Banter with Bridges - Week 4

Worthing College 0-2 Priory

Worthing suffered only their 2nd defeat of the season in a game where they could have had the game easily wrapped up by half time but for some wasteful finishing. The game started very evenly with both teams attack with some creativity and creating a couple of early chances, Lauren Binfield making an impressive save from the onrushing Priory forward. Priory where competing for every ball and in the 1st 15 minutes they had the upper hand until Worthing hit their stride and started to cause Priory some real problems. Danielle Lane and Jemma Kendall started to gain control of the midfield battle with Lane making some surging runs from midfield creating several opportunities for both herself and her team mates.

Against the run of play Priory opened the scoring when a strong run and shot from Priory’s midfielder beat Binfield after taking a nasty bounce. This only led to intensified pressure from Worthing with Amy Potkin, Naomi Robinson and Emily Hale all getting in behind the Priory defence but failing to test the goalkeeper. Kendall then had a great chance but again failed to hit the target from close range. A string of corners then followed with Priory clearing off their own line twice, before Potkins chased down a lost cause and beat the goalkeeper to the ball only for the rebound to fall to the covering full back with Hale close at hand.
For the final 20 minutes of the half Binfield had become a spectator and the Priory where unable to get out of their half such was the Worthing dominance.

1-0 Half Time

Half time saw a reshuffle due to injury with Hale being removed for Chloe Debaes and Maddy Emmerton moving wide
The 2nd half started in much the same way the 1st half ended with Worthing on the front foot creating several chances with only Lane’s shot from the edge of the area testing the goalkeeper. 10 minutes in Worthing suffered another blow when Lane had to be removed due to a groin injury which again saw a reshuffle with Sophie Frost moving into centre midfield and Fleur coming on at the back despite starting to feel the effects of a virus. This seemed to take the wind out of Worthing sales and they struggled to get this dominance back as they became more and more frustrated with the missed chances.
Priory visibly grew in confidence after surviving the onslaught of over 35 minutes without conceding a goal, this led to them increasingly gaining more possession and entering Worthing’s half on more frequently. The 2nd and killer goal came when a ball was put over the top and the onrushing forward raced clear to finish in the bottom corner.
The game played out with Priory killing the game off and Worthing unable to create any more chances to get back into the game. A game that Worthing really shouldn’t have lost but if they continue to miss the chances they did then they may lose a few more games like this.

Final Score 2-0

Player of the match: Naomi Robinson – was involved in all of Worthing’s most dangerous moment and the side faded out of the game when they stopped getting her the ball.