It was a very chilly start to the day at Brunel academy with the wonderful Devs playing the Jersey Bronzes who started the day just below the Devs in the league (on goal difference). The first action of the day was a throw in by Jersey Bronzes followed by another Jersey Bronzes throw in after some defending. Rosie O had a shot at goal which went wide. After a bit of play, Jersey Bronzes had a corner that the Devs brilliantly defended. Following this there was a Dev throw by one of the Rosie’s and then a Dev corner delivered by Nim but unfortunately no one could get on the end. The Jersey Bronzes had a throw in which the Devs took the ball from, followed by an attempt on goal by Nim from far out. Wonderful Wendy then saved a shot from Jersey Bronzes. Asia got a ball to the face from Rosie O (sorry captain) resulting in a nose bleed and Asia having to sit out for the rest of the game but she joined all our beautiful supporters on the side. Beth managed to rush onto the pitch and made a wonderful sudden replacement.
Following this bit of drama, Jersey Bronzes had a throw in and then Rosie S did a lovely header. Devs were given a free kick which was taken by Nim and was on target but didn’t end in a goal. It was then the Jersey Bronzes turn for a free kick and they took a shot but it wasn’t on target. Rhian then had a shot but it wasn’t on target. Jersey Bronzes had a throw in and then Devs had one. The Devs continued to push and put on some lovely pressure. Jersey Bronzes had a goal attempt but missed and it was followed by a Dev throw in. Rhian had another attempt on goal which was saved by the keeper and Zartasha attempted on the rebound but missed. A throw in for Devs was followed by a cross to goal by Nim which no one was able to finish.
Jersey Bronzes had a run of throw ins followed by a free kick which was expertly defended by the Devs. Jersey Bronzes then had yet another throw in and then an attempt on goal which wasn’t on target but was followed by a corner. Devs then put on the pressure with throw ins and a corner. Beth demonstrated some lovely defending getting a Dev throw in and then Rosie O did a good tackle. This pressure continued despite Jersey Bronzes playing a bit nasty and grabbing the Devs. Nim then had a lovely shot on goal which was very good but the keeper deflected it. After another shot on goal which was also saved, the first half ended 0-0.
Second half
JB had kick off but Nim got the ball and pushed forward along with Cath. Nim suddenly scored a blinding goal from far out, getting a deserved goal for the Devs and making it 1-0.
After some class defending from Beth, Nim took the ball off Jersey Bronzes and moved up the pitch. Rosie S had a shot at goal which was caught by the keeper. One of the Jersey Bronzes players very dramatically fell over. Cath stole the ball and ran up the pitch and crossed it but it was knocked out by the keeper, somehow for a throw in which was taken by Rosie S. Jersey Bronzes did a foul throw (a common occurrence in a Dev match) and then Nim crossed it across the goal but it was yet again caught by the keeper. There was then a barrage of attacking by Devs which was unsuccessful.
Jersey Bronzes then had a shot which hit the post and went out for a goal kick. There was then some lovely link up between Nim and Cath as they passed it back and forth gearing up for a shot on goal. Rosie S did a perfectly timed tackle and Niamh put on great pressure. Yet another shot was taken by Nim which went wide. Rosie S stopped a shot from Jersey Bronzes and it went out for a corner which Wendy saved. Beth and Rosie S showed us a defence masterclass to get it out for a throw in for Jersey Bronzes. A beautiful ball up towards Niamh was made but unfortunately she couldn’t control it. Nim then did a lovely slide tackle followed by a powerful shot by Cath which a defender raced into save and Nim got the rebound but it went wide.
There was then a Rosie and Rosie collision resulting in Rosie S doing a very elegant roly-poly. Jersey Bronzes had a strong shot that went wide and a cross in for a shot at a tight angle which also went wide. Cath continued to put on great pressure stopping Jersey Bronzes from pushing forwards. Devs won themselves a corner and Rosie S had a long range shot, cheered on by the crowd, which went wide.
Niamh and Nim did some good passing as the sun finally decided to come out. Jersey Bronzes had a corner after some defence from Rosie O, but nothing came from it. Nim has yet another shot on goal which was just too high. Beth got hit in the face by the ball twice in a row but luckily not too violently. Rosie O and Nim spontaneously swapped positions and Wendy caught a shot from Jersey Bronzes. Rosie O showed some brill defending and Cath put pressure on the goalie. Rosie S took some super throw ins which was followed by some lovely dribbling through players by Cath and Niamh. Beth nearly kicked someone in the face (an attempt at revenge for the balls to the face?) and Rosie raced back to defence to help out. Jersey Bronzes had a final wild shot at goal which went wide leaving the score 1-0 to the Devs and resulting in yet another win for the Devs.
POTM: Nim.
Written by: Rosie Oliver
