DORSET WOMENS LEAGUE
SUNDAY 1ST MARCH 2020
VERWOOD TOWN LADIES 5 POOLE TOWN LADIES RES. 2

Another week of weather conditions trying to take the headlines....but nothing takes away the headline of Verwood Town Ladies pulling a performance of the season against a highly ranked Poole Town Ladies side to grab 6 points from the last two games.

The weather did try and cause some issues in getting the game played. With Cranborne pitch being worse for wear we rallied around and managed to secure a local pitch at Potterne Park at 8.30 this morning.

Thanks to Poole Town for accepting the change of venue and getting to the ground ok. Thanks again to our main sponsors Altogether Care as we welcomed Poole Town for what was a fantastic game of football.

With the wind very heavy in the first half Poole Town decided to change the ends at the coin toss to use it to their advantage and they did effectively a few times with a goal kick from hands going from one end to the other into the onrushing Poole Town front line. Verwood were first to strike home after 2 minutes when a ball delivered from the right whipped into box perfectly for Jo Cook to get her first goal this season. A powerful header into the top right of the goal leaving the goalie with no chance of saving that one.

Verwood settling well after that and it was a shock when a miscommunication between the Verwood goalkeeper and defending midfielder allowed Poole in to finish with calmness into unguarded goal. It was not long before Verwood were threatening the Poole Town box and a devastating through ball put Cleo clear in on goal, rounded the onrushing keeper and was then brought down by the goalie who was sadly injured in the collision. We wish her the very best in her recovery. A penalty was awarded but priority was given to the goalkeeper who received treatment on field for a good 10 minutes. Sadly the Poole Town goalie was retired from the game and upstepped a sub who I thought had a very good game in goal as the replacement. It was typical that the sub goalie comes on to make a cracking penalty save to keep the game at 1-1.

Both teams settled now and with the penalty save Poole Town got a second wind and pushed for a goal to get themselves in front, however a clinical through ball from Sammie into Cleo's path, Cleo beating 2 Poole Town defenders and striking home gave the home team a 2-1 advantage.

Poole Town having to fight from behind twice, swung the pressure back and attacked the goal from the right hand side. A succession of multiple corners put the Verwood goal under pressure and from a dubious corner awarded to Poole Town the ball fell kindly to them to slot it home from a yard out. Taking a draw into the break.

Half Time 2 - 2

Into the 2nd half, the wind, typically, died down again, however, it allowed for a more controlled defensive display from Verwood.

Both teams started the 2nd half well, but it was the home side again playing some great through balls and it was Jo Cook popping up on the score board for the second time which broke the deadlock. This time a low drilled shot to the keeper's right giving a 3-2 lead. Verwood, with grit and determination, winning a lot of the turnovers in midfield and a Manager's player of game award to Sammie who led and battled hard in the midfield added a problem to the opposition.

Goal 4 scored by Cleo from a shot rebounded off the left hand post after an absolute screamer from Tara's magical fluffy cow left foot. This would have been a contender for goal of the season apart from the thinnest lick of paint on the post.

Cleo popped up again for Goal 5 and her second hattrick in two weeks, after a couple of neat touches from Daisy and a dream ball from right midfield into the path of the attacking striker.

Poole Town played a hard fought game until the last minute and a resolute defensive display kept out a clearly talented front line.

Full Time 5 - 2

Well done for Jo Cook for getting Player of the Match
and Sammie Humphries for Manager's Player of the Match.