An improved second half saw us threaten to score, but in the end Bays ran out deserved 1-0 victors and the rights to play Peninsula in a one-game, winner-take-all final next week. The winner goes to the Island Championships.
On balance I think Bays is the stronger of the two teams. They certainly play to their strengths and utilize strong kicks from their central defender and very aggressive play from their midfielders. I think they ended up as leading scorers in the league and allowed the fewest goals, but I don't rate their strikers or keeper very highly. So for me it's toss up whether they beat Peninsula. The two teams play very similar styles (moving the ball quickly up field with long kicks) so it might come down to who can grind out a goal or who capitalizes on the others mistake.
We came out very flat today and Bays took full advantage of our early inability to a) get to the ball b) clear the ball or c) find our check. It wasn't pretty to watch and we had some world-class mis-kicks out there. After about twenty-five minutes we found something of our passing game, but overall Bays was the hungrier team and did a better job of doing the things we couldn't (or wouldn't).
The second half, particularly the first fifteen minutes, was much improved. Your showed a lot of character standing up to Bays and we dictated the play for long stretches. We did this because we started winning the ball higher up the field. And when you won the ball your passing got better. And we had scoring chances. And their parents and coaches got nervous.
We also gave their defenders far less time on the ball and caused them to lose possession just by hustling and closing them down. We might even have snuck a tying goal as twice Emma was denied from close-in and then Paige had a chance with virtually the final kick of the game. Bays seemed relieves at the end of the game, which is testimony to hwo well you battled in the second half. As I have said to you time and time again, if you can match other teams for desire, then you possess the skill to beat them.
Our trouble today was we only did this for 35 minutes.
Have a good weekend ladies and rest up for the BOYS!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)