bassett.
At half time I asked the girls to keep doing what they were doing, they did and after a few positional changes were rewarded with a well worked goal finished by Esme. At that stage midway through the second half, the goal would be enough for a point, but the girls kept pressing and a few minutes after the first Esme scored again to seal the win. It was just a question of how many now, but to Bassett’s credit they kept defending as they had the whole game and the scored remained 2-1 to Melksham.
Some frustrating moments in the game where a little more composure, a better first touch or a player getting their head up sooner was required. However we can work on all of those things, the lapses in concentration happen, especially after not playing for so long, so all part of learning.
It’s really pleasing to see how these girls have developed, they have gone from a team that could make a good pass, good control and individual skill, to a first touch that takes the ball and them the direction they want to go, a pass that dictates the receiver’s movement, intelligent movement off the ball and a better understanding of the game. I have to say honestly some more so than others but that’s normal in any team. This development will rub off on each other and something we’ll keep working on in training and matches.
Mollie played her first game of this season for us today and as last season slotted straight into the side and her game.
Well done everyone, a very good attitude and team performance, especially going one down when you realised what a defeat or draw would mean to your title challenge. Keep working hard, four very hard games left in the League this season!
