24 Feb 2008 - Match report. Sunday 24th February 2008 - Brightlingsea Regent v Copleston U15

Brightlingsea Regent 4 - Copleston 3

A strangely out of sorts Copleston team struggled on an 11 a-side pitch against a stiff breeze in the first half  (perhaps the girls were missing Rick!).  Brightlingsea had the best of the possession in the first half and deserved their lead from a well-executed goal towards the end of the half. 

A few minutes later in a rare sortie, Copleston grabbed an equaliser with Siobhan superbly lobbing the advancing goalkeeper to score with our first attempt on goal.  We were all thinking the girls had done well to reach half time on level terms when Brightlingsea regained the lead from a goal kick wickedly bouncing up off the hard bobbely pitch.

Despite losing another goal against the run of play early in the second half the Cops didn’t let their heads drop, raised their game further and pressed the home team. 

Siobhan pulled a goal back midway through the second half with a superb solo effort.  Picking the ball up in the opposition half she made her way to the by-line where she skipped past a defender and beat the goalkeeper from the tightest angle imaginable.

With around ten minutes to go Copleston grabbed a deserved equaliser, Siobhan was put though with a superb pass that beat the offside trap, she coolly rounded the keeper and passed the ball into the net to complete a fantastic hat trick. Well done!

At this stage it looked as if there was only going to be one winner with the Cops pressing and winning a couple of corners and Leah accurately delivering them into the danger area.  Laura Manning, on her debut for Copleston, had a superb effort well saved by the Brightlingsea keeper.

With the game well into injury time Brightlingsea managed a rare attack into the Copleston half and was rewarded with a hotly disputed penalty that their Goalkeeper duly despatched in what was virtually the last kick off the game.  Not often a goalkeeper scores twice!

Despite the bitter disappointment of losing in that manner, the Cops were gracious in defeat and unlike our previous opponents, shook hands and gave three cheers to the opposition.  Girls, we are proud of you.

Paul Trenter

Assistant Manager U15s