Cambridgeshire Ladies Division 1 League - Histon Ladies v Cardea Ladies

This game against the current league leaders, was built up over the previous weeks, by both teams, to be one that could play a big part in the race for the title this season.
With both teams in good form leading up to the match, it was certainly a clash where both sides would go all out to take the points and gain a psychological advantage over their title challengers, who could also still face each other in the League cup final if results go their way next week.
On a sunny afternoon at the Glassworld stadium, it was the home team who would kick off this tense tie and who were first to attack sending a long ball up field to test the Cardea defence.
It was the Cardea team though who would get off to the dream start. Olivia picked up the loose ball and ran towards the halfway line before sending the pass in field to Helen in the middle of the park. Another neat pass sent the ball forward to where the Histon defender couldn’t collect it cleanly, allowing our own top scorer Pollard to steal the ball on the edge of the box.
The in-form striker ran the ball into the Histon area for a 1 on 1 with the home keeper and made no mistake in hitting the back of the net after only a couple of minutes, 0 – 1.
The next 20 minutes would see both teams pushing hard to get the second goal of the game. The first corner on 7 minutes would go to the home team after our quick left back Maisie tracked the Histon forward for pace and forced the ball out. The good cross that followed caused some chaos as Cardea struggled to clear their lines and keeper Poppy was forced to save a good shot.
Histon continued applying the pressure, winning a second corner only 2 minutes later. This time a good strong header from Helen cleared the ball but only as far as the Histon midfield and again Poppy was forced to save the long shot from outside of the box, allowing the Cardea supporters to take a much-needed breath.
Despite the large pitch allowing the Cardea team to spread the ball around, it was still very much the Histon team who were winning most of the battles across the pitch and who were definitely settling first into their stride, with Cardea struggling to get control of the bobbling ball on the floor.
On 14 minutes though Cardea would see their next chance, Georgie won the ball in midfield and sent it forward to Pollard, a neat lay off sent it to Olivia who was unlucky to shoot just over the bar.
The goal kick again sent Histon forward and resulted in Poppy facing her own 1 on 1 with the Histon striker. Luckily on this occasion, our ever-impressive young keeper managed to save the resulting shot and keep our advantage.
The game was certainly end to end after another good attack from Histon would see Poppy make a brave save at the feet of the attacker before sending the ball forward to Pollard. The ball was then crossed to Titch who put the ball just wide of the post with a good shot.
This would be the start of a good, but rare, 10-minute spell of pressure by Cardea that would see a free kick sent into the box, where the ever dangerous Pollard would again, force the Histon keeper to save onto the cross bar and out for a corner on 28 minutes.
Another Cardea free kick on 31 minutes resulted in Brooke getting her first touch after coming on, beating a defender and sending a low cross unfortunately through an empty box.
Histon continued to hit us with quick counter attacks, but luckily our defence of Maisie, Ram and Fiona, assisted by Poppy, continued to hold out, repelling the ferocious assault on the Cardea goal as Histon pressed for the equaliser.
We are used to seeing the Cardea team playing free flowing football and controlling the game. However, Histon were showing why they are current league leaders and their continuous pressure was enough to disrupt the usual Cardea play. At times we appeared to be struggling to make our passes count, giving the ball away too easily which put us under more pressure than we are used to.
With a Histon player going down injured on 37 minutes, Cardea took the opportunity for a well-earned drink break and much needed team talk on the side lines.
Two minutes later would see Cardea almost score a much needed second goal against the flow of play. A free kick just outside the Histon box was sent towards goal by Sof. This time it was the Histon defence who struggled to clear and the goalie made a goal line grab to snatch the loose ball.
The last five minutes before the break would again see end to end chances which could have led to both teams increasing the goal count. Good work in the Cardea midfield saw a neat interchange between Pollard, Ruddy and Helen that would send Georgie through into the box only to be brought down by a heavy challenge. The cries for a penalty were ignored by the ref despite the sad sight of our own Georgie being helped off, limping from the field.
