South Reading Vixens

With the league season just a week away the Vixens travelled to Bracknell for a warm up match with last season’s SCML cup finalists. The girls had worked hard on the passing element of their game over the summer holidays, and this was evident in their early play. The starting midfield trio of Jaye, Jessica and Charmaine moved the ball around with great confidence and the early part of the match was all Vixens. Kelsey was using her strength to good effect up front, and it was not long before she created the opening goal. She beat her markers and played a great ball into the middle, where Jessica had timed her run perfectly to hit the team’s first goal of the season.

Whitegrove battled back valiantly, but found Jade and Karis in top form and giving nothing away. Ellie, making a welcome return between the sticks, marshalled the troops in front of her with great assurance and looked confident throughout the half.

As the temperature rose, the Vixens took advantage of their larger squad to rotate the players and give the girls a breather. Ashleigh, Felisha and Malicia brought fresh legs to the game and with the depleted Diamonds not having the luxury of any substitutes the Vixens continued to control the match. Jaye and Charmaine went close, but with the Whitegrove keeper in great form there were to be no more goals before half time. There was a setback for the Vixens though as Ashleigh, brave as ever, took the full force of the ball in her face and had to come off the pitch.

The Vixens switched things around for the second half, with Malicia taking over in goal to allow Ellie a run out on pitch. It wasn’t long before Ellie made her presence felt, setting up Kelsey to double the lead within a minute of the restart. The Diamonds tried to find a way back into the game, but the Vixens defence continued to look solid, with Jade looking particularly determined and letting nothing past. With the clock starting to run down Jaye twisted her way through the defence only to see her shot blocked, but Ellie was on hand to poke the ball over the line to record the Vixens third goal of the day.

Whitegrove never gave up, and with full time approaching Felisha had to sprint almost the length of the pitch to break up a counter attack. Jessica, the Vixens third keeper of the day, was also called on to make a great save to preserve the clean sheet, and the final score remained at 3-0.

Squad: Ellie, Ashleigh, Jade, Karis, Jaye, Jessica, Charmaine, Felisha, Kelsey, Malicia

The Vixens player of the match was Jade, who was outstanding in defence.