By Caragh O'Connor
Saturday finally arrived, the weather was dry, and 12 BUFC ladies set off for their home ground at Nekker. With the lads' matches cancelled we had our pick of pitches, so captain for the week, Claire(1), opted for our lucky pitch. Things were already going our way.
The changing room was filled with the usual pre-match emotions - a mixture of excitement, nerves, in some cases the wish that last night hadn't been so late/boozy(2), and in one case the relief that the 24hour stomach bug had finally cleared … on the whole a general "up for it"-ness.
Once kitted up, Coach came in for his pre-match chat and announced the starting line-up - the general message was to push forward, playing more offensively - to ensure this a half Irish (3/6), a sixth Dutch, Italian and Spanish midfield and strike force - while at all times protecting his dear wife, who was our goalie for the day, which seemed more than likely with the usual rock-solid 4 playing across the back.
Then the ladies headed out for their warm-up catching a glimpse of an unenthusiastic Aarschot only just arriving. And no wonder that they weren't so keen, as not only did they have to take on the might of BUFC but they were also only 9 players.
"Skeletor" ref was again to be keeping his "vigilant" eye out on our match(3); a hand shake and having our boots checked(4) we gather into our traditional(5) pre-match huddle. We reminded each other that we've played against 9 before and it's not been easy so no complacency, also that the ref might be favourable to them because of it, and then the usual motivational words something along the lines of "talk, support, and build" … We were ready to play our game!
FIRST HALF:
Ramster won the toss (hurrah!), deciding to keep the side giving them the kick off but the wind in our backs! And well giving them the toss didn't end up being advantageous to them, as Aine and Ana were straight in on them forcing a pass to their right wing-back who wasn't actually there, oops, throw-in United.
Things were looking good and all the pressure was coming from us. Some great runs by Amanda down the wing with 1-2s with Maaike and Ana. Pressure too coming from the right, as Alé and Caz switched down the line and Tish always close in support. Aarschot were looking pretty shaky - red-hat-chick who's used to taking more of an attacking role had to come back and help out "the-nutty-professor" (TNP) to defend against our very own Spidey.
So it was only a matter of time… and that time came when a ball was cleared out by one of their defenders over the head of their number 9 and coolly controlled by young Rach. A look up, and set-up a perfect ball into the path of Caz who made a run deep, picked up(6) the ball, dribbled past TNP to put a cross into the box where both Ana and Aine were waiting. Aine took it first time and shot it past the keeper, back of the net, 1-0 United(7)!
A few more shots went off, near misses(8) - Aarschot knew they were lucky! Barely a ball coming into our own half, and those that did were duly picked up by the rocks at the back who were doing as they were told and protecting Kelli(9).
1. Armed with new banana guard - all banana lovers should own one, though does look a little on the dodge side...
2. Aine in particular - after late night session arrived still drunk
3. Skeletor ref seems to have grown fond of us, or is it coach's cute smile and sweet-talk he's more fond of? - his nick-name should really be changed to "Groupie ref"...
4. No idea what they're looking for when they do that
5. Traditional since the last 2 matches really, but a good one to keep :o)
6. "picked up" not in the sense of actually physically taking the balls in her hands, more the footballing term.
7. Dunno what Aine was on Friday night, but whatever it was seems to have had good effects!
8. In particular 2 close shave shots: 1 by Alé after a drive to the top right corner of the 18 yard box and shot which hit the post, the other by Maaike after some great triangle-action with Jackie and Amanda denied by the cross-bar
9. Kelli spent most of the game trying to keep her circulation going by jogging and doing jumping jacks
Only really 1 dodge moment where they broke, after Caz made the wrong decision to give a dodgy short corner only to have the ball nicked by their number 13(10) who made a run down their right wing with Caz chasing and Jackie to close her down and get possession back.
More offensive pressure by United, ball passing with ease between the 3 IRL-1ES-1NL-1IT combo, causing the Aarschot captain to clear the incoming balls wide, and their keeper to thank her lucky stars that a couple didn't actually go in(11). With all the chances we were creating but not enough goals to show Coach reminded us that having stopped smoking his nerves could really do with a second goal soon.
And well, we were happy to oblige when a minute later, whilst Aarschot were complaining about a ball that Alé managed to save from going out, she dribbled the ball continuing in her stride towards the box and seeing a gap took a shot. The keeper went one way, but the shot was deflected. Then the keeper went the other only to be taken out of play by Ana. The deflected ball came into the path of Maaike who looked up, saw the keeper off her line and took a composed shot. The keeper tried to stumble back and save it from passing the line, but watched as it hit the netting - 2-0 United.
After a clash between Jackie and their number 8 on a 50-50 ball, Groupie-ref whistles half time. Time for a wee half-time talk, re-hydration, and oranges courtesy of Mrs Tolen. Coach just tells us to keep putting the pressure as we are doing, to look for our wing-backs because they have a lot of space and time, and to keep the ball moving. They are getting tired and keep on clearing the ball out on the side line and trying to slow down the game.
