Old Actonians LFC Match Report

A 'mudfest' but home victory

After a disappointing first defeat of the season for Old Actonians LFC 1st team last weekend, they were back in action this Sunday at home to Kikk. On a muddy pitch, the game began scrappily. Both sides started evenly without troubling either keeper.

Old Actonians opened the scoring midway through the first half when a nice interchange of passes in midfield and a delicate long ball from Sharon Odofin reached Tash Cree who rounded the keeper to slot home from an acute angle.

The game was a real mud fest although the home keeper had little to do in the first half, with the Old Actonians defence holding firm. Old Actonians carved a few chances out during that first period with Carla Chitty-Williams, Tash Cree and Rosie Stone all coming close.

At half time, Old Actonians coaches Nabil Khaliq and Dan Chitty spoke about the need to kill the game off and pass the ball on the ground a bit more.

In the 2nd half, Old Actonians certainly did pass the ball round a bit more although with the conditions, the game was still a little scrappy. Old Actonians had the better of possession though and only the heroics of the Kikk goalkeeper prevented them from doubling the score. She flung herself at several shots and produced stunning save after save to deny Chitty-Williams, Odofin, Cree and Sinead Friel.
The Old Actonians goalkeeper Naomi Swift was reduced to a mere spectator for much of the game but with around 15 minutes to go, a mix up at the back led to the bustling ever busy Kikk striker slotting into an empty net. Old Actonians however showed great character to produce an immediate response, within 2 minutes of the Kikk goal. Rosie Stone found Catherine Murphy in space who in turn knocked the ball into space for Carla Chitty Williams to beautifully place the ball home from 20 yards out and finally beating the goalkeeper.
The last 5 minutes were frantic but once again Old Actonians held firm and in the last two minutes, Chelsea Berlin picked up the ball on the left wing and with the outside of her foot, found Sharon Odofin with a beautifully weighed pass which enabled her to run on to and slam the ball home, giving all three points to the home team in a hard fought victory.

Meanwhile the reserves lost out in the cup in dramatic fashion, going down 4-3 after extra time to Bedhead FC. Leanne Griffin and Lizzie McCarthy (2) were the scorers.

17th December 2014