Cambridgeshire Womens Division 1 League - Cambridge Rangers v Cardea Ladies

After our amazing cup winning exploits only a few days earlier, this was always going to be a tough game, with many players having-tired legs from the amount of effort they gave to win the cup.
We weren’t helped by the kick off for this fixture being brought forward, which meant a early start and a long drive for the Cardea squad, as we travelled to Cambridge to get back into the league action. On a plus point, the sun had decided to finally show itself and bring some warmth to the day, as Cardea got the game underway.
From the whistle, the pace of the game, on what seemed to be a fast surface, was of a high tempo with Cardea settling well and players finding each other with some neat passing. It was obvious to see that the home side were much hungrier for the game than in our first encounter, when we had beaten them well.
The first 10 minutes of the game saw both teams looking to push forward and take the attack to each other and we were treated to some early end to end action with chances for both teams coming thick and fast.
The first clear shot on goal came on 6 minutes, when a good shot on target from the Cambridge striker required Poppy to come and claim the ball cleanly off her line.
The quick counterattack from Cardea saw a good ball sent up field from Georgie to find Pollard. The forward, even with clearly tired legs, beat her defender but would shoot just wide only 1 minute later.
A poor goal kick that followed on 9 minutes fell nicely for Jess in midfield, who after beating one defender set the ball up nicely for Ruddy to fire a long-range effort that was saved by the retreating keeper.
The ball was again sent straight back into the Cardea half, where Cambridge mounted a quick counterattack, ended only by a low save from Poppy from another good shot.
The supporters were like a Wimbledon crowd, watching the ball quickly move from end to end. Poppy sent a long kick that was helped on by Helen to Georgie, but on this occasion the midfielder couldn’t find the perfect through ball to pierce the wall of pink shirts in the Cambridge defence.
It was frantic stuff and the early pace could already be seen to be taking its toll on a tired Cardea side, who at times looked like they were wearing lead boots as they struggled to match the speed of the game.
The action didn’t let up as both teams looked to find the early break through and on 13 minutes the next chance fell to Cardea. A good throw from Georgie found Pollard who managed to turn her defender just inside the box but could only send the shot just wide of the far post.
On 16 minutes we saw a great Cardea move involving some neat close range passing from several players. Olivia collected the ball wide on the wing before cutting inside and finding Georgie in space, who quickly switched it across the pitch to a waiting Jess. Some great foot work saw Jess beat her marker and play a neat 1-2 with Helen into the box, only to see her shot also sail just wide of the target.
The frustration on the Cardea team was already beginning to show, we had had chances but were feeling the effects of our mid-week success and with every miss more energy was lost from players legs for no gain.
On 19 minutes the Cardea side would get the bit of luck they had been hoping for to take the lead in the match.
I have to admit that as the author of this report I actually missed the goal as I was making notes. I am told on good authority that a quickly taken throw from Ruddy found Pollard again in space. The ball was sent into the home box where it was deflected into the net off a Cambridge player to the relief of the travelling supporters.
An own goal, or another prolific strike from Pollard, I will have to let you decide, but whatever it was, we were glad of it and to be 0-1 up.
Cambridge had been awoken and again hit back with a counter attack after some great passing around the pitch, that had Cardea ball chasing until a cross was well cleared by Sof at the heart of the Cardea back line.
As much as Cambridge appeared to be having a better spell and controlling a lot of the possession, a very tired looking Cardea were still making chances of their own.
On 21 minutes a good ball forward from Helen found Olivia, who ran at the defence but couldn’t fight off the attention of two defenders.
The 23-minute mark saw a Sof free kick from the edge of the home box easily saved. The two following Cardea corners were both eventually cleared and our hunt for a further, much needed goal was further frustrated.
Another Cardea free kick, saved on 27 minutes would be our last real effort before Cambridge would up their game and command the rest of the first half.
Poppy was forced to save low from a Cambridge shot on 32 minutes following a long ball over the Cardea defence.
