Finding the net!

Adelaide Lady Reds find the back of the net (twice) in a very tough final hit out before the opening W League game of the season.

Today saw the Lady Reds facing Tony Vidmar's SA U14 Boys side, 'fresh' from their impressive performance in Coffs Harbour at the National Championships. This was always going to be a very tough game with the well drilled and technically proficient boys side strong favourites to win the game. 

The Lady Reds, trialled Brisbane keeper Lara Boon with a view to finalising the one tbc spot in the squad and she was busy early on in the game with the girls carelessly conceding possession from the back. Having looked solid at the back last weekend this start was disappointing to say the least! The slow start was punished by the boys and falling behind early was not the way we wanted to start the game. Some passages of play hinted at much more positive signs to come but too often we rushed passes or just lacked the patience to keep the ball, or our shape. A couple of soft goals followed and could have led to the side losing confidence and belief, but this a stronger bunch of young women than that and despite being 4-0 down at half time hopes remained high.

A couple of personnel changes and tactical tweaks at half time led to a much brighter start to the second half and the confidence in possession visibly grew. Grace Henry impressed in a slightly unfamiliar role in the centre of midfield and MJ was becoming a real threat up front. As our share of possession increased and as we were able to show greater patience, so the chances started to come. A couple of half chances slipped by but after some good build up play involving the majority of the team MJ found space with a great first touch and smashed the ball past the keeper into the top corner of the net, registering the Lady Reds 'first' goal in anger.

Following this goal MJ and the whole side relaxed further and began to play some lovely football, stringing passes together and showing much more patience and confidence. Anna Green started to link well with Daniela Di Bartolo and MJ, Racheal Quigley and Grace Henry started to find each other with some quick easy passes keeping the boys pegged back and under pressure. This pressure led to a corner which found its way out to Emma Checker 40yds out from goal. Emma's first touch saw her beat the pressuring defender and from 30yds out she struck an unstoppable shot that ripped into the back of the net to make the score 4-2 and reward the Lady Reds for their improved showing.

After the second goal two more chances resulted in good saves from the boy's keeper and a couple of near misses from Anna Green, Abby Erceg and Racheal Quigley while a good tackle just prevented MJ from grabbing her second of the game. The girls were now playing some very good football, were dominating possession and with Kristi Harvey now in goal were looking fairly comfortable. Unfortunately, we could not find a third goal and conceded a 5th in the dying minutes to make the final score 2-5.

Despite the scoreline, again there were many positives to be taken from this game, namely the goals scored and especially the more controlled 2nd half performance. MJ looked sharp and dangerous up front, there is real competition for starting roles throughout the midfield and the back four, with Ruth Wallace set to return this week, looks like it could develop a good understanding. 

After two very tough games against excellent boys sides, this week will see the focus switch to preparing for the first competitive W League game of the season against Canberra next Saturday at Hindmarsh.

I'm sure that the girls would love as much support next weekend as possible out at Hindmarsh for the first game in this new era of Adelaide United Lady Reds, so I hope to see and hear as many of you as possible cheering the team on.

Team:

Lara Boon - triallist (Kristi Harvey), Emma Checker, Nenita Burgess (Greta French-Kennedy), Abby Erceg (capt), Anna Green, Ebony Philcox (Katherine Ebbs), Leanne Slater, Racheal Quigley, Donna Cockayne (Grace Henry), Georgia Macri (Daniela Di Bartolo), Vanessa Reed (Marijana Rajcic)