SECOND HALF:
Helen subs on for Aine, and we go into the second half full of confidence. Lots of triangles and letting the ball do the work - Ana and Amanda could have been compared to the likes of fellow country-men Raul and Duff(12) in the way they both, on a number of occasions, managed to confuse the opposition with some very nifty turns and give-and-go action!
The midfield pushes well up into their half and the wing backs do the same. Ramster is even able to come into the game and is in lots of space to help out. Both her and Rach instrumental in enabling us to switch the ball from left to right and back leaving the opposition looking quite frankly like muppets.
This was causing lots of frustration in the opposition's barracks, which was only to get worse for the Aarschitters. An attack on the left sees the ball reach Maaike's safe feet. She puts it square to Caz. Caz takes a touch past the defender and shoots. Deflection off the back of their central defender(13) and it deflects off her back past the keeper and in the goal. 3-0 United, back to the centre circle.
A few minutes later(14) P#13 blatantly goes for Alé's ankles, though ref misses the incident(15) and they gain possession into our half heading down their left flank to our box where Tish takes on the player and ref now suddenly decides that he'll start whistling again and gives a free against. The 4 midfielders set up the wall which their captain is obviously put off by as she strikes the ball and "it goes nowhere"… "she can do that all day" is on the tip of everyone's tongue!
Lots more possession and pressure down both flanks from an energetic and eager looking BUFC with Jackie and Tish showing class moves into space, and good runs into the box from Helen and Ana. One incident sees Ana force a corner - an almost replay of the week before with Caz sending the ball in with height to near-ish post where Ramster comes in for it but can't quite get enough behind it.
BUFC continued with composure, passing simply and patiently from one to the other until they see an opening - the ball moving all over the pitch and involving all 11 players. Their goal kicks are like magnets to a United limb. A simple control and drive back in again. It's a similar story with their throw-ins which don't really seem to be working for them.
10. aka red-hat-chick (RHC) and later as the game progressed "psycho number 13" (P#13)
11. The one that springs to mind is the Spidey drive to Caz on the wing, who crossed it in the box, went over the cluster of people, Amanda taking it down and send another great ball back across, and Alé coming in and heading it first time ball narrowly over the bar.
12. Though of course much prettier!
13. Also their captain - mistake 1) she turns away from the ball and mistake 2) he's in the keeper's way and blocking her vision.
14. when it's becoming clear that RHC should more suitably be known as P#13
15. Psycho but lucky #13!
At 3-0 down and not seeing sight of the light at the end of the tunnel, P#13 takes out some of her aggression on Alé by jabbing her a couple of times on a throw in. The ball comes to her and she tries to clear it over her head by lifting her leg(16) making contact with the ball and Alé's head behind it. Alé goes down to which the Aarschot players decide to surround Alé who's down and in pain and start yelling that she's acting(17). Yep, as sportive as ever(18)!!
Alé gets up and gets away from the crowd to get her breath back and assess her vision. Play continues. They get a throw-in, keep possession and psycho-13 gets the ball in space(19) and drives into the box with Ramster closing her down. She attempts a shot which ends up being a dud, and Kelli picks it up with ease(20).
A quick shout from Maaike and Kel takes a nippy throw into Tish's path. Tish dribbles it up the line into their half and lays a lovely pass down the line. Alé runs onto the ball and has acres of space(21), drives into the box, and launches a shot to the top of the goal, and the keeper has no chance. 4-0 United and Alé's revenge is sweet(22)!
With only 5 minutes to go and an annoyed, moaning, and warped bunch of Aarschitters, Maaike wins the ball in the middle and puts it through to Caz(23) who is waiting in anticipation on their defence line. Their defence stop, thinking it's offside, but not a peep from the ref. Caz controls the ball, takes it into the box for a 1 on 1 with the keeper, and slots it unnervingly away(24). 5-0 United.
Shortly after the ref whistles the end of the match. BUFC players try to do the customary shaking of hands at the end of the match though only 1 of their players seems sportive enough to reciprocate. They all go straight over to their delegue and moan about how unfair life is. They're so huffy and bitter that P#13 whispers to another player to ram Ram as she passes after picking up the match balls. Ram just laughed at their pettiness - sore losers and not worth the bother.
16. at a dangerous height!
17. in what appears to be pretty standard practice for the most in-bread of KVLVB-Vrowen teams
18. A not so distant incident in the away leg when their delegue refused to bring the water over to one of our injured players
19. Alé has decided to distance herself from the nutter so as not to go home blind and crippled
20. A now psycho and gutted #13 ;o)
21. P#13 is still mourning her miss in our half
22. At this point the Aarschot Coach is so gutted and can't take it anymore and, head down, walks to the car park.
23. Who has admittedly drifted slightly off position ;o)
24. Despite haunting thoughts of the missed penalty of the cup match
25. Virgin goal!!
BUFC 3 points - Aarschot gutted.
| Man of the match: |
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Goals: |
| 1st: Maaike |
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1) Aine(25) (Caz assist) |
| 2nd: Tish and Caz |
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2) Maaike (Alé assist) |
| 3rd: Alé and Ana |
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3) Caz (Maaike assist) |
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4) Alé (Tish assist) |
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5) Caz (Maaike assist) |
