Banter with Bridges - Women's Football 1st XI vs. Chelsea

Worthing College 2-3 Chelsea U19s

On a hot day with a big pitch to play on it was always going to be a tough afternoon for both sides to maintain their quality and discipline thorough-out the match. The 1st half started very evenly with neither side giving much away, keeping their shape and having periods of controlled possession. As the game wore on Chelsea’s obvious quality on the ball started to mean they were able to become more dominate on the ball without creating any chances. Despite having more possession they were unable to hurt the hard working Worthing side who were pressing in groups and winning the ball back high up the pitch.
The 1st real chance of the game fell to Worthing when Becky Simmonds turned well on the half way line and sent Chloe Debase clear through on goal, with the ball bouncing up and the Chelsea keeper rushing out Debaes lobbed the ball over the keeper and saw her shot bounce agonisingly wide. As the half wore on Chelsea where being reduced to long range shots that Natalie Woolven in the Worthing goal was dealing with easily. The best chance of the half again fell to Worthing when Lucy Somes broke into the box and was fouled penalty to Worthing. Danni Lane stepped up and struck the ball to the goalkeeper right who dived that way and made a good initial save before jumping up and making a 2nd brave stop at Lane’s feet again.

0-0 Half Time

The 2nd half started in much the same fashion as the 1st with Chelsea having good possession but not able to break down the Worthing back four. In the 60th minute the deadlock was finally broken when Worthing failed to follow a midfield runner who ran beyond the back four and after a great pass found herself through 1 on 1 with Woolven who was powerless to stop the shot. A second goal soon followed for Chelsea at a free kick was bent into the top corner from 25 yards out on the angle. It looked like this had broken Worthing’s resolve with 25 minutes to play but they dragged themselves back into the game when Amy Potkins calmly placed the ball passed the Chelsea goalkeeper after good work on the left hand side.
2-1 with 15 minutes to go
Chelsea almost immediately scored a 3rd when their left winger beat Woolven to a bouncing ball and lobbed the ball into an empty net 3-1 Chelsea.
Again back came Worthing who scored from a well worked corner routine with Sophie Frost nodding in at the near post after a good deliver from Lusy Somes.
A frantic last 5 minutes ensued with Worthing pushing hard for an equalizer that never came. A good game for both sides who both at times played some good football. Important lessons to be learned by Worthing about holding onto the ball for too long all across the pitch.

Scorers:
Amy Potkins
Sophie Frost

Mike