In possibly their best performance of the season so far, TULFC returned from Bristol with all 3 points after beating Downend Flyers 5-0 in the SWWFL Premier League.
The TULFC management team decided to switch things around for his match. A change in formation enabled Steph Beck and Rhi Bailey plenty of time on the ball. Georgia Mann came in at right-back and Sarah Smith was pushed into a more advanced midfield role.
The game started brightly, TULFC controlling the game with a high tempo from the start. In the 10th minutes TULFC broke the deadline with a well worked goal from Daisy Self who broke through, controlled the ball on her chest and scored past the keeper. Five minutes later another goal for TULFC, this time Chapman on the score sheet. Bailey played a superb ball straight through the defence for Chapman to run on to and calmly slot the ball home.
TULFC kept the pressure up in the second half. Mann and Rogers were looking dangerous, making incisive runs from midfield. Several chances were narrowly missed and skipper Alex Sheppard put a bullet header over the bar from a Bailey corner. Soon after Smith rattled the cross bar with a stunning strike. TULFC could have easily been four or five up.
A third goal loomed, Bailey picked up the ball in midfield and made a perfect pass out on the right to Jana Richards who roared past the defence with pace and whipped in an inch perfect cross right into the feet of Chapman for her to score her second goal of the match. Chapman was enjoying lots of time on the ball up front. Another chance fell to her just before half time, a strike from the edge of the box smashed against the post. The ball rebounded into the path of Self who was on hand to bury the ball from close range. TULFC were 4-0 up at half-time.
The second half started much as the first half had finished with TULFC dominating. Smith and Richards were finding space and time on the wings. With the team operating so successfully as an attacking unit, TULFC were comfortable at the back. Mingo had barely touched the ball in goal and Sheppard and Wakley had very little to do at the back. Bailey and Beck were pulling the strings in midfield and in the 55th minute a loose ball broke out on the left for Smith. She cut inside onto her right foot and found the bottom corner. 5-0!
With plenty of talent on the bench and a tough run of games coming up,Smith, Chapman and Self made way for Randle, Wyatt and Eglon. Downend got more bodies behind the ball and were harder to break down. Wakley and Richards made way for Evans And Binding with all players getting minutes under their belts. More pressure from TULFC followed in the closing minutes, another superb Bailey corner was again met by Sheppard only for her header to narrowly pass over the cross bar.
It was a very impressive display from TULFC. All players were able to be involved in the game and get some valuable minutes under their belts.
Report by Vicki Fannon.
Next Sunday they face Yeovil Intermediates at home in the league with a 2pm kick-off.
Today’s line up:
Mingo
Mann
Wakley
Sheppard
Rogers
Richards
Bailey
Beck
Smith
Self
Chapman
Subs:
Wyatt
Eglon
Randle
Evans
Binding