18/03/2012

Arriving at the game in excellent conditions the DCLFC reserves began the task of building their reputation once more in the league after two very disappointing results in the league - one against today's visitors Stoke City, and the other against the league leaders Forest!

Stoke City reserves proved to be excellent opponents and are very direct and hard working - their approach to battling for every ball proved to be exactly what our reserves ladies team needed!

The game began in frantic  conditions and for large chunks of play the midfield proved to be where all the action was contested. Some hard working performances saw both sides create excellent opportunities - only to narrowly miss the target. The first real clear cut chance arrived at the feet of the Derby County's strike force who with a neat one/two combination created a fantastic opportunity for Alena Moulton to advance in a 1v1 situation and to cooly slot the ball in the Stoke goal on the 28th min. The Derby reserves learning from previous displays didn't let the lead slip on this occasion and kept pushing to extend their lead further before the half time interval... There reward came in the 41st minute when yet another one touch passing move created Louisa Abbey with her chance - of which she smashed in at the keepers near post to give Derby a well deserved 2-0 lead at the interval!

The second half began in exactly the same manner as the first had ended - however with a substitution in the 65min for the excellent midfielder Chloe Flinn for Alice Clarke - the game began to open up, and Stoke began to get a grip of the game.  Stoke's very direct and hard working display finally got it's rewards in the 68th min to make the game 2-1.

Refusing to let this lead go the DCLFC reserves pushed and pushed at the Stoke defence - thinking the best for of defence was indeed attack - our great passing and constant pressure paid off when in the 84th minute the referee awarded us a 'nailed on' penalty for a tackle on Sunshine (Jenny Roddis).

Alena Moulton took responsibility and smashed the ball home - 3-1 Derby game over and three points secure! Climbing to 5th in the league and still on target to beat last seasons haul of points Derby County reserves are now looking forward to the last three remaining fixtures before building on this season ready for a real title push next season!

Both David and Damo asked the girls before the game for a response and a result/performance they could be proud off after two disappointing results in the league in as many weeks - and the girls did just that!

Well played ladies and thank you for all your hard work!

Reserves On Sunday the reserves played Stoke City in the league – yet another 'perfect' six pointer game! With awful conditions for football - high strong winds and an almost unplayable pitch the girls started well against a very determined and well organised Stoke City side! After a terrific performance last week the girls began really well playing some good passing football on a horrible surface. The game was played at a fast pace with both teams working hard at closing down space and time for each other - excellent midfield work by both sides limited the opportunities each team was getting in front of goal.

Mid way through the first half Sunshine (Jenny Roddis) saw the opportunity to strike the dead ball straight at goal - the ball flew onto the bar - missing the attend target by millimetres! Half time soon arrived and the girls had a well earned draw.

The girls then started the second half really well and the passing football they had used in the first half eventually created an

opening for Lou Abbey to smash the ball goal wards only to see the Stoke City keeper parry the powerful strike - straight into the path of our striker Daisy who slotted the ball into the empty open goal. 0-1.

The girls unfortunately only held the lead for a couple of minutes before Stoke City were able to draw level. 1-1. The high winds 5 minutes later caused chaos in the DCLFC penalty area from a corner which presented the Stoke girls with an easy opportunity to score 2-1. The game then finished this way 2-1.

Overall we have played much better and more composed in recent weeks but credit must go to a very hard working Stoke City

side who adapted to the awful conditions better than what we did - unfortunately!

25/02/12

Reserves On Sunday the reserves played host to Newcastle Utd in the league - a 'perfect' six pointer game if ever there was one!

This was a game the girls and the coaching staff at Derby had been looking forward to for many weeks having last played at home at the start of December in 2011. This game also gave Dave & Damo the opportunity to see how much the girls had progressed in recent months.

With ideal conditions for football and a real sense of belief and confidence around the team, both coaches and girls believed this was a game we could win, but as with every game the work rate, attitude and preparation had to be right!

After a terrific performance last week although disappointing result the team remained pretty much unchanged in terms of formation and belief. The game was played at a fast pace with both teams working hard at closing down space and time for each other - excellent midfield work by both sides limited the opportunities each team was getting in front of goal.

After great passing football both Lou Abbey and Sarah Roberts saw their strikes at goal either saved by the Newcastle keeper or stopped by the post - but eventually our impressive pressure forced an opening that Newcastle could only stop with a foul.

Sunshine (Jenny Roddis) saw the opportunity to strike the dead ball straight at goal - the ball flew into the top corner with much power and gusto to put Derby 1-0 in the 40th minute!

 

Half time soon arrived and the girls had an impressive 1-0 lead to maintain!

