Ladies 1s vs Alderley Edge 2

On Saturday 8th October, WHC Ladies 1s lined up against rivals Alderley Edge Ladies 2s in a much anticipated local derby in a lunchtime pushback. A last minute change of venue meant that the game would be played out on a pitch that is arguably older than the average age of Wilmslow’s squad. 

Nevertheless, after an inspirational pre-game tactical session led by the still new-in-post Coach Bennett, and motivated by the squad’s new changing room playlist (containing an amalgamation of the player’s choices which can only loosely be described as “music”, some of which radio two listeners will never have heard the like), the girls wandered out on to the vintage turf of Wilmslow High School. 

Alderley were first out to warm up, looking well drilled and organised. The WHC girls took a little while to settle into the warm up, choosing to engage in catching up on the most up to date gossip rather than focus on the task in hand and required a few stern reminders from Coach Bennett. Captain Bracegirdle lost the toss, Alderley choosing to take first push back, allowing Bracegirdle to ensure her team played facing into the low sun in the first half. 

On the stroke of 12pm, the umpires blew their whistles and the game began at a frantic pace. Alderley were first out of the blocks, pressing high and into the corners to force the Wilmslow defenders to hold the ball and transfer patiently across the back. Alderley’s initially high pressing tactics worked and Wilmslow’s attempt to force the ball out of defence allowed Alderley to break down the play and attack. After a period of box-to-box play, Alderley were the first to convert their chances and slotted home after a lapse in defensive concentration and somewhat passive defending. Undeterred by the early Alderley goal, Wilmslow worked hard to stick to the plans set out by Bennett, working the ball out of defence via solid transfers, shifting the ball across the back from Johnson to Hanson and through the triangles created by the hardworking midfield of Hall, Healey and Bracegirdle. Aggressive forward play from Jones, Bailey and Rachubka put the Alderley defence under uncomfortable pressure, the Alderley keeper making some outstanding saves to keep them ahead. Eventually, Bracegirdle, leading her team by example, converted a scrappy short corner to level the game. 

Alderley took advantage of a lax restart and attacked the Wilmslow defence at speed, Keeper Evans stood up to the task easily, clearing several straight strikes but Alderely were first to react, classic flat stick defending from Griffiths and Northrop failed to be cleared and Alderley pounced at the back post to put them ahead. 

The end to end play continued at pace, but Bennett’s tactics were beginning to pay dividends. The Alderley defenders, starting to crack under the incessant pressure from the tenacious Wilmslow forwards saw an attempted aerial fail, the Wilmslow forwards pounced and the ball was well worked into Finney who slotted through to Jones at the back post, Jones took no time to think (thankfully) and slotted home at the back post to bring the scores level. 

Shell shocked by the determination of the Wilmslow side, Alderley’s initially successful tactics began to fall apart. Their attempts to run the ball in to the Wilmslow ‘D’ were thwarted by the Wilmslow defenders and with excellent support play from Hall, Healey and Bracegirdle, the normally hard hitting Alderley forwards failed to find the target. 

Defence was turned into attack quickly via textbook pressing by Finney, Bailey, Gilmartin and Rogan who were all over the Alderley defence like seagulls on chips. The forward line had chance after chance but couldn’t convert, the Alderley keeper showcased more diving prowess than Tom Daley to keep the score level. It was only a matter of time before the Alderley defending gave way and just before half time, Rogan converted a scrappy goal line scramble to lead the game 3-2 at half time. 

At half time, the gaffer’s whiteboard came out, tactical reminders were clear and Bennett sent out his team with a resounding message of ‘there are more goals to be had’ ringing in their ears. 

Wilmslow were quick out of the blocks, working hard to embed the tactical plans set out, working the ball out of the back and pressing together as a unit. Chance after chance went begging, short corner after short corner went unconverted, until Northrop decided to show the forwards how to finish, slapping the ball passed the keeper from just inside the D to make the score 4-2.

Alderley’s response was to try and score on the counter attack, using the young legs of their wingers to try and break down the Wilmslow defenders. Playing in to the hands of the old fashioned defending of ‘player of the match’ Griffiths who after a short interlude to empty the contents of her stomach on the sideline, resumed to combine with Northrop, Johnson and Hanson to win the ball and play the ball out with no real need to panic. 

Half way through the second half, Rachubka (who had been the architect of much of the forward play) sprung on to a poor Alderley pass on the half way line, with the legs of a seemingly spritely teenager, Rachubka sprinted from half way into the Alderley D, a panicked Alderley defender saw no choice but to combine with the Alderley keeper and bring down the dangerous forward. Rachbuka went down like a cheap MFI wardrobe, umpire Broome considered her options and with little hesitation awarded a penalty stroke. A meeting of the Wilmslow forwards proved more effective than the Tory party conference and Bailey was elected to be stroke taker. She stepped up and confidently beat the Alderley keeper whose valiant efforts to keep her side in the game were proving hopeless. 

Alderley were not yet ready to give up and continued to attack down their right wing. A swashbuckling jab tackle from Healey was upgraded to a short corner in the last ten minutes and gave Alderley their last chance to get back in the game. Captain Bracegirdle, again, setting an example to her squad, beat the striker easily to clear the ball. An injury to Johnson and no defensive subs meant dependable (and super-stretchy) Hall stepped in as a makeshift LH. Alderley now began to look beaten but Wilmslow were not finished yet. More solid defensive play, supported by the hardworking Hall, allowed the ball to be worked out of defence down the left wing using the training ground drills embedded by Bennett. 

Wilmslow finally put the game to bed following another scrappy attempt at goal, Healey combined with Rogan to beat the forlorn Alderley keeper, killing off Alderley’s hopes of taking home any points. The umpires blew the final whistle, with the score at 6-2, an all round quality team performance. Next week, the ladies 1s welcome Timperley to Styal Road, hoping to bag another three points.