Sheffield Rangers -a
Saturday March 14, 2009
Sheffield Rangers U14’s 0 – 4 Sheffield United U 14’s
United Score four times in the second half and remain unbeaten in the S & H League with a win at 2nd placed Sheffield Rangers
Team: Abbie Mason, Amy Beanland, Beth Leaver, Frankie Softley, Gemma Shaw, Heather Craddock, Kim Brown, Lauren Santoro, Naomi Smith, Rosie Beck, Cara Hopkinson, Tullia Kiernan, Livvie Foxton, Demi West.
United travel to Shirecliffe to take on second placed Sheffield Rangers, during the early part of the season Rangers were matching United result for result, but 2009 has seen them pick up only one point out of a possible twelve.
Similarly to the game played at Westfield in October last year, it’s very windy, but this time United play into the wind in the first half.
The game kicks off and Rangers adopt a very defence formation, with only one striker and their 35 goal top scorer is playing in midfield. Almost straight from the kick off United win a corner, and the ball is played across the goal, the keeper fails to gather and the ball just needs a tap in but rolls across the face of the Rangers goal and they manage to clear.
But United seem to be off their game in this first half, whether it’s the cold, the wind or just the motivation or Rangers defensive formation, they cannot put any real quality play together. Heather has a good chance but fires over the bar.
Rangers are relying on their two top scorers and they try to burst through on numerous occasions but are always thwarted by the United defence, assisted by the midfield.
Towards the end of a forgettable half, Rangers start to have more of the play, Lauren is the busier keeper, but this is more from goal kicks, as any opportunities Rangers try to create are always well marshalled.
The Rangers coach will be the happier as the first half ends goal less.
I’m sure Tony and Lee had a few choice words at halftime, as United kick off and get the game under way in the second half. United look much brighter now and are trying to play the ball more down the wings and use the full width of this relatively small pitch.
A corner from the right early in the half see’s the ball forced over the line by Demi, and a few minutes later a hand ball on the Rangers goal line gives the ref no option but to award United a penalty.
Livvie steps up, but graciously gives the penalty to Abbie; Abbie makes no mistake with a powerful strike to the left of the keeper giving her no chance.
United continue to dominate and score a third, when the keeper fails to hold onto a shot from the edge of the area by Kim.
United get a second penalty when a Rangers player handles just inside the area, after calls from the team, Lauren steps up and scores, the ball squeeze’s in past the left side of the keeper.
The game finishes Rangers 0 – 4 United
After a forgettable 1st half, United went on to dominate the 2nd half. Rangers did have several long range shots throughout the game but these were all way off target. Lauren did not have to make one save during the whole game; she occasionally had to collect the ball from the oncoming Rangers players and comfortably collected one or two corners.
As a testament to the quality of the United team, we travelled away from home to a team fighting to finish second in the league. Ranger’s adopted a defensive formation even though they have two players in their team who have scored forty nine goals this season. Rangers played a lone striker up front, with five in midfield. During most of the game, Rangers had at times six players in their own half, so we can perhaps not be too hard on United struggling a little in the first half along with the blustery conditions.
One more game to go in the league against Hoyland Town next week who lost at home to a resurgent Worksop side our cup final opponents for the third year running.
Man of the Match Livvie Foxton
