Cambridgeshire Ladies Division 1 League - Cardea Ladies v Eaton Socon Ladies

With minds possibly thinking of the important cup final only a few days away, it was time for the Cardea ladies to concentrate on the intense race for the league title.
In what was our last home game of the season and another must win game, we were visited by third place Eaton Socon, who had given us a tough workout when we met them in the cup earlier in the season.
With both Jess and Helen both out with injuries that will likely see them both miss the League cup final; it was a boost for the squad to have them both on the side lines for this important clash.
I know I speak for everyone when I wish them both a speedy recovery.
They would be pleased that they came, as in my opinion, this was to be one of the best Cardea performances of the season and what was to be a `Masterclass` in passing the ball around and holding possession by the squad.
It was Cardea who got the game underway and who immediately looked in total control and comfortable on the ball as they settled straight away.
With the visitors only fielding 10 players, the Cardea squad enjoyed the extra space and calmly moved the ball around between players, switching from one side of the pitch to the other with quality build up play, looking for the first opportunity to open the scoring.
On 9 minutes after some great work by Maisie down the wing and a good cross, we saw Georgie shoot just wide.
The early pressure was all Cardea as we pinned Eaton socon back in their own half and left them chasing the ball as we calmly passed the ball around.
We were awarded with two early free kicks on 12 and 14 minutes but couldn’t find the final ball and both were scrambled clear by a nervous Eaton defence.
It would take 16 minutes for the visitors to find their way into the Cardea half with a long ball over the Cardea back three to set their striker towards goal. This early effort was thwarted by some great play by Laura, who showed great pace to catch and win the ball, sending it out for the first corner of the game.
From the corner we again saw some great team play from the Cardea squad as they cleared the ball with several passes across the defence line and back up the pitch to attack the resilient Eaton defence.
This would be the start of another great spell for Cardea who were dominating the game with flowing play.
On 20 minutes we saw a good long range effort from Leah well saved by the busy visiting keeper.
Two quick Cardea corners followed and we saw Eaton struggling to clear the ball further than the edge of their area, as Cardea set up camp hunting for the opener.
On 27 minutes a long ball from Sof over the away defence saw Pollard break away from her marker, only to shoot just wide past the advancing keeper.
From their poor goal kick Georgie again sent Pollard through only for her shot to be saved.
On 29 minutes Eaton hit us with a quick counterattack but our defence were quick back to pressure the striker into shooting just wide.
After winning a drop ball on 33 minutes some more great passing between Georgie, Laura and Leah ended with another long range effort from the midfielder again past just wide of the target.
Cardea were in total control and looked comfortable on the ball. A,ll the game needed was a goal for all the quality play as we kept the pressure on the visitors,who were still just ball chasing for most of the game.
Laura saw a good long range effort saved, before some good work by Leah released Brooke, who managed to cut into the box who saw her shot saved by the busiest player on the pitch, the away keeper.
On 37 minutes we would see the deadlock broken and it would be the breakthrough Cardea had deserved. A long throw into the box from Pollard, was controlled by Ruddy then hit a volley into the net, I for one breathed a sigh of relief, 1-0.
It would be Cardea who would continue to apply all the pressure up to the half time whistle, in what had been a good display so far by the Cardea squad.
On 40 minutes the Cardea defence calmy passed the ball across the line before it was played through several more passes in midfield, where Georgie would shoot frustratingly wide.
On 43 minutes a long throw from Laura found Pollards head for the flick on which saw another shot just wide, this time by Olivia under pressure from the away defence.
The last seconds of the half saw two further Cardea corners somehow scrambled clear by a desperate Eaton defence who seemed relieved to hear the whistle blow.
HT 1-0
The second half continued where the first had ended, with Cardea taking early control of the play and again hitting the Eaton defence with quality attacking build up play.
With only 1 minute of play on the clock a quickly taken throw from Titch found Pollard, who turned her marker before seeing her shot bounce off the crossbar and being put out for a corner by a nervous defence.
It was from the corner that we saw the next Cardea goal. A good cross from Georgie was headed clear but only as far as Leah who sent a looping shot high over the crowd of players into the top corner, 2-0.
Cardea would continue their onslaught onto the away goal, in what was becoming a game of quality possession from every player.
Another great passing move involving Titch, Laura, Sof, Fiona and Mia saw the wingers cross sent just wide by Ruddy.
On 49 minutes Ruddy forced her way into the box but her shot was blocked.
On 51 minutes the Eaton keeper would pull off a miracle save to deny Olivia and somehow take the ball from her foot with the goal beckoning.
The 53-minute mark would see the away post again deny a shot from Ruddy as we looked for a third goal to kill off the game.
Only moments later and the Eaton goalie would again make a good save, this time from Georgie after a neat through ball from Pollard. The resulting corner was again scrambled clear by the Eaton back line.
The 56th minute would bring another quality goal for Cardea, playing the ball from keeper to striker perfectly. A good kick from Poppy found Leah who sent a neat pass to Georgie. A long ball from the midfielder out wide found Mia, who sent a perfect cross that found Pollard for a neat finish to make it 3-0.
It was another result of the quality passing that Cardea had been playing all game and that they would continue to do so until the final whistle.
Despite Eaton trying to catch us with some quick counter attacks, that were coped with well by our defence, it was Cardea who remained in control.
On 65 minutes a low shot from Mia rolled just wide of the post.
On 69 minutes we were treated to a `Ryan Giggs` style twisting run from Laura as she beat 4 players down the wing, pure class as the confidence of the team was showing.
Not to be outdone, Sof went on a copycat twisting run only moments later as she ran the ball out of defence beating 3 players before sending the ball long up the park.
On 71 minutes we would see the fourth Cardea goal that would seal the win and another three vital points, as Pollard latched onto a ball over the away defence to neatly chip the keeper into the net.
The quality from Cardea continued until the very end as we attacked the Eaton box relentlessly.
On 79 minutes a shot from Titch forced a good save.
On 82 minutes a good head down from Mof set up Pollard who`s shot was well saved.
On 89 minutes we saw a long range bullet of a shot from Courtney saved by the busy Eaton Keeper, who would dive bravely at the feet of Titch to again save the rebound before the final whistle.
This had been a truly brilliant performance by the Cardea squad and a perfect game to take us into the Cup final with great confidence of our ability to play with quality possession.
Player of the match was awarded to Georgie who totally deserved it with an outstanding performance.
There are now only two league games left. We sit 3 points clear and we are 'one step closer' to the league title, but we cannot lose our concentration if we want to be crowned champions.
Our thanks to Eaton Socon for a brave display with only 10 players and they never gave up for the 90 minutes and showed some great resilience in defence.
For now, its job done and time to focus on our second cup final and the chance to bring another trophy home.