South Reading Vixens

SRV Ladies Close Encounter of the Unity Kind

Our Ladies team made the leap to 11-a-side football this evening with a hastily arranged match against local team Unity Ladies. With their first ever season at this level fast approaching it was always going to be an interesting match and the first real chance for the coach to test fitness levels and individual player progress in recent months.

The match started a little nervously as both teams understandably took their time to settle, each playing competitive 11-a-side football for the very first time. The hosts looked physically very strong but were equally matched by the Vixen Ladies who began to enjoy the majority of possession as the first half began to relax into it's natural rhythm. Early chances came and went with the defences getting the upper hand, Jo remaining virtually untroubled in goal as the opening back four of Carly Sm, Charlotte, Kathy & Katie held strong throughout.

Good movement in the midfield as our passing game kicked-in with the quartet of Captain Toni, Stacey, Alethea & Carly St finding good openings in the Unity final third, feeding in our forwards Sarah and Jade. Reward came about 10 minutes into the game as Toni slotted home from close range following a good run down the left and a scramble in the Unity goalmouth which the hosts failed to clear.

Coach Jason then rang the first of many changes as Frankie, Tanya, Charmaine, Karen & Tina came on for the second quarter and quickly picked up the match pace to maintain the pressure on their hosts. More chances were created with neither team really taking control of the game, lacking that vital finish in the final third despite testing both keepers. But then a great Vixen surge into the penalty box saw a yellow shirt brought down and the referee blow the whistle for a penalty. Jade was the first to the ball to claim the duty and proceeded to calmly slot the ball into the bottom left corner giving the Unity keeper no chance.

Half-time Unity Ladies 0 - 2 SRV Ladies.

It was back to business after the interval, the Vixen formation reverting to the starting 11 with the exception of Kathy now donning the gloves in goal and Tina joining the back four. Instructions from the coach was for 'more of the same' but with the added emphasis on possession and closing down the opponents quickly. With Unity on a mission to claw this game back, the third quarter was a stalemate of good quality passing as end-to-end football suddenly became the order of the day. Sarah was on a good forward run when she was tackled hard and forced to leave the pitch to be replaced by Charmaine who proceeded to smash the ball high into the top of the net to further increase the lead, 3-0.

With squad rotation in full effect this evening, the final en-masse change of personnel came from the Vixen bench with the return of Jo in goal & Tanya, Frankie & Karen rejoining the out-field battle.

But rather than sit back, Unity redoubled their efforts & began to enjoy their best spell of the match as they pinned the Vixens into their own half for uncomfortably long periods in the final quarter of the match. They were rewarded with two goals in fairly quick succession as the sidelines boomed into life with supporters enthralled in this close encounter as the visitors battled to hold on to victory. Another close effort from the Vixens late on could have put the result beyond reach but they managed to keep Unity at bay just long enough to claim the spoils of their first 11-a-side victory.

A very well done to both teams who made the match so enjoyable despite the black rain clouds overhead and extra-long grass!