| The game started at pace,
with both teams desperate to take control and get
the first
goal, it was Reading who were first to test
the resolve of Simkin between the sticks. Tash
Caswell stepped up to task of a 20-yard free kick,
and whipped in a wonderful strike that would leave
most keepers routed to the spot; but Simkin
watched this one all the way and produced one for
the cameras as she pushed around the post.
AFCB took the early warning and appeared to
tighten up at the back, with Lauren Little back at
right back taking care of loose ends and producing
some very good cross field passing the cherries
were knocking on the door. It was on 15mins that a
pass from Little found the skilful Lindsey Roe
twisting and turning down the flank who dropped
the ball at the feet of Langrish, with the centre
half baring down on her Langrish dragged back and
powered the ball accurately from 18 yards.
Not long after the restart Beki Rider found
herself battling for the ball in the cherries
defensive third only to win the ball at the
expense of her knee. Rider left the field with a
torn quad and suspected lateral ligament injury.
Gillian Neill came on to replace Rider while Merry
dropped back into the full back role.
AFCB kept up the pressure with Goater, Langrish
and Roe linking up well but to no avail. It wasn`t
long before Reading found their feet and began to
push forward with three. Laura Woodley made the
most of a ball over the top, which fell kindly on
the left 18-yard corner. Making the most of some
lapse defending, Woodley lifted the ball nicely
into the top left corner of the net.
AFCB responded by surging forward with force,
but for all the possession and attempts on goal it
seemed impossible for the cherries to put the ball
in the net. Reading worked hard to dig out of
their own half and were rewarded with another
break down the left with Woodley on the ball.
Simkin got out quickly to close down with Little
recovering quickly to pressure Woodley wide of
goal.
HT 1-1.
AFCB started brightly after the break creating
some good forward play and were rewarded with
several free kicks in great positions as the
Reading defence struggled to contain the quick
feet of Roe and the powerful technical play of
Bell. Langrish, Bell and Roe all took kicks
respectively, but all were unable to put the ball
away.
The game became contained within the central
areas for periods with the cherries occasionally
breaking forward only for Reading to get back in
numbers and clear the ball to safety. The game
took another turn when Georgie Hoban went down
clutching her leg with a suspected Achilles
injury, and was replaced by Michy Keehan.
After a short break the game resumed; AFCB`s
Merry played a cutting ball across the field into
the path of Neill who looked like scoring, but put
wide.
AFCB pushed till the end, but Reading were
resolute in their defending in the second half and
got the point they deserved.
FT 1-1
Squad: R. Simkin, B. Rider, S. Howarth, C.
Heydon, L. Little, G. Hoban, K. Merry, A. Goater,
L. Roe, L. Langrish, K. Bell.
Subs: G. Neill, M. Keehan, S. Tilly. |
