Match Report - Cambridge WFC Reserves v Fulbourn Bluebirds

  Not many games left in the 2014/15 season now but still time for one more trip into Cambridgeshire to catch another game in the Women's Premiership between Cambridge WFC Reserves and Fulbourn Bluebirds.

   A clash between 5th and 6th in the league saw both sides in midweek action last week against different opposition. This is Fulbourn Bluebirds final game of the season this evening the 2nd of a double header with Cambridge WFC Reserves to end their campaign. The previous meeting between the 2 sides this past Sunday with Cambridge WFC Reserves winning 3-0 and moving clear of Fulbourn Bluebirds.

  Cambridge WFC Reserves close the gap to 4th placed Huntingdon Town Ladies to 5 points earn another 3 points tonight and they move to within 2 points and they travel to Huntingdon Town Ladies on the final Sunday of the season.

  This is the 1st time I've travelled to watch Cambridge WFC Reserves at their home ground this season was a short hop down the A14 to Greater Cambourne, the pitch on Back Lane on a recreation ground offering a range of sporting facilities. Has been pleasant and warm day and this weather continues into the evening.

  Cambridge WFC Reserves starting XI - Tafadzwa Mhunduru, Becca Fay, Emma Roberts (C), Robyn Phillips, Nicola Geoghan, Ellie Cullum, Kayleigh Whitehead, Sarah Mosley, Clara Greed, Gemma Clark & Becky Russell.
  subs - Ellen Green, Liz Pamplin & Maria Davies.

 Fulbourn Bluebirds starting XI - Emma D'Costa, Lucy Clarkson, Eleanor Tod, Sharron Pinner, Rachel Garrett, Sarah-Louise Bodger, Abigail Molloy, Kirsty Geal, Ebony-Jane Rule, Sam Isaacson (C), Krissie Taylor.
  subs - Michela Garner, Kathryn Morley, Olivia Clark & Rosie Boyns.

                                        (roll on roll off substitutes)

   Cambridge in their kit of sky blue shirts and socks with navy shorts get the 1st half underway against Fulbourn lined up in claret and sky blue shirts claret shorts and socks. Is a tentative opening with both sides probing with the ball into the others half. Cambridge eventually try a couple of longer passes looking to send their attackers beyond the Fulbourn defence but on both occasions goalkeeper Emma D'Costa is in place to comfortably claim the ball.

   Bringing the ball up the left side into the Fulbourn half Cambridge's Kayleigh Whitehead plays a great cross field pass into Becky Russell on the edge of the area, has too many defenders around her to turn and get her shot away before rolling the ball back to Sarah Mosley her shot is blocked at point blank range, shouts for hand ball but little time to get them out of the way the referee waves play on.

   D'Costa is across her goal to the left out to close down and grab the ball before Cambridge's Clara Greed can steal in on it from the wing as the diagonal ball is put into her path.

   A good dribbling run from Fulbourn's Kirsty Geal on the right can travel at pace with the ball at her feet, has Ebony-Jade Rule in attack coming across to support her, giving her the ball Rule sends in a low cross looking for Krissie Taylor making up the ground on the left Cambridge goalkeeper Tafadzwa Mhunduru is down to gather the ball however has a defender in front of her who hooks it away from danger.

Fulbourn Bluebirds Kirsty Geal

  Cambridge are squeezing the ball high up the pitch early on and as a result are seeing more of the ball inside the Fulbourn half have runners left and right in Greed and Becky Russell. A long pass from inside the Cambridge half sends Greed through into space and the area on the left takes on the shot hitting it low and hard towards the near post, D'Costa has it covered dropping low to make the save the ball put behind for a corner.

   GOAL! Cambridge's early possession eventually tells as they open the scoring the move starting from a free kick won on the right the ball is played into the edge of the area not clearing the 1st defender the ball is put back out into the middle coming to Whitehead free in space 30 yards out as everyone steps looks to step up she fires a shot back in, D'Costa starts to come as the ball bounces before her misjudges it and is unfortunate as the pace on the shot takes it up and over her dropping into the net beyond 1-0.

   Halfway through the half Fulbourn get on the attack straight from the restart a shot is swung in towards Cambridge's goal from a long way out sees Mhunduru flinging herself across her goal and making the save. From a throw deep in the left Fulbourn's Rule and Sharon Pinner combine exchanging headers to the right of the area before Pinner shoots her effort off target.

   More than once in the game Fulbourn's Abigail Molloy has come to the rescue making the vital interception getting to a Cambridge cross field pass intended to send greed away into space on the left. Greed is 1st to the ball this time though is racing clear towards the area looking to come inside fires a shot in looking to smash it over D'Costa hits the bar and goes over.

Fulbourn Bluebirds Abigail Molloy

   Fulbourn attacks are limited Rule is doing what she can to hold the ball up with Geal and Taylor trying to provide support right and left has Sarah-Louise Bodger central. Getting onto the ball on the right Rule plays the pass into Bodger left of the D meeting it with her head she turns it goalwards, Mhunduru is across to make the save and sets up a counter attack which sends Mosley in beyond the Fulbourn defence she strikes the ball early gets plenty of pace on the ball but puts it straight at D'Costa who holds on to it making the save.

