We started with Ellie in goal, Raynie, Maisie, Frankie (Captain) and Isabelle in defence, Sophia, Tayla, Lola and Maci as our midfield four, Kate and Lauren as our two forwards.
Wombwell started strong, putting us under pressure from the kick-off. We defended well as a team with Frankie organising the defence and Ellie quickly off her line to collect any loose balls. We have been working on scanning, movement and passing the last few weeks and this was really evident in the game. Sophia started to combine with Lola and Raynie down the right wing and create opportunities to attack. On the left side, Maci worked hard to close down the opposition, this hard work paid off when Maci won the ball and passed the ball through to Lauren. Lauren was clean through on goal with the keeper to beat, as the keeper came out, Lauren calmly lifted the ball over the keeper and in the back of the net for Charnock to take the lead. Tayla worked hard in midfield to support our attacks and help defend with great recovery runs. Kate pressed the defence from goal kicks and came close to creating a chance when she won the ball and passed to Lauren. Lottie and Eva came on for Maci and Eva.

Maisie’s long throws had been a constant threat but we’d not managed to capitalise on these yet, about halfway through the first half a throw from Maisie reached Sophia wide on the righthand side of the 18-yard box, Sophia moved forward with the ball and fired in a fantastic shot to take us to 2-0. Ellie continued to make saves and quickly gather any loose balls. Raynie took some great goal kicks and helped us get the ball up the field effectively, Isabelle and Maisie were also strong in defence.

Late in the first half we managed to make it 3-0 when a corner from Maisie was pushed out by the Wombwell keeper, Lola latched onto the loose ball quickly and scored her 4th goal of the season. Just before halftime, Wombwell looked to have scored a goal, only to be thwarted by a sliding goal-line clearance from Isabelle. Halftime it was 3-0 to Charnock.

Wombwell managed to score early in the second half to make it 3-1. Eva and Lauren took what we had been working on in training earlier in the week and linked up with a quick one-two to get around an opposition player. Charlotte and Lily came on for Sophia and Tayla, Charlotte was strong up front and had a couple of shots at goal, Lily worked hard and defended really well. Wombwell managed to score a couple more goals to make it 3-3 and we started to feel the effect of the wet/heavy ground and wind.
In the last quarter of the game we conceded a penalty and despite Ellie’s amazing attempt to save the penalty, Wombwell took the lead.
Kate and Maci came back on, and Sophia replaced Ellie in goal when Ellie picked up a knock to her leg. Towards the end of the game we tired and conceded a fifth goal.

Although it was disappointing to lose the game after being 3-0 up there were many positives to take from the game especially the players putting into practice what we have been working on over the last few weeks. With a confident and accomplished performance in goal, Ellie was our player of the match.