Team BC Women’s Football earned their first victory of 2016 in a hard fought game in blustery conditions with only ten players for the whole game.

The game got away slowly after having to have a later kick off time, due to the visitors having trouble making the long journey, however, the away team held the advantage of having a whole team with subs made it count at times.

Bridgwater had to play the game with only 10 and with head coach Trevor Jenkins on ECFA duty, it was left to the dream team of Nicola Cousins (Assistant Coach) and Ashley Massingham (Men’s football coach) to run the side. Truro put the home side under a lot of pressure in the early stages and this went on to create the opening goal. A hopeful ball into the box led to a mix-up between Bridgwater’s goalkeeper and central defender, with the ball only half cleared falling kindly to a Truro player to calmly place the ball into the back of the net.

The first ten minutes had gone, the players were looking around for guides to stop the onslaught. With positive feedback and direction from the sides, Nicole Bell had a storming game at centre-half putting in tackle after tackle as Team BC grew into the game.

Lucy Brown was a constant threat down the right wing putting in the hard yards, never letting the visitors left back to have five minutes alone. Truro controlled the rest of the first half but always looked shaky on the counter. The first half finished with the score 0 – 1 but the Truro ladies struggled with the pace of the game and Bridgwater had fitness on their side as the two sides walking back on for the start of the second half.

After a reshuffle of the pack the two centre midfield players played closer together & Delenn Cross starting was proactive in defence following the great example set by Bell & Maisie Smith. Smith was a machine in the defensive areas, seeking danger and intercepting wonderfully. Now the back four was working hard and breaking down all of Truro’s attacks, the side could push higher to support Chloe Vernon up front on her own. This was how the equaliser was scored, Charlotte Cross won the ball high up the pitch moved the ball from left to right and played a delightful defence-slitting pass into Vernon’s path, which she finished off with ease.

Truro’s women were struggling physically now with two girls having to go off with injuries, it evened the game up to 10 players a piece and this only played into Team BC’s hands. With minutes to go all the pressure was on the away time and all the hard work paid off, with Cross getting the winning goal from a corner, she sneaked in and around the front post and out jumped the defender and goalkeeper to nod the ball in. The home team could have had more if Bell had seen her opportunities hit the target, with three long-range efforts all going just wide of the mark. The final score finishing 2 – 1.

Stand-in coach Ashley Massingham said,

“All 10 women should be proud of their performances and they couldn’t have done it without each other.”

Player of the Match went to Maisie Smith for a solid performance and providing a platform for the team to go on and win the game.