Caversham United Women v Moneyfields Women Reserves
Pre-season Friendly
On a mildly warm day (just a little understatement there!) it was time to head off for a catch up with SRWFL Division One North side Caversham United, taking on their first pre-season game against Moneyfields Reserves, who ply their trade on the south coast in the FAWNL Reserve South West Division.
As mentioned the weather was roasting and the walk from Reading station to Mapledurham playing fields felt a lot longer than usual! Thankfully, Caversham were playing this game on a different pitch to the one usually used and this at least had a bit of shade down one side.
For a second time in a couple of weeks, the match was to be played over three periods of 30 minutes, sensible considering the heat and, with both sides not having many substitutes available, plenty of time to rest in between.
The first period started pretty evenly with the best early chance falling to Victoria Schelhase from an Erin Sherwood corner but she could only direct it just wide. Sherwood did break the deadlock when a decent effort from outside the box nestled into the net. Caversham came right back and levelled a couple of minutes later. Good control and shot from Alice was parried by the keeper with Ashton Downey on hand to put the rebound away.
Moneyfields were soon back in the lead, Amelia Primmer picking up a loose ball in the area, flicked it around the diving keeper and rolled the ball into the empty net. Before the end of the first passage of play Moneys made it three. A lovely move down the right was pulled back into the box with the Goats managing to clear, but the visitors recycled the ball well and a pass found *Primmer in space and she fired into the corner.
*Apologies if I have the wrong goalscorer, I was busy typing up the initial move and missed the goal!
Erin Sherwood started the second period on the attack and soon added a fourth for the visitors with another decent effort from outside the box. A free kick from 35 yards out from Caversham was well saved by the Moneyfield keeper before the away side made it five when a corner fell to Schelhase in the box and she smashed it in from close range.
The second period was quieter mainly due to both sides being affected by the searing heat with Moneyfields in control for much of it, and playing some nice football. Caversham battled on gamely and you certainly couldn’t fault the amount of effort they were putting in to try to close down Moneys passing game.
The third period started with a sixth for the visitors. The impressive Phoebe Connor latching on to a clearance, outpaced the defender and buried her shot into the bottom left corner. Good play down the right from Taylor Chamberlain almost lead to a goal, her cross finding the head of Lucy Winter on the edge of the box but her effort just looped over the top of the bar.
By now the hosts were visibly tiring and the waves of visitors’ attacks just kept coming as their superior fitness became apparent. A shot hitting a defender and ricocheting in made it seven before the best goal of the match made it eight. A lovely ball from Connor picked out the run of Ellie Hooker on the left who crossed into the box from the byline and Winter was there to sidefoot home.
Taylor Chamberlain helped herself to a quickfire brace at the end before the referee brought the game to a close.
A good run out for both sides and minutes in legs which is important at this time of the season although made more energy sapping by the extremely hot day. The Caversham ladies have to be commended for keeping going and leaving everything on the pitch. Goalkeeper Leah had a good game, making several saves, many diving out at the opposition forwards feet. She looks a good prospect. Katie, playing at right back is my kind of player, always looking to break up attacks and loves a sliding tackle! Evie would be another who had a good game out there.
Moneyfields look a decent side and as mentioned previously like to pass the ball around. It was a great team performance from them but two players especially caught my eye. Phoebe Connor in midfield looks a player, it seemed virtually everything went through her in this game and Ellie Hooker at left back, good defensively and very dangerous when overlapping, putting in some excellent crosses.
I enjoyed my day out in the sun, it’s always good to catch up with Caversham and it was great to meet everyone from Moneyfields. Wish the best of luck to both teams for the coming season even if the league campaigns look a little short!
Hope to see both again soon!
To see photos from the game just click the button below to head to the excellent gallery from Charlee Bradbury