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City's Ladies narrowly beaten in Cup semi-final (April 13, 2008) Wandgas 1 City Ladies 0
The fact that City's usually under-employed goalkeeper Sarah Hardy was their "Man of the Match" in today's semi-final of the Chairman's Cup at Worcester Park told part of the story as to why they will not be in the final. In no previous game this season had she been forced into so much action, but that was not to say that City were outclassed by a team that were unbeaten at home this season and play in a higher grade of women's football. Far from it.
Wandgas players and their manager admitted afterwards that City had given them their hardest game of the season. Like City, they are used to winning by high scores, but that was never going to happen today, even though City had a number of problems to solve even before the game began. Manager Lorna Shilling could not make the trip because of the shoulder injury she suffered in the previous week's road accident. Captain Debbie Blackmore arrived but was feeling unwell. She bravely elected to play for part of the game. Natalie Bowen was delayed but got through the rain-storms on the M25 in time to come on as a substitute.
So, through no fault of anyone, preparations were not ideal. The problem was that City knew they would have to be at their best to stand a chance of winning. Although never as quick as City, Wandgas were fit, strong, balanced and well organised. And in Maria King and Samantha McDowell they had the most impressive players on the day.
City were vulnerable to the width of the Wandgas attack, which stretched them and often left Sarah Hardy defiant as the last line of defence. It was difficult to set top scorer Debbie Burgess away on the sort of runs that this season have brought her so much success, and with Blackmore clearly not able to be her usual inspiring self, it was difficult to instil great optimism about the outcome. But effort was never lacking.
Debbie Burgess had one good first half chance, which was provided by Avril Spary's superb through ball. Debbie shot wide and for a large part of the half Wandgas kept pressing forward. After the interval Natalie Bowen came on for Blackmore and made every effort to get the midfield organised and productive. It was not to be. Yet until almost on the hour the game remained goalless. Indeed, the Wandgas players were clearly concerned about City's pace when they did counterattack.
Burgess shot close a couple of times but was tightly marked. Obviously Wandgas had done their homework. Hardy remained faultless, making several important saves, but a high looping shot from Laura Willats finally left her without a hope. The Wandgas 'keeper had less to do but then effectively blocked Burgess, who was closing in at speed.
Hardy's first of two saves of the game came when she dived to deflect a header from Maria King, who was dangerous throughout and late forced another fine deflection. Undoubtedly that shot would have gone low inside the post.
Although the City players were miserable in defeat, they could take heart from the compliments that were generously and sincerely offered by their opponents.
City: Hardy; Collins, Fusco, Lovegrove, Smith, Scott, Blackmore (Bowen), Hughes Farbrace, Burgess, Spary.
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