Rutherford Ladies v Heaton Hawks Ladies [Friendly]

We played Heaton Hawks Ladies in a last minute friendly tonight at home.

The game didn't start great seeing some scrappy football and a lot of giving away possession by the home side. Despite the team took the lead in the 18th minute of play seeing Robbo win ball out of right wing and played it through to striker Alex who had came back into midfield to help out. Alex then played a great ball through to striking partner Mel who drove ball to edge of box and beat the keeper with a superb strike lobbing her to give us the lead.

In the 25th minute Jodi won the ball at full back from a Heaton attack and played it forward to striker Mel’s feet. Mel struck the ball and lobs keeper for the second time in the game putting us ahead by another goal and bagging herself a brace.

Less than a minute later the team was on the attack again seeing two superb attempts at goal, a goal line save from a Heaton defender kept one effort out with a header on line, with the second shot palmed away by the keeper. Zarr raced into strike the spilled ball and was taken to floor. A penalty was awarded which Zarr sent into the back of the net with a left corner finish.

At half time the team reflected on the game and how depsite having a 3 goal lead weren't playing their best football.

The second half saw a far better team performance. In the 58th minute some great work rate from Zarr to keep the ball in as she raced towards goal with a physical battle with a Heaton defender saw the fourth goal scored. She played ball back out to winger Ellen who struck it hitting the grass not thinking she had enough on it but it was that well placed it rolled into the left hand corner of the goal.

On the 69th minute Zarr took a corner sending the ball into the box. Robbo had a shot on the volley from edge of box, seeing it going slightly wide striker Mel raced in a flicked it over the line to give her a well deserved hattrick.

In the 88th minute Ellen ran the ball into the box, playing it to striker Mel who turned the defender and finished it superbly with a left footed strike. This ended the game 6-0 to the home side.

Player of the match was awarded to Jodi who was solid at the back for her entire time on the pitch. She only came off due to tight hamstrings. Jodi played some great balls forward one resulting in a great goal assisting striker Mel. Some brilliant improvement saw by Jodi, keep up the hard work.

Overall, not the best team performance by any means but some positive spells of good football. Credit to the team to not perform their best but be able to score 6 brilliant goals as well as keeping a clean sheet. Well done girls.