A Word from the Zak!!

The Worthing College girls arrived in Egham knowing that a win would give them a favourable draw in the quarter final of the national cup away to South Essex College. The girls were in high spirits and looked really up for the game after a 2 week layoff due to the weather. Mike Bridges brought them back down to earth with an inspirational pre match talk, leaving his hopes of national success with the girls and expressing the regrets he has of mistakes from previous years.
The game started with Worthing having a lot of good passing possession and Strodes players’ getting nowhere near the ball, leading to a Strodes supporter to say ‘wow, this lot are decent’ after only a couple of minutes, but after breaking Strodes down twice in the first 5 minutes Worthing took their foot off the gas and let the home side settle into the game.
After 20 minutes of a well contested game, with Worthing being left exposed at the back several times and being grateful to the speed and good positioning of Fleur Charman, Worthing took the lead from a set piece. A wide free kick was won by Amy Potkins and Lucy Somes stepped up to put the ball into the far corner over the despairing keeper. 1-0.

Worthing didn’t really let this goal spur them on; they were slightly sloppy in possession and just weren’t quite executing the final ball. But yet again a set piece was the downfall of the Strodes defence, a corner that was only half cleared was smashed home by Somes from the edge of the area for her second goal of the game. 2-0.

This is how the game stood at half time and Worthing were told to sharpen up slightly as well as add some killer instinct to their game to ensure the game was put to bed. It seemed though that the Strodes players had been inspired in the half time break and were looking for a quick way back into the game. Worthing seemed rattled and rushed on the ball at the start of the second half and they were regularly stitching each other up, which once again left fleur charman to do some outstanding defensive work to keep Strodes at bay. With Worthing continuing to look sloppy and certain players looking tired, Mike rang the changes, introducing 3 players who could all consider themselves slightly unlucky to miss out on a starting place. Maddy Emmerton, Emily Hale and Chloe Lamley replaced Chloe Debaes, Lucy Somes and Jemma Kendall. Somes was gifted the opportunity to complete her hat trick moments before coming off but struck straight at the keeper. The changes allowed Danni Lane to move into the middle of the park and add a bit more energy alongside Sophie Frost and gave Worthing a new lease of life. They stepped the tempo up for the last 25 minutes which pushed them comfortably into the Last 8 of the National Cup. A flowing counter attack direct from a Strodes corner saw Emmerton and Naomi Robinson link up with Robinson sprinting a good sixty yards, to lay the ball on a plate for Amy Potkins to seal the tie. 3-0

This now settled any Worthing nerves about a Strodes revival and helped them push on to entertain the spectators. Robinson came to life in the last 20 minutes and found it necessary to take on at least 3 players every time she got on the ball. Worthing’s fourth goal came after great work down the right wing from Robinson and Sophie Frost scoring direct from a block tackle off a Strodes clearance, fine finish! 4-0.

Worthing rounded off the scoring with Maddy Emmerton hitting the post from relaltively close range and Amy Potkins being the first to react to pick up a tap in. 5-0.

Worthing could have scored in double figures but were also at times lucky not to concede. Even though Lauren Binfield did not have to make too many saves, the defence was left exposed a few times.

Player of the Match – Fleur Charman, was an absolute rock at the back with some crucial last ditch tackles and covering a lot of ground to save Worthing at times. She was also calm in possession and happy to play the ball to feet. Performance summed up with a perfectly timed challenge on the edge of the Worthing box, which left Strodes’ biggest player in a heap on the floor and left Worthing’s smallest player bouncing around with a grin on her face!