Sorry! Second match in and the match reporter is late and misses the first two goals. Kate tells me that she scored the first goal having picked it up in her own half, went past five players and put it in the top right hand corner!! Amazing but more likely it was an open goal she couldn’t miss. Anyway GOAL 1-0 to Croydon. The second was an unfortunate own goal from an Amber corner. GOAL 2-0 to Croydon.
I arrived to see Abbey Rangers on the attack , missed tackles all over the place and the ball in the net. GOAL 2-1 Was this the shape of things to come!!
More pressure from Abbey sees a shot into the side netting, then from the Stirling kick we get a corner, Kate has a shot that is blocked but she follows up the rebound well. GOAL 3-1.
Then its all pressure from Croydon. Amber drives down the line and shoots forcing the keeper to turn it onto the post, Kate then has a go but the ball is cleared. Then its Amy’s turn to have her shot well saved. Croydon are rewarded for all their effort with a corner that Amber fires into the area, it comes off Kate’s chest going towards goal only to see the keeper make another save.
Abbey then break and we see Stirling at full stretch watching the ball go past her right hand post. Then from an Abbey corner the ball shots across the area but lucky for us no one gets near the end.. Abbey continue to pressure and its only good defending from Molly and Georgia that keep them out. But then there’s a bit of hesitation in the defence and Abbey see a fierce shot fly into the top right corner. GOAL 3-2.
This seems to wake Croydon up. Amber gets the ball in her own half and makes a great run only to see her strong shot saved by the goal keeper. From the resulting corner Amber collects the ball as it comes back out and sees her goal bound shot hit the boot of an Abbey defender and go in, (an adjudication panel sat for this goal and awarded it to Amber) GOAL 4-2.
Croydon continue to pressure and Caitlin flicks on a throw in to Amy who thrashes the ball into the bottom right. GOAL 5-2.
Then immediately Amy is unlucky not to add to her tally as her shot hit’s the post on the wrong side.

HALF TIME arrives and Tony makes some changes. Holly replaces Kate up front and Mae comes on for Molly.

Croydon continue to pressure and it pays dividends when Amber puts a great ball through for Amy to chase and shoot low into the bottom left. GOAL 6-2.
Then Croydon have a corner, the ball bobbles around a bit, Amber makes a good tackle and Mae takes a shot only to see the ball go past the post.
Then a great long range shot from Amber is only just saved by the keeper and out for a corner. The ball is quickly retrieved by Damian who managed to leave his bench for the second time, the first time being to move it from one end to another. (sorry Damian the mum’s wanted this bit put in). Anyway back to the action and the resulting corner is turned in by Mae. GOAL 7-2.
Sophie then comes on for Amber and is soon in the thick of it in midfield. Another Croydon corner by Caitlin is just turned wide by Amy, who then makes way for Kate.
Caitlin then makes a good run down the line and both Mae and Holly just miss connecting with the across field ball.
Then Abbey have a good chance but Georgia makes a good covering tackle and the corner is cleared. Its back down to the other end and Kate sees her shot go into the bottom corner. GOAL 8-2.
Croydon continue to press and Holly goes close from Kate’s cross, Georgia then has a go with a good strong run only to see a tackle come in just as she was about to shoot.
Abbey then have a pass well intercepted by the Ref, who takes a tumble as a result.
Stirling then makes a good save with her legs. At the other end Kate sees a corner come off her knee and saved by the goalie. Caitlin then sees her shot scrambled away. Abbey Rangers got a consolation goal at the end, to make the final score 8 – 3.

The Final Whistle blows and Croydon advance into the next round. I wonder who we play next!!!
Well done girls another enjoyable game.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Mae