   Triple change for Cambridge with Greed, Whitehead and captain Emma Roberts leaving the pitch with Liz Pamplin, Maria Davies and Ellen Green coming on. Cambridge hit the cross bar again through Gemma Clark who has moved out to the left the ball finds her as she peels off her marker coming into the box she shoots from a tight angle gets the ball over D'Costa but again the ball clips the bar drops back into play before Fulbourn get it away.

   GOAL! Into the final minutes of the 1st half and Cambridge double their lead with Clark scoring the goal. Given the ball on the left flank she takes on her marker skipping past her with the ball pushes on into the area looks to hit her shot across the keeper and places it into the net at the far post 2-0.

    Cambridge have time for another attack as we go into 1st half injury time the ball played from left to right this time sends Russell clear behind the Fulbourn back line D'Costa is racing out to the edge of her area to close her down, Russell manages to get her shot past the keeper but pulls her attempt wide of the goal.

                  Half-time Cambridge WFC Reserves 2-0 Fulbourn Bluebirds

  A comfortable 1st half from Cambridge have scored 2 goals and fashioned several chances their ability to break beyond the Fulbourn defence keeping the visitors pinned back not prepared to commit the players forwards in attack with the wide players struggling to get up to support Rule in attack.

   Fulbourn kick off the 2nd 45 the forward pass cut out by Cambridge and they immediately send the ball out to Russell on the right she looks to take it down the pitch, has Lucy Clarkson for company the Fulbourn defender pushing her wide delaying the cross, Russell eventually squeezes the ball through by then though Eleanor Tod has come across to the near post to clear the ball.

    Clarkson intercepts this time with Pamplin in the centre looking to sends Russell away down the right again. Cambridge are still attacking not sitting back on their 2 goal lead, have the ball in front of the Fulbourn area a shot is hit low deflected behind for a corner on the right.

    GOAL! It's Russell to play the ball into the area from the corner is a good delivery plenty of pace on the ball finds it's way through to the back post and to Pamplin who rises unmarked to head the ball down and into the back of the net 3-0.

    Fulbourn win their 1st corner of the match it's Geal to put the ball in from the right into a crowded near post Cambridge scramble it away the ball popping back out to the right is flung back in clears everyone before Mhunduru sees it into her gloves.

   A fantastic save from D'Costa as Cambridge's Clark races clear of the defence is in on goal hits the shot on the run aiming for the bottom left corner, the Fulbourn keeper is down sharply to deflect the ball away for a corner. The set piece is cleared from the area comes all the way back to Cambridge's Robyn Phillips, she has a strike for goal places it over.
Cambridge make full use of their substitutes with another triple switch Nicola Geoghan, Phillips and Mosley having a rest, Roberts, Whitehead and Greed back on.

   Rule has been ploughing a lone furrow up front for Fulbourn at times this evening, peeling out into the left channel the pass from the centre finds her head down she pushes on into the box looking to shot, has Mhunduru racing out to close the angle down dropping before her as Rule shoots smothers the shot. Fulbourn bring on Kathryn Morley for Bodger.

   GOAL! Cambridge add a 4th goal to their tally coming after Fulbourn have actually started to enjoy a bit more possession on the ball inside the Cambridge half their attack breaking down though the ball is sent through the middle with Russell springing the offside trap heading for the D has a defender on her shoulder and D'Costa racing out to close her down their is a collision that leaves D'Costa grounded the ball popping loose to the left, Russell is onto it and plays the ball into the empty net beyond 4-0.

   Her last action of the games as Russell comes off with Cullum and Fay, back on are Geoghan, Mosley and Phillips. For Fulbourn Rule is given a breather with Rosie Boyns coming on. D'Costa is called into action to make another save this time of Mosley breaking down the left for Cambridge sends the ball in looking to send it across the goal on the stretch D'Costa turns it behind for the corner.

   Cambridge's Geoghan makes a determined run with the ball from inside her own half slipping the pass through to Green in attack she gets a shot away from the edge of the box is a tame effort however rolls through to D'Costa. Fulbourn are finally finding space on the flanks with Molloy pushed up now getting in behind the back line, Mhunduru is out quickly though to get to the ball before she can capitalise.

Cambridge WFC Reserves Nicola Geoghan

   A good ball from Phillips inside her own half sets up a chance for Cullum up top receiving the ball in front of the Fulbourn area she makes a run across the D left to right before hitting a shot back in on the turn, places the ball over the bar.
   
    The final whistle blows and Cambridge WFC Reserves wrap up a comfortable 4-0 victory over Fulbourn to move onto 23 points 2 behind Huntingdon Two Ladies the last game of the season for both sides this coming Sunday 17th May 2pm KO Jubilee Park. A good performance which stretched Fulbourn and kept them from bringing their own attacking players into the game limited their chances in attack.

   Thanks to both clubs for helping me out with the team details look forwards to seeing both again next season.