The Eagles travelled to Farnham this morning to play a Churt team currently lying second in the league and one point off the top spot with a game in hand. The coaches knew it was going to be a tough game, played in bright warm sunshine on a fast 3G pitch as they had a small squad of just ten players.
The game started with the Eagles playing three at the back, four in midfield and a lone striker up front. This tactic paid off as the Churt team were overrun in the early exchanges in midfield with Ella, Ria, Bonnie and Freya taking control and dominating the middle of the pitch. Ella and Freya repeatedly drove the ball forward to link with Lyla and only an outstanding save by the Churt goalkeeper from a dipping shot from Freya kept the score at 0-0.
With the Churt goalie launching huge goal kicks down the field over to the wings, Bonnie and Ria were asked to play a more defensive role to prevent crosses being delivered into the Albury penalty area. They worked tirelessly to do this and repeatedly made tackles and interceptions to break up the play.
At the back, Tabs, Ruby and Heidi put into practice the defensive drills from training on Wednesday and continually closed the space down when the Churt forwards were in possession. Time and again they blocked shots and passes and played the ball into midfield, much the frustration of the opposition. Midway through the half the Churt centre forward had a snap shot on goal but a full length dive from Seren saw the ball pushed out for a corner that the Eagles then cleared.
At the other end, Cassidy came on up front and was asked to chase the ball down from goal kicks to stop the opposition playing the ball out from the back. With pressure being put on the Churt team, the ball was regularly intercepted and on one such occasion the ball was played up to Ella and then to Freya was calmy finished in the corner to put the Eagles 1-0 up at the break.
The half time talk focussed on continuing to up the pressure on the opposition when they had the ball and to win the 50:50 challenges. Previously when having a small squad, the Eagles have tended to run out of steam but today they seemed to get stronger as the game progressed. With Lyla back up front and making a nuisance of herself to the Churt defenders, the midfield fighting for everything and the defence fully focussed and dominant, the opposition were largely nullified in attack. But there is good reason that they are lying second in the league and midway through the half they worked the ball down the left and the winger cut inside to fire a curling shot towards the goal. Seren dived full stretch to her left and pushed it out for a corner. That was the only shot on target by Churt in the second half. At the other end, Albury piled on the pressure through a series of corners and long throw ins which saw Ella, Freya and Lyla all come close, but for the goalie who was awarded Churt Star Player after the match. The game ended with the Eagles dominating possession and territory and comfortably seeing out the remaining minutes to win 1-0 to Albury. This was easily the Eagles best performance of the season and it will be interesting to see how both teams fare next week in the return fixture! In the meantime the players can reflect on an absolutely fantastic display of teamwork and effort today and a thoroughly deserved victory.

Star Players : Seren and Ella
Parents’ Player : Bonnie