The Senior Whitehaven AFC Lionesses played Penrith Rubies in the CFA Woman‘s Summer League on Wednesday night, with the Rubies running out 6-1 Winners!
The Lionesses started of really well, playing some nice passes to progress up the pitch with Morgan McGrady a threat down the wing and Megan Batey a threat centrally and Sophie May controlling the midfield, and looked a good threat, without creating to much in terms of goal scoring chances. The Lionesses also started with a high intensity, trying to win 50/50 balls strongly, however one of these challenges gave away a free kick from around 25-30 yards out. Captain Jess Nelson struck the Ball beautifully and it flew into the roof of the net to make it 1-0 to Rubies. The Whitehaven Girls got straight back to the good start they had made and could’ve equalised pretty quick after with Morgan who was found out on the right, cut inside and powered a shot which was saved then followed the reboud which narrowly went wide.
Once again however the Whitehaven girls were hit against the run of play with a through ball that found 16yr old Zoe Tweedle to run on to and finish clinically to make it 2-0. This seemed to affect the Lionesses as they dropped off, making it a back 5 and no one engaging in the central midfield. This invited Penrith on more and two more goals were scored by Zoe, the first a carbon copy of her first goal, and the second a mix up between keeper and defender which Zoe latched onto and tucked away, 4-0.
In the 2nd half the Whitehaven Girls Player good football, some sweeping moves saw a ball played to Courtney McKenzie who passed on to Kayleigh Moore who also just as the tackle was coming in passed on to Megan Batey whose tricky footwork ended with space opening up but her shot was saved. Zoe added another to make it 5-0 shortly after.
A switch in formation saw 2 strikers go up top and shortly after the ball game to Megan Batey who was strong an battled hard and scored to make it 5-1. The Lionesses continued to press hard with chances falling to Lauren Dye, Megan Batey and Courtney McKenzie and were unlucky not to get a second when after a good save by the Rubies keeper from Lauren Dye, she then followed up, only to hit the post, as it bounced out the next shot was pulled wide. Further chances occurred, and more scrambles in the box to prevent Whitehaven scoring. However it was Rubies who netted a 6th to make it 6-1 when Emily netted when a good left sided attack was swept across to the right for her to fire in.
Coaches Rob Campbell & Gary Wright said ‘The scoreline doesn’t really reflect the full game, the Rubies deserved the win and played some lovely football at times which cut us open, and Zoe for them was in amazing form, but our girls played some really good football themselves, some of the best they played this season against a talented Penrith side. We just weren’t as clinical in-front of goal and unfortunately allowed Rubies to much space for some of their goals. We are still developing this young side week by week and although some results not ideal, we see progression in all the girls and they are working really hard to improve’
Penrith Rubies MOTM - Zoe Tweedle
Whitehaven AFC MOTM - Sophie May