First friendly of 26/27 season and fortunate to be playing away at Rugby Town Ladies and playing on the main grass pitch with stadium.
Match statred off evenly with Georgie and Sophie G up for the challenge. What a pity we only had 11 players but were kindly helped out by Leah and Hannah so we at least had 2 subs , needed in the heat and humidity. Rugby then exerted pressure and won a series of corners. It took 12 minutes for Rugby to take the lead. A lively break down the left saw a shot cleared off the line by Callie but unfortunately the ball broke across goal and Harriet dived on the ball only to see it squirm away to a Rugby forward who hit into the empty net, 1-0 Rugby. From the restart Moulton attacked with purpose and as the ball brok to Shannon, some 25 yards out, she shot narrowly wide. There followed a period of even play but on 37 minutes a Rugby player, some 35 yards out, tried a popshot that cannoned off the Moulton post and away. On 40 minutes a quick Moulton break found Leah up top, she got to the ball but her first touch let her down on the firm bouncy surface and the danger was cleared. Up the other end and Rugby broke through and their player shot over the crossbar. On 44 minutes a carbon copy move saw Leah again on the charge and again the surface and her touch saw the chance cleared. Jess, Steph and Sophie tried to get Moulton moving forward but energy levels semed to be waning.
On 50 minutes Rugby doubled their lead. Moulton were exposed at the back and a few passes along their front line saw the right winger free and she made no mistake for 2-0 Rugby. Rugby grew in confidence and on 53 minutes a decent shot was well saved by Harriet and together with 2 defenders they cleared the follow up shot. On 55 minutes Moulton shot themselves in the foot. They tried to play the ball out of defence but lost the ball and Rugby 13 got the ball onto her right foot and curled a lovely shot into the top corner, 3-0 Rugby. Rugby were looking dominant and on 72 minutes their left winger advanced and had a shot well save by Harriet, but the ball bounced back to the winger who took her time and sent a chip into the far top corner for 4-0 Rugby. Moulton tried hard to get attacks moving but Stephanie received scant service from a defence and midfield that was stretched by the young Rugby forwards.
The game slowly fizzled out with both sets of players suffereing from the humid conditions. A good first game in anger and showed how far we still have to go to get a settled side that will challenge for the league title. Thank you again to Leah and Hannah for helping out and to all the players for giving their all in these conditions on a bouncy pitch, not a criticism as the pitch was green and a decent surface.