CAMBRIDGESHIRE WOMEN'S DIVISION 1 LEAGUE - CARDEA LADIES v FULBOURN LADIES

After a hard-fought cup victory earlier in the season, this was Cardea`s first meeting with Fulbourn in the league itself and with the away fixture only another 7 days away a good result for either team would be a psychological advantage.

With the rain having finally stopped, leaving the pitch looking very heavy, it was Cardea who got the game underway.
In recent weeks we have seen the Cardea squad struggling to settle and get hold of the ball and being drawn into some scrappy play at times.

Today however, it appeared to be a Cardea squad intent on controlling this game who had showed up and from the starting whistle our passing appeared to be more accurate and our movement and control much better.

With only 2 minutes on the clock some good interchanges in midfield resulted in a neat ball by Ruddy being sent forward for Georgie to collect. The midfielder did well to get free from her defender and the resulting shot was just wide of the post. This was to be a taste of things to come.

Despite the poor pitch surface resulting in the ball bobbling about, the Cardea midfielders were getting it under control and finding players in lots of space to spread the play around.

Only 2 minutes later, it was another neat interchange between Ruddy and Georgie that would see the away keeper bravely dive to the feet of Georgie, who had again been sent through towards goal, to thwart another early Cardea chance.

The early pressure was all coming from a Cardea team who looked like they had all been fed 3 Weetabix before the game and were full of running, so it wasn’t a surprise when we saw the first goal of the game with only 8 minutes on the clock.

It was to be the first of 3 goals that would start from throw ins for Cardea. Ruddy, using quick initiative sent a throw to Pollard. The on form forward once again beat the defence for pace and slotted home, past the keeper to capitalise on a good opening spell for the home team, 1-0.

With Cardea appearing to be hungry for another 3 points in the title race, the pressure continued on the away goal as they looked for a second breakthrough.

A quick interchange between Helen and Olivia saw the keeper make a good save from the wingers shot.
A Cardea free kick only minutes later saw Sof send a good ball towards goal. A neat flick from Georgie saw Brookes sharp shot go just over the bar.

A good shout for a penalty on 12 minutes after Pollard was brought down was waved away by the ref, who to be fair had a good view of the action.

Fulbourn had a good chance moments later when a free kick just on the edge of the Cardea box saw the ball sent dipping just over Poppy`s crossbar, a warning that by no means could we lose our concentration like we had done in the cup.
The 15-minute mark saw the away keeper again called into action. A great piece of defending saw Sof win the ball and dribble it out of defence before sending a long ball for Olivia to chase. On this occasion the away keeper just managed to get to the ball first, but it wouldn’t be long before the quick winger would see her name on the score sheet.

On 21 minutes a good throw into play by Georgie to Pollard, forced a defender to rush her clearance, sending the ball across the box rather than up field. Neat control from Olivia, under pressure from a defender to bring the ball down, was followed by another clever chip over the advancing goalie into the net to make it 2-0, almost a carbon copy of her goal last week.

Cardea were now controlling most of the play with Jess having a great game in midfield, but Fulbourn again reminded us of the danger they could pose as they sent another long free kick just over the Cardea goal just moments after the restart and when they did get possession, they were also moving the ball around with some good passing at times.

The first half was to continue with another flurry of goals with both sides scoring 2 each before the half time whistle.
On 25 minutes Helen collected a poor Fulbourn clearance and found Ruddy with her pass. Another well timed through ball from the captain sent Pollard through for another 1 on 1 with the keeper, which saw the ball well placed into the goal to make it 3-0.

The 30 minute mark saw Cardea take their lead to 4 -0 with some more great football. Georgie collected a forward ball from Jess and drove into the away box. A neat low ball across goal saw the defender fail to clear the ball, allowing Ruddy to thump the ball into the net from the edge of the box with a great strike.

We have been our own worst enemy this season when we have sat back and allowed teams to attack us and in the last 5 minutes, whether we became complacent or not, we did the same again.

On 40 minutes a good passing move by Fulbourn to get behind the Cardea defence, saw them rewarded when the final cross was put into the Cardea net by the unmarked striker, 4-1.

Only 2 minutes later and as Cardea were still reeling from the first goal, the visitors put another great move together. Again, it was a good cross from the right wing that caused confusion in the home box as Poppy was unable to take the ball cleanly. The ball bounced around until finally it was poked home to make it 4-2 at half time and a chance to regroup and reflect was needed.

The second spell started as the first had ended with the away team putting some early pressure on the Cardea defence, but it wouldn’t take long for the home team to again settle first on the ball.

The first 15 minutes saw Cardea creating most of the chances with Fulbourn looking dangerous on the counterattack, as they looked to close the gap even more.

It would be on 60 minutes that we would see the next goal for Cardea and a great goal it would be. A great long throw from Titch was headed clear by the away defender but only fell to the feet of our prolific number 7 pollard.

The striker took the ball down well and hit a superb shot on the turn from outside of the box. This gave the keeper no chance and she was left to pick it up from the back of the net, 5-2.

Only 5 minutes later and with Cardea firmly in control we saw the lead increase further, again at the end of some great passing from the home side.

With Helen winning the ball in the middle of the park she was able to find Olivia out wide. The long ball forward was won by a Georgie header which released Ruddy into the away box. Good control to beat the defender allowed her to send a cross into the 6 yard box, that found the head of Pollard who made no mistake to make it 6-2.

Despite the score line, Fulbourn continued to battle and repeatedly took the game to Cardea with some great pressure. Another good Fulbourn free kick saw Poppy called upon to make a good save under pressure.
It was to be Cardea`s day though and they continued piling on the pressure to the away team.

Pollard was forced wide on another 1 on 1 after being put through and could only end the shot just wide.
Ruddy hit a good shot from inside the box only for the keeper to push it just wide, after good work from Titch to send Pollard through initially.

The final goal of the game was again created by some great play by Jess in the middle of the park. Georgie won a loose ball and Jess pounced using some great skill on the ball to beat the away player, before releasing a precision ball forward for Pollard to chase. The forward was pushed wide but managed to cut in behind the defender and put the low shot between the keeper and the post to make it 7-2.

The last action of the game would fall to Fulbourn, who credit to them hadn’t stopped trying to make a good game of it. Some good passing on the edge of the home box saw the ball fed across, only for the striker to shoot just wide on the final whistle.

This was a much better performance from the Cardea squad after recent weeks and one we need to build on with the two cup finals approaching and the title race heating up.

There were excellent performances in every position. Our defenders Maisie, Fiona, Laura and Sof coped well to break down a stubborn Fulbourn attack, that repeatedly hit us on the counterattack and Poppy as always was consistent in goal, taking the ball cleanly on many occasions and showed some great kicking skills.

Again, our wide players, Olivia, Brooke, Titch and Annie, proved that attacking wide play is one of our best weapons to open up defences and win games.

Our forwards in Pollard, Ruddy, Mof and Courtney, held the ball well, allowing us to push forward and we took our chances when they came.

But for me it was our central midfield of Helen, Georgie and Jess who really won the game, as they commanded the centre of the pitch, winning battle after battle and moving the ball around to players in spaces.

A deserving player of the match to Jess who was outstanding all game.

Thank you as always to Fulbourn who again managed to score 2 past us, not something many have done this season and who battled until the final whistle to make this another good game. We look forward to seeing them again next week for what I’m sure will be another tough encounter.

Thank you to the great supporters who turn up every week regardless of the weather, to get behind the team.
The journey continues….