On 36 minutes, after some good pressure, it would be Cambridge who would see the reward as a neat finish, following a good passing move, left Poppy with no chance and the score was levelled at 1-1.
The final minutes of the half were all about Cardea trying to prevent going into half time behind, as Cambridge played some great attacking football. The final action seeing a good long-range effort well saved by Poppy as the whistle blew.
It was a tired looking Cardea side who left the field at the break for some much-needed respite and some oranges to hopefully give them a lift they badly needed.
HT 1-1
Now I`m not sure where Ruddy got the oranges from, but they appeared to have worked as Cardea started the second half with a little spring back in their step and matched Cambridge for pace again in what was a scrappy first 10 minutes.
The first drama of the second spell came as our own `Roy Keane` in Helen went in for a brave 1 on 1 with the home keeper. The clash could be heard some distance away and resulted in a lengthy delay, as both players required treatment. I am not sure the Cambridge keeper ever fully recovered but she did remain on the pitch and Cardea would soon benefit from her looking dazed.
A Cardea corner on 60 minutes saw a great cross from Courtney, that found the head of Captain Ruddy as she rose to send a firm header into the Cambridge net. I describe it as a firm header, however many said it was a ‘LOOPING’ header, again I will let you decide but regardless it was a much needed second goal and we could suddenly hear the Cardea voices again.
From the kick it was Cambridge again who would enter a good spell and they began sending long balls forward to test the resilience of Sof, Laura and Maisie in the Cardea defence, who appeared to be coping well.
The Cardea lead however would only be short lived. In fact it would last for just 7 minutes before a great finish from a sweeping Cambridge move would see Poppy beaten, as the ball was sent low under her diving attempts to bring the game level again.
It was Cambridge who were playing the better football and a very tired looking Cardea who looked to be holding on and struggling to string any quality passing moves together, a sight we are certainly not used to seeing.
Two quick Cambridge corners would see the ball scrambled clear to safety and further well-timed interceptions from Laura and Maisie were also required to break down Cambridge attacks.
My notes say BATTLING HARD in capitals and this is exactly what Cardea were doing. We were not giving up and for the second time in several days we were digging deep to take the game to the home side as much as we could. We have proven this season we are not a team to give up and we have the inner strength to keep going against the odds.
The 77th minute would bring the turning point of the game for Cardea and would see us regain the lead from a counterattack of our own as we sent a long ball forward.
A quick Cardea throw found the head of Georgie who nodded it into the path of Brooke. One neat flick on from the winger to Ruddy, then saw a good through ball to send Pollard on to finish past the struggling home keeper, to make it 2-3 and hope was restored.
The lift in the Cardea team was clear to see. The tired legs appeared to be forgotten and the battle for the title was clearly firmly back on the players minds, as we took the game back to Cambridge, who looked shell shocked from the goal.
On 82 minutes Pollard forced a good save from the home keeper.
The 85 minute mark saw another good attack that forced Cambridge to scramble the ball clear, only for the keeper to have to save from the resulting shot from Georgie.
Cambridge tried to fight back shooting just wide on 87 minutes and as the game entered 5 minutes of injury time the Cardea nerves were tested, as Poppy was forced to save on the line.
The 94th minute would see the game put beyond the reach of a gutsy Cambridge side, when Pollard finished another good Cardea move with a strike that gave the home keeper no chance – making the final score on the whistle 2-4.
A knackered looking Cardea had shown again they can dig deep and after the game they were not surprised to hear it wasn’t their best performance and they had had to fight for the 3 points.
No team has ever won an easy title and to win any league you have to show you have the guts and resilience to be crowned champions, which this Cardea squad has in abundance.
A win is a win, it doesn’t have to be pretty and taking into consideration our mid-week cup win, this was another great performance showing true grit.
3 vital points, the race for the title is going all the way and we are now in a real two horse race with Histon.
Player of the match went to Helen for another battling display.
Time now for the squad to get some well-earned rest.
Our thanks to Cambridge Rangers who played some excellent football, we wish them all the best for the rest of the season.