Good work from substitute Mof would see the home keeper save another Pollard shot, before the quick Histon counter would see Ram make a superb interception to force a last minute Histon corner. This would see Poppy make another good save on the whistle and a much needed break for both players and supporters.
The second half started with a change in the Cardea formation as we moved to a 4-3-3 style attack in hope that we could bring a second goal and some space to breathe.
However, it would be the home team who would come out livelier after the break, immediately winning the ball from a weak Cardea pass and pushing it over the top of the Cardea defence. This time Poppy was beaten, but luckily for Cardea the standard FA width of a UK goal is 24ft and not a few inches wider and we were saved by the post.
The early scare forced Cardea to try and settle on the ball, but it was to be a day where our first touches would let us down. We continued to give the ball away too easily and allowed Histon to keep applying pressure, a position in which we have become unaccustomed to over recent weeks against lesser opposition.
After only 9 minutes of the half, Histon would again turn up the pressure to the next notch, looking to bring the score level.
A long throw from the home side caught Cardea sleeping and the home striker was able to turn and release a shot, which was again blocked and scrambled away by what looked like a panicked Cardea side for another corner.
Another good ball from the flag into the 6-yard box caused further confusion and the loose ball bounced awkwardly and could have fell to either side. It finally fell at the feet of Histon and Poppy was called on again to save the scrambled shot.
The Histon team were showing why they are title contenders and league leaders, winning ball after ball from a Cardea side, who looked to be struggling to get into the game. After a rare Cardea attack broke down, another quick Histon counter saw a good cross from the right-hand side and Cardea scrambled to clear.
Histon were not allowing the Cardea team to play and every time we received the ball we found ourselves outnumbered by Red shirts, forcing us to release the ball quickly, rather than play our normal game of hold and move.
On 13 minutes it was Histon who would get the chance to increase the score line. A well taken free kick into a packed Cardea box saw the tall striker rise to head the ball just wide to the relief of those sitting in the stands.
Just two minutes later would see what we all feared, a Histon goal to bring the tie level again. This time the home midfield would steal the ball and send it forward. Despite her best efforts, Poppy was beaten by a precise finish and to be fair it was a goal well deserved by Histon, who were controlling the game and had the upper hand.
With 30 minutes left on the clock, Cardea moved back to our original formation which initially seemed to settle us and we appeared to get more control of the ball. But it was to be Histon who would continue to press harder and seemed hungrier for the win.
The tall Histon striker would again manage to spin onto a low cross, forcing Poppy to save, only for the rebound to be shot just over the Cardea goal.
Any pressure by Cardea seemed to be met with a quick counter attack by Histon and Poppy was called upon after only a few more minutes to save another Histon attack.
With only 12 minutes left on the clock, Cardea would have a second penalty call discarded by the ref, when Mof had her legs taken from behind, only for it to be judged just outside of the box.
With the free kick initially cleared, Pollard saw her return shot well saved by the Histon goalie who hadn’t seen much action in this half.
The last few minutes were almost enough to see the author of this report have a heart attack as Cardea just about held on under the final push by Histon.
On 37 minutes another Histon corner was headed just wide and only 3 minutes later a Histon free kick was scrambled clear from the Cardea goal.
The game ended with what has to be the worst few seconds for any Cardea supporter in the stands, with 2 final Histon corners being played, before the ref finally blew the whistle on what has to be the hardest game we have played this season.
To win any title, you first must earn it and prove you deserve to be the top team at the end of the season. Today was not the best performance for Cardea. If I’m honest, we were not the better team and we need to learn from our mistakes for the games ahead and especially for the return fixture with Histon at the end of the season that could decide the title.
What we did do though, was never give up. We held on at times and rode our luck, but that’s football and we fought all the way to that final whistle for what could prove to be a ‘VITAL POINT’ in this championship race, with Histon having previously dropped points at Leverington.
Another great display by player of the match Poppy, who should be recognised for her outstanding contribution in games like this. It’s not all about scoring goals, but also about preventing them and she has matured into a great keeper who consistently performs to a high standard.
Onwards and upwards as we now focus on another huge game next Sunday when we meet Fulbourn in the semi-final of the league cup.
We are still unbeaten in the league…