Banter with Bridges - Women's Football U18 1st XI vs. Chichester College U18 1st XI - ESFA National Cup Round 2

Worthing travelled to Chichester in the 2nd round of the ESFA u18’s cup having been given a bye in the 1st round after reaching the Semi-Final of this competition last season. With a warning that they must not drop their standards, and a number of changes to last week’s side, Worthing started brightly quick gaining control of the game. Without causing Chichester any real problems Worthing were enjoying much of the early possession. Chichester were sitting deep and clearing long balls into the Worthing have trying to turn Worthing round and make mistakes by pressing the ball. Worthing coped well with this and continued to build the ball up from the back. A change of shape from 433 to 442 saw an immediate change to the score line as Holly Jacklin and linked up well with her central defenders before sliding the ball to Lucy Somes, Somes just inside the Chichester half put Amy Potkins clean through on goal who calmly slide the ball past the on rushing goal keeper and into the corner of the net. 1-0 Worthing

Back came the had working and well organised Chichester who started to gain more possession in the midfield, the Worthing back four coped with it comfortably restricting Chichester to long range shots at Natalie Woolven in the Worthing goal. Despite Chichester gaining more possession Worthing never looked troubled with their one goal lead. Worthing then doubled their lead with 5 minutes to go when Darcey James up for a corner showed great poise to volley the ball home from 6 yards out after Lucy Somes delivered a pin point cross. 2-0 with half time fast approaching.
Half time 2-0 Worthing and comfortably in control.

The 2nd half started with Worthing again quickly gaining control of the game, passing and moving looking for the third and killer goal. Somes and her midfield partner Izzy ‘Janet’ Burt where running the midfield for Worthing winning all the 1st and 2nd balls before setting up attacks. The midfield battle was intensifying with Chichester’s captain trying to drag her team back into the game but both Burt and Somes stood firm against the battle.

The game was finally killed off when Somes tapped into an empty net after the Chichester goalkeeper let slip a shot from distance, 3-0 Worthing with half an hour to play. Jade Widdows was introduced for the influential Somes, meaning the hard working Jemma Kendall moved inside to central midfield, Potkins moved to right midfield and Widdows went up front. Potkins immediately started causing trouble down the right beating her defending full back at will and delivering dangerous crosses into the box both Aliss Pidduck and Widdows nearly getting on the end of the crosses.

Finally a fourth came when Widdows volleyed the ball past the Chichester goalkeeper from another great cross from Potkins. 4-0 and game over. The game rolled to and end with both sides playing out time.

Scorers: Amy Potkins, Darcey James, Lucy Somes, Jade Widdows

Player of the Match: Izzy Burt dominant in the midfield battle and showed some powerful running both on and off the ball