The girls then remained calm and very resilient in their defending for much of the second half forcing saves and clearances from a hard working Newcastle Utd side.

The girls successfully saw out the remaining time of this game and defended really well against the Newcastle long ball.

Overall we have played much better and more composed in recent weeks but credit must go to a very hard working Newcastle side who contributed some good football in this game.

 

As for our DCLFC reserves ladies I congratulate them on this win and they have proved a point to the coaches that as I said at the start "this was a chance to see if we had progressed" - the simple answer is of course yes we have improved and progressed massively - the standard of pressing and hard work demonstrated in this game was awesome and the manner in which they kept the clean sheet was also pleasing to see - a very professional performance and score line achieved by the ladies - a 1-0 win in this vital six pointer!!  We as a team are now fifth in the league and climbing fast!

Both the DCLFC girls and coaches have a point to prove and certainly at the moment both the coaches and players are definitely united in making that point!

Well done Ladies.....

Reserves Derby County Ladies reserves arrived at the Leicester City ground full of confidence. Belief was high amongst coaches and players that they could continue their fantastic start to 2012 in the league. The squad however was much depleted because of several first team call ups, leaving the reserves with just 11 players to compete with the top of the league team - Leicester City.

The game started at a fantastic pace and it is was Derby County Ladies playing all the great football on what can only be described as a very muddy and heavy surface. The passing and movement was superb, and there were some fantastic opportunities created by Chloe Flinn in midfield for both wide players and striker - unfortunately every great shot was met with an equally great save from the Leicester City goal keeper. Keeping the tempo and intensity high the Derby County Ladies pushed and pushed looking for the opening goal - when we did finally beat the goal keeper the post or bar came to Leicester's defence. Then totally against the run of play a long ball from the Leicester City defence caused havoc in the Derby defence before a skilful worked opening resulted in Leicester City taking the lead!

The DCLFC girls reacted really well to this goal against the run of play by continually passing the ball around the Leicester team who at times had no answer to both the movement and vision shown by Chloe Flinn in the midfield area. By half time the score remained 1-0.

 

The second half began the same as the first with DCLFC playing the better football - however, the heavy pitch was now beginning to take its toll on the DCLFC players - with only the 11 players in the squad changes could not be made by the coaching staff and the girls had to battle on through the pain and cramp! Eventually the mental and physical strain showed and in a disappointing 10minute period Leicester City having made 3 substitutions  increased their lead to 4-0!

This was by no means a fair reflection on the type of football the DCLFC reserve team played but more a reflection on the need that football in today's climate is more a squad game and not a team game. The DCLFC had played the better football but unfortunately had lost out to a team that had the opportunity to freshen things up on a heavy pitch a vital time in the game!

Coaches, officials and players from Leicester City acknowledged that at the end of game telling the DCLFC coaches how well the girls had played and how the result was an injustice to how well we had actually played!

Football is a result business and we all understand that, but in a way from the DCLFC reserve team point a view surely the fact that so many of the reserve teams players have now been asked to help out the first team in some capacity, and the type of football the reserves are now playing shows that the 'real' results are there for all to see if they just look!

Well played Ladies and thank you for all your hard work in this game!

Reserves Arriving at the game in very wet and windy conditions the DCLFC reserves began the task of building upon their previous good results in the league.  Lincoln Ladies reserves proved to be excellent opponents and are rightly challenging to claim top spot in this very competitive league!

The game began in blustery conditions and for large chunks of play the midfield proved to be where all the action was contested. Some hard working performances saw both sides create excellent opportunities - only to narrowly miss the target. The first real clear cut chance arrived at the feet of the Lincoln strike force who incidentally are the two most prolific strikers in the league - who raced on to an excellent through ball and lob the on rushing DCLFC goal keeper Jess Green - only to see a fantastic goal line clearance from the DCLFC right back and captain Chloe Flinn!

The rest of the first half was pretty much spent in the midfield with both teams working and trying hard to out power the other.

The second half began in exactly the same manner as the first had ended - however with a substitution in the 65min for Lou Abbey by Androulla - the game began to open up. A powering and mazey run from Chloe Green DCLFC's centre half saw a terrific well struck power-driver well saved by the Lincoln goal keeper - but luckily Androulla was on hand to tap in the rebound - DCLFC had the lead!

Lincoln though refused to accept this defeat and pushed and pushed at the DCLFC defence until they too scored with what only be described as a superb strike right into the top of Jess Green's net! The game slowed and once again became a battle in the middle of the pitch.

On reflection both deserved something from the game for their tremendous efforts - and a draw was a fair result for both sides!