Dovey brace takes the spoils as Sils win away

Sils travelled across the City to Edgbaston in their last away game of the season with the side safe from relegation it was a chance for some of the squad’s youngsters to gain much needed game play and experience.

As coach Jamie Fleet tried to calm the exuberance down in his team talk centre back Kate Huntington failed a late fitness test and was benched before the game had even started.

As the game started Sils new look forward line, with an average age of 14 at best, flew into the game with youthful exuberance and as soon as an Edgbaston defender had the ball they were hounded down and pressed into making mistakes allowing the Sils midfield to pick up on loose balls and start the attacks off. Ok balls were misplaced and attacks faltered through a lack of anticipation but the hard running of the girls and the ability for once to roll players on and off was a rare luxury. But within 10 minutes of the game Captain Samantha Cooper was carried off with a suspected ‘broken ankle’ (more about that later) with both the Captain and Vice Captain occupying the sick bench it was up to the more experienced players to take charge and keep the youngsters running. With Rebecca Leaning and Ruth Dovey both leading by example Edgbaston were finding it hard going to make any headway and when they did force a short corner they usually found Dovey arriving at the top of the D at the same time as the ball to crash it away.

The game was pretty even and open at this point and when Edgbaston did manage to break through the midfield they found the defence was able to deal with the threats as they occurred covering each other well.

As the half reached the midpoint the busy Sils forwards were hounding another Edge defender, as the ball broke loose and was played across the D Leaning was first to react and smashed the ball home for a deserved lead. As Sils were creating chances short corners did occur but they were limited to a simple ploy of aim for Dovey to smash it goal wards but this worked very well with Edgbaston not really being aware of the limitations to hand.

The second half followed much of the same format as the first providing entertainment for the spectators attending, a short corner shortly after the re-start once again found Dovey in prime position and although her first shot was blocked the follow up looped over the defence and goal keeper to give Sils some much needed breathing space.

Edgbaston were forced to be more adventurous and soon pulled a goal back where the defence was for once over loaded and a forward was allowed to gain momentum and space progressing into the D unchallenged and managed to squeeze a shot in which get a shot away which squeezed in to the goal. As Edgbaston pushed for an equaliser gaps were developing which were being exploited by Sils and as the attacks developed so came the short corners of which one was capitalised on by the ever reliable Dovey who fired home to re-establish a two goal cushion and becoming the teams top goal scorer for the season in the process.

With 10 minutes to go Becky Bakewell fell victim of a twisted ankle and had to be helped off the pitch but seizing the opportunity Captain Cooper after having had extensive medical treatment on the bench had recovered from her ‘broken ankle’ sufficiently to slot in on the right with instructions to simply hold the position and feed the wings, watched over by the steadfast Claire Robinson who was gallantly marshalling the backline. As time ran down and with the Sils forwards still hurtling around the pitch the final whistle was blown on an eventful game with a much deserved win for Sils.

Great hope for the future with plenty of talent coming through the ranks to fill the gaps and as long as there is sufficient experience on hand to hold them together things can only get better.

MoM: Claire Robinson an admirable display in keeping the backline intact as all around her seemed to be falling apart.