Cambridgeshire Women`s Division 1 League - Cardea Ladies v Leverington Ladies

** Firstly, an apology from the author to Titch as I missed a good assist from her on last week’s report that deserved recognition, my memory sometimes lets me down, getting old. **

The snow may have disappeared, but the chilly winds hadn’t for this return fixture against a tough and physical Leverington side and after what had felt like weeks on the road, it was nice once again to be on our home turf.
With the Leverington drone in place buzzing overhead as it did in the first game to capture the action, it was Cardea who got the game underway.

With only 1 minute on the clock, it would be the visitors in Orange who would seize the first opportunity of the game, when they pressured the Cardea defence into giving away the first corner of the match.

The kick was sent high into the Cardea box, where it appeared to be grabbed by the strong wind, before being dumped over the head of stand-in keeper Moff and into the far top corner of the goal for a dream start for the visitors, 0-1.

The wind would go on to play a huge part in the game, forcing the ball out of touch on numerous occasions and making it a very stop /start affair throughout.

The first Cardea chance came on 5 minutes, when we saw a well delivered corner headed over the Leverington bar.
The first 20 minutes can only be described as scrappy, as both sides struggled with both the strength of the wind and the heavy pitch and neither seemed to be able to get the bobbling ball under control. The fact that the ball went out of the playing area so often, resulted in this first period of the game being mostly throw ins.

The 22-minute mark would see the next real chance of the game fall to Cardea, who were now beginning to settle into their free-flowing game as they looked to bring the game level.

Pollard did well to win the ball after she had been knocked to the floor and managed to flick it across the edge of the away box to Georgie. Another neat pass through the defence saw Captain ruddy receive the ball and send a shot towards the bottom corner, which forced a good save from the keeper to push it just around the post.

It was at this point that the author of this report commented about how Cardea were now beginning to control the game and made a written final score prediction, witnessed and doubted by others. !!!! REMEMBER THIS BIT FOR LATER !!!!!

Leverington defended the corner by packing the box with players. This strategy worked and the ball was eventually cleared - a promising opportunity for the home team.

On 31 minutes, the ref was called upon to show the first yellow card of this physical encounter, when Pollard was deliberately brought down as she was about to go through clear on goal. Unfortunately, despite a good free kick, the away keeper was able to save cleanly.

Cardea were by now getting far more possession and attacking the Leverington defence repeatedly but just couldn’t find that killer move to create a scoring opportunity .

We were winning the battles down both wings, with Olivia especially causing the Leverington right back a real headache as she beat her time and again for pace.

The last real action of the windy half saw Cardea win a free kick on 46 minutes. The sea of orange shirts again managed to clear the cross but only as far as our own Jess, who neatly flicked the ball back into the box, where in the resulting confusion the away keeper eventually managed to grip the loose ball.

The half time score of 0-1 didn’t reflect the amount of possession that Cardea had had. What it did show though, was that this tough Leverington side had battled well and were determined to fight to protect their lead from the first minute.

With the drone and players both rested after a battering from the wind, the away team got the second half underway and it would be Cardea who would again have to chase the equalizer.

With only two minutes on the clock we saw a moment of controversy as Cardea had, what I thought, was a good shout for a penalty denied by the ref, whose vision of the ‘hand to ball’, must have been obscured. Without the funding for VAR in grassroots, disgruntled Cardea were forced to settle for the resulting corner instead.

With more orange in the box, than in a jar of marmalade, the away team again crowded the Cardea forwards, and the resulting cross was cleared for a throw.

It would be this throw, that would result in the second goal of the game and the game draw level.
A quick throw by Fiona saw Helen win the ball with a solid tackle, which left the away player stunned on the floor (watch the video). The midfielder sent a superb cross high into the away box, to where both Pollard and Brooke were waiting like hungry predators for their prey.

The ball fell awkwardly in front of the Leverington keeper who couldn’t collect and as it bounced off her knees the prolific Pollard was first to react and poked the loose ball into the empty net, much to the relief of the Cardea supporters, 1-1.

Cardea were now beginning to control the game, with most of the action firmly in the Leverington half.
On 55 minutes, we would be treated to the second Cardea goal from a throw in and the point where I believe the match truly turned in Cardea`s favour.

Some good work by Helen, who had suddenly found herself on the right wing, saw the ball neatly fed through to Ruddy. The captain drove into the box and sent a shot towards goal, forcing a good save from the keeper who pushed it just out of reach from where Olivia and Pollard were lurking to strike. A relieved defence sent it into touch.

Quick thinking from Fiona saw her grab the ball and send a short throw to Olivia. The winger took a neat touch before she sent a clever chip with her left foot over the stranded keeper and into the net to start some serious celebrations on and off of the pitch.
The game was now being controlled by Cardea and poor Moff in the home goal could only look on and try to keep warm in the chilly wind.

On 61 minutes, a good delivery from Courtney from a Cardea corner saw Jess just shoot over the bar.
The 64th minute brought another great chance for the Cardea team after good work from Courtney and Titch saw a cross again just headed over the bar by Olivia.

Cardea would get their reward for the continued pressure in the 78th minute. The ball was sent forward by Courtney to Pollard, who was forced wide by the defence. The striker held the ball well, before twisting and turning two defenders to make space for a cross that was volleyed into the net by Ruddy to end a good move, 3-1.

Despite Leverington putting up a good fight with some strong play, Cardea continued their search for more goals to put the fixture beyond the visitors.
A corner from Courtney was hit just over the bar by Olivia, before Courtney herself struck a good shot just wide moments later. Pollard would have two long range lobs saved by the keeper who would also save again from a Ruddy shot.

Following another yellow card awarded to Leverington, the last goal of the game would come in the closing seconds from the penalty spot.

Sof sent a strong header up field which was neatly flicked on by Ruddy to send Pollard towards goal, only to be flattened by the Leverington keepers clumsy challenge.

The Cardea number 7 made no mistake from the spot, beating the keeper to slot the penalty away in the bottom left corner to make it 4-1 just before the final whistle.

I WOULD AT THIS POINT LIKE TO REMIND YOU OF THE AUTHORS SCORE PREDICTION WHICH WAS THAT CARDEA WOULD WIN 4-1.....

This was a good all-round performance again by every Cardea player where we again showed resilience after going behind to an early goal. There were too many excellent individual performances to mention each one individually, but player of the match went to Olivia.

Our thanks to Leverington for another great game and we wish them well for the rest of the season.
Our thanks also to Carl Rumble Photography for covering the game and for some great action shots.
One final question – How on earth did the drone not get blown away in that wind?????
The title challenge continues….