Batley Suffer Defeat against Cleckheaton
- Gemma Elsworth
- Sep 21, 2015
- 3 min read
So, here we go, first game of the season. After two well attended away friendlies we started the season with high hopes. We were disappointed, nothing sets the tone of the match like 12 people who can’t play.
The bare 11 that could play met early on the hot, sunny, Saturday morning to play Cleckheaton. These guys had just come down, so we were expecting a challenge.
The game started off scrappy, we were letting Cleckheaton get through and we’re panicking on the ball. We were also too quiet (I shouted lots, but my shouting is usually rendered incomprehensible by my gum shield).
We did managed to calm down and start to mark and find space better as the match went on. Jodi got taken out early in the match, but had no time for injury and carried straight on – although it appears that she is now struggling with the after effects of this!
It was far too hot though and this was having an adverse effect on both teams. We found ourselves defending short corners and then breaking quickly. The new short corner rules had us all on edge.
At half time the score was still 0-0 and everyone was struggling with the heat. We regrouped, and worked on our marking strategy, then started the second half with some great attacks.
The first few minutes of the first half were completely in Cleckheaton’s half, we were unlucky during this time not to score, some great marking and passing meant that we kept the ball where we wanted it and put lots of pressure on Cleckheaton.
There was a comical moment where the ball was hit up towards the Batley end and missed by three Batley players, most spectacularly by Emily who somehow threw herself on the ground instead of stopping the ball!
The defence and Helen had great games and definitely kept us from conceding more goals than we did. Claire was tirelessly running up and down the pitch despite the heat! Janna too was everywhere.
The heat was taking its toll on us and we started to concede short corners again. Then we fell foul to the new rule, Claire broke too early and got sent to the halfway line. That left 3 defenders, then Newby broke too early (I maintain that I didn’t break with my feet, but apparently you can break with any part of your body – lesson learned). So Batley were left defending a short corner with only 2 defenders and Helen in goal. Emily, Krystal and Helen, you were all brilliant. Despite 3 or 4 short corners in a row, we did not concede!
Finally in the last few minutes of the match, Batley looked like we’d conceded a short corner, in the confusion that followed, Cleckheaton managed to play the advantage and score. It was a horrible moment where everything seemed to go in slow motion as they fired the ball at the goal and there was nothing any of us could do to stop it.
The second goal for Cleckheaton came a few minutes later, from a short corner (I think) we were 2-0 down with 4 minutes remaining.
It was a real shame to lose the first game back, especially when we had fought hard in the hot weather.
There are positives though, we played well, we made some good passes and we marked really well. Next week is a new week and we can go in to it with a positive attitude. Hopefully it will be cooler!!
Claire and Janna shared MOM and everyone who played got a point on the commitment table! This year I’ve also added a Spectator Commitment Table and a Night Out Commitment Table – I need to get a life.
The match was also followed by a poorly attended night out, it was just Vicky and Helen for the most part! helen assures me that she was lenient with non-attenders this time, but from now on "heads will roll" - you have been warned!
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