Kingstonian Ladies 1-5 London Academical
Mark Robson reports on a bad day at the office for the ladies' team.
We had no fewer than six changes from last week’s starting line-up as we took the field at a very wet Kew Association for our home league game against London Academicals. Among the incomers were Alice Carter and Georgia Coninx both making their league debuts in this campaign.
From the off, London Academicals took the game to us and it was no surprise when their pacy interchange play led to them breaking through our rearguard to take the lead after only 8 minutes. Five minutes later however and we were level as Olivia Watson ran through the Academicals’ defence, shot, and with a bit of help from the keeper and the post saw the ball snuggle into the back of the net. 1-1.
The rest of the half saw London Academicals enjoying the lion’s share of possession, though we were having our moments. It looked as though we were going to make it through to the break until, with two minutes to go, a free kick was awarded to the Academicals for handball out wide, but just outside our penalty area. The free-kick was swung in and a touch from an incoming striker saw the ball evade Sylvia and land in the back of the net. 1-2 HT.
We didn’t really get going in the first period of the second half. After 55 minutes a skidding Academicals’ shot squirmed its way goalwards and we found ourselves two goals behind. 1-3. We were reeling at this stage and being pushed back by a dynamic London Academicals team. We needed a stroke of good fortune, and we nearly got it with fifteen minutes to go when Olivia Watson swung in a cross and found Sophia Demetriou inside the six-yard box. Sophia hooked the ball goalwards but was agonisingly just off target. A few moments later, and another cross came in and, to sum up our luck today, Sophia headed it too well, putting it wide, whereas a glance would have seen it in the gaping net. So close! Our final serious chance came shortly afterwards when the referee awarded us an indirect free-kick inside the Academicals’ penalty area. The kick was teed up and the goal was gaping, but Mairead Halliday hit her shot just a touch too well, and the ball sailed harmlessly over.
That was really our last clear chance and, despite battling until the end, we conceded two late goals to finish with a 1-5 score line that somewhat flattered our guests.
It just wasn’t our day today. In the persistent rain and with so many changes to the team, we just couldn’t seem to build the platform we needed today to launch any sustained attacks at the London Academicals’ defence. But, credit to the Academicals, who played a high tempo game throughout and deserved the victory.
Team: Sylvia Grierson. Georgia Coninx, Alice Carter, Zoe McLaughlin. Lucy Potter(c), Emily Hobern, Lace Edgcombe, Sarah Sinkins, Olivia Watson, Lisa Nichols, Sophia Demetriou
Subs: Mairead Halliday, Lily Dusting
Goal scorer: Olivia Watson
Player of the match: Olivia Watson (pictured)
