Marlborough 3 Wootton Bassett 0
With the league having finished for the Christmas break, Wootton Bassett came over to Marlborough for a friendly fixture (December 5.) With Marlborough fielding a full squad and feeling confident after the previous two weeks performances, the team were hoping to get a win and a much needed morale booster.
The first half was dominated by Marlborough with the team stringing some lovely play together. Rachel Jackson playing in the centre provided some inch perfect balls into the D giving the forwards lots to work with, whilst Rosie Curling linked in well and made some impressive runs trying to get the ball round the back of the Bassett defence and put the ball in front of goal.
With so much pressure being applied to the Bassett defence it wasn’t long before Milly Dawson, waiting on the back post, caught one such cross and put the ball in the back of the net. This was Milly Dawson’s first senior squad goal having come up from Marlborough’s junior section in September.
It didn’t take long for this goal tally to double when Bassett were unable to clear the ball away from their goal line and Rosie Curling lifted the ball over the diving goalkeeper to score her first goal since rejoining the club after a season’s absence.
Bassett did make some forages into the Marlborough half, but the defence held solid.
Two nil up at half time – this was more like it!
Bassett came out fighting in the second half and the game was on. Bassett started to break through the Marlborough midfield on a number of occasions and get into the D where they were able to get some shots on goal.
The Marlborough defence and goalkeeper had these plays covered and no goals came of them. Down the other end the Marlborough forwards were hungry for more goals and the ever-dangerous Catherine Manley was rewarded with her third goal of the season.
Play continued in this vein for the rest of the match, but no further goals were added and the game finished three-nil to a very happy Marlborough side.
Marlborough ladies always knew the first half of the season was going to be tough with another big change in the team, a new coach and the introduction of some juniors in their first senior squad season.
The last couple of games have been very encouraging and have seen the squad put in some good performances and even give the league’s top side Newent a fright and a run for their money. When the league resumes in the New Year they are hoping for lots of goals, points, clean sheets – and an escape from the relegation zone.
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