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City Ladies hit back (February 24, 2008) Canterbury City Ladies 2 Long Lane 1
Long Lane have suffered only two defeat in the league this season and both at the hands of the City Ladies. The second, at Canterbury High this afternoon, was not easily conceded. In fact, City had to admit that it was one of those days when the best that could be said of their own performance was that when a team plays beneath its best but still fights on in the face of defeat to secure victory, the spirit of the squad has proved a point (or three).
Never before in this season of so many runaway league victories had City not only found themselves scoreless at half-time but in arrears after an hour. Long Lane knew exactly what their game-plan would be. They knew about Debbie Burgess's prolific scoring record and accepted that their best hope was to defend in numbers throughout the early stages and hope for a snatched goal.
City found themselves facing a minimum of five defenders. When under pressure, Long Lane added to those numbers by pulling players back from midfield. City persisted in attempting to break though centrally, whereas spreading the game wide might have proved more beneficial. They also found Long Lane's tackling and closing down of attacking players unusually testing. It was difficult to turn possession into flowing movement. Even Debbie Blackmore, who normally controls everything in midfield, was often frustrated.
After a first half in which Sarah Hardy was not often troubled in the City goal but could never take her eyes off potential danger, Long Lane took the lead on the hour at the end of an impressive inter-passing move. Perhaps it was what City needed to get to grips with a match that was so different to so many against far inferior sides. Gradually, they began to get their passing game into gear. Burgess brought a good save from the Long Lane 'keeper who became more and more active.
After 80 minutes Debbie Blackmore sent the ball firmly into the Long Lane goalmouth and Avril Spary headed the equaliser. From then on City kept pressing forward. If the first half had been dominated by the efficiency of the Long Lane defence, the second was a period in which City rarely played to their full potential yet refused to believe that the win was beyond them. And so it proved when Jenny Collins headed powerfully past the visitors 'keeper.
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