A Word from the Zak!!

Girls County Cup Semi Final - Worthing College vs. St Bedes

This Wednesday brought the first of a string of big cup matches coming up for the girls, the must win County Cup semi-final brought an eventful day for the Worthing Coaching staff. The game was originally meant to be held at Worthing United FC but the ground was deemed unfit to be played on at 11am on game day, so with the college pitches under water, the leisure centre pitch was ruled out due to also being unplayable and the game looked as good as off. The referees had been told the game was not being played and all had given up hope on getting the game on.
But Mike Bridges had other ideas, he headed straight to the estates team for a brush and fork to do what can only be described as a magnificent groundsmans job (with help from Rahman and Moss) and the game was back on!

St Bedes arrived somewhat uniquely equipped and dressed but as independent schools champions not to be underestimated. Worthing started the game brightly but from the outset it was clear that the St Bedes keeper was going to be hard to beat which was talked about in the pre-match as she happened to be an England under 15.

It seemed the St Bedes Coach was more interested in the manner of which the Worthing Coaches were barking their orders, than she was actually barking orders at her side who did not look like putting up much of a semi-final fight.
Worthing had been frustrated for the first ten minutes by the outstanding keeper and it almost made the Worthing players frightened to shoot at times but the first goal came when Naomi Robinson beat her player to the by-line and crossed for Amy Potkins to finish well and continue to top the Scorers list. 1-0.
It was thought that this goal might just open the floodgates somewhat and this would have been the case if it wasn’t again thanks to the St Bedes keeper who was making remarkable saves, so much so that one was given as a goal kick because the referee could not have believed the keeper had got a touch to Robinson’s effort.
As another 15 minutes past with no second goal Worthing were camped in the opposition’s half creating chances. The second was a wonderful goal to watch and just left the keeper too much to do, after the ball hitting the bar, being saved, being blocked and being saved again, Potkins was left an easy tap in from a yard to double the scoring. 2-0.
Worthing were guilty of getting a little bit lazy due to their dominance in the game and it left a bit of a gap between midfield and defence, maybe due to Kendall and Frost feeling there were goals in the game for them.
But on the ball laziness was not a word that could be used, precise, neat and penetrative are words that can describe the way Worthing kept the ball. If they can keep up that level of football then they are bound to be crowned county champions and could give any team a good game. Just before the half time whistle, Worthing put the tie to bed. After a neat move down the left from Maddy Emmerton, Sophie Frost lifted the ball over the keeper and into the far corner. 3-0.

Worthing were told at half time not to get lazy and to be more clinical if they didn’t want to do fitness on the Monday morning. Knowing the game was won, Worthing didn’t come out all guns blazing as they should have done, it took them time to get into the half and start creating chances, and the third goal came from a different route. Charley Howcroft-Stemp played a long ball to lone striker Potkins who’s flick on was read by Lucy Somes who ran on and lobbed the advancing keeper. A well-executed move. 4-0.
Worthing were then awarded a free-kick from around 35 yards out, it looked like they were setting up for a dink into the area, when Bridges ordered Somes to have a shot, ambitious to say the least. Somes smashed the back of the ball and a despairing dive from the St Bedes keeper wasn’t enough to keep the ball out as it hit the bar and bounced in. 5-0.
St Bedes never gave and continued to work hard yet they struggled to get into the Worthing half with Fleur Charman and Stacey Johnson spectating and every now and then sweeping up. The game was now being played at a training game pace.
Somes completed her hat-trick with a brilliant third goal, she ran through the midfield and this time unleashed from 25 yards with the ball nestling in the corner. 6-0.

Changes were made so players could be rested for the game Friday but the standard of football didn’t drop. Chloe Lamley showed great industry in the middle of midfield with good energy and some big tackles and Jemma Kendall continued to get forward.
It was Kendall’s cross that set up a tap in for Debaes to for the Sub to get on the score sheet. 7-0.
The game was summed up by the 8th goal. A wonderful move starting from left back and involving 5 players before Debaes found herself one on one with the keeper to poke home for her second. 8-0.
Worthing were superb in today’s game and didn’t drop their standards at any time. The football they played would have caused most sides a problem and they need to keep this up going into the latter stages of competitions.

Player of the Match – Lucy Somes, She was brilliant the whole game and was at the centre of most Worthing Attacks. A superb attacking performance rounded off by a hat-trick from midfield.

Zaki