I'll admit I was a little bit worried going into today's game against the league leaders with 4 players out and therefore no subs. I shouldn't have been concerned though. As Rose, our captain for the day, said in her after match speech, we were a bit wobbly to start with, but got better as the game went on. This was great analysis, we were the better team for much of the game but were very scrappy for the first 20 minutes or so. Maidenhead scored from their first real chance with a well taken snap shot catching Rose off guard.
This seemed to wake the girls up though and for the last ten minutes of the first half we played some great football. On 24 minutes Maddie broke free, set herself and smashed the ball into the top corner. A goal that no keeper would save. Izzy added a second a few minutes later with us piling the pressure on before the ball fell to her in the box and she coolly slotted it home.
For these ten minutes we were playing really well as a team, there was some great communication and we were playing the ball around really well. Both Izzy and Dolcie had the beating of their opposite numbers on the wings and were playing some great balls into the box. Izzy displaying her usual silky skills and Dolcie using her strength and pace to cause the opposition problems.
In the centre of the park Sienna and Frances were winning every 50/50 ball and playing some great balls into Maddie and our wings.
Just before half time Frances added a third with another well taken goal a result of the pressure and determination all the girls were showing.
Maidenhead weren't done though and came back at us in the second half, but Neve, Sophia and Abigail did brilliantly to not only win the ball back but also play the ball into our midfield with some great passes. Sophia and Izzy were combining really well on the left, as were Abigail and Dolcie on the right. Ten minutes into the second half, Maidenhead got a goal from an unlucky deflection from a clearance and were back in the game. The girls rose to the challenge though and started to move the ball around again, creating some great chances and winning lots of corners. Their keeper made a great save from a Maddie volley straight from a brilliant corner from Frances.
With a few minutes to go Maddie settled the tie following up on the keeper who spilled her shot allowing her to tuck the ball home to make it four for us.
I am super proud of the effort that all the girls put in today. Every single one of them left everything on the pitch and put their heart and soul into the game. POM went to Dolcie, playing her first every game outside of defence and she was brilliant. She was up and down the pitch all game and quickly understood what the role entailed! MIM went to Sophia for a spotless performance cleaning everything up that came her way specifically a last ditch tackle on the opposite side of the pitch when she spotted the danger!

The girls should be really happy with themselves. We are one of the best teams in the league and improving every week. I'm honoured to be able to coach them and excited about the potential these girls have! Well done Wolves !!