A quick chat before kick off about formation and to give the girls some ownership and responsibility for team matters, we decided that we have a great defence so we set up to attack from the off with a 2-4-2 formation. Both the superb Isla and Millie Mac started as the back 2 with Maya as cover from the bench, a formidable midfield of Marley, Jasmine, Madi and Zara to win the ball in the middle of the park and play forwards and Millie and Skye up front with Lila and Holly supporting from the bench. Also Lily as goalkeeping cover for Erin who started in goal.

Some of the girls were given individual challenges before the game and we’ll be doing more of this through the season. Jasmine, for example was given the option to shoot every time she has the ball on her left as long as she’s over the halfway line. Millie R was told not to pass the ball (unless absolutely necessary) but to use her fantastic skills to dribble and shoot at every opportunity. Skye was told to disrupt their defensive play at all times and win the ball back. Marley was to play defensive holding midfielder and to help out the defence when under pressure (she’s still learning!)

Hinckley kicked off and Rugby won the ball and took control of the game immediately, passing it around the middle, Jasmine drove forward from half way and unleashed a shot from 25yds which hit the back of the net inside of 2 minutes for 1-0 to Borough. Jasmine tried another one as she won the ball again from the restart but the keeper made a good save and hurt herself in the process, causing a long stoppage in play while the keeper was assessed and changed over.

The stoppage disrupted our play as we struggled to build on the good start we’d made. Skye was doing her best up front to disrupt the oppositions defensive play and be a nuisance to them, along side the always skilful Millie. Madi and Zara were working hard on the wings making the pitch as big as they possibly could, giving Jasmine and Marley space to run through the middle. We created chances but just couldn’t put them away, either being just wide or over the bar or hitting a defensive wall.

Hinckley created a couple of chances of their own as we limited them to launching the ball over midfield but Isla and Millie Mac used their strength and experience to deal with it when needed. Erin was largely untroubled but always alert when needing to pounce on a through ball.

Marley eventually broke through to score on 18 minutes after some good passing play making it 2-0 to Rugby. Borough made substitutions bringing on Maya, Lila, Lily and Holly for Millie Mac, Skye, Erin and Zara. As the players were settling into the game, still working their positions out, Hinckley got one back with some good work through the middle and Rugby unable to get a tackle in or get a foot on the ball as they hit a low shot to Lily’s left for 2-1. This lifted Hinckley and they grew in confidence momentarily until Marley made a run down the left and played a precision ball into Lila’s feet on the edge of the box, she turned one way then the other to shoot into the net for 3-1. Jasmine then made it 4-1 with another great shot from outside the box, floated over the keepers hands into the top of the net, just before half time.

Half Time Rugby Borough Girls 4 – 1 Hinckley Town Girls 

We had a lovely presentation to Katie at half time, a former player with the squad for 4 years who left this year at lockdown to concentrate on her elite swimming training with City of Coventry Swimming Club. Good luck Katie from all of the team. A very short team talk ensued which resembled ‘more of the same please’ and we reverted back to our starting eleven but without Jasmine who had to leave early, so Maya stepped in and we went to our usual 3-4-1 formation with Millie R dropping in to attacking midfielder.