Fall 2008 - MNJYSA game #7
The field was slick from Saturday's torrential rains, but that didn't slow down the pace of this game. The Wildcats knew that a win today would be give them a little breathing room at the top of the flight, since after playing everyone once, Flemington was the only one who had beaten them.
Within the first two minutes of the game the Wildcats were awarded a very dubious indirect free kick on the 6 yard line for a back pass to the keeper that, by everone's interpretation but the referee's, was unintentional. The shot was blocked off the line and rebounded out to the 18 where is was sent back in, but ended up going out for a goal kick. The game was very physical, and the Wildcats showed their determination by going hard to all the 50/50's and driving through the ball... so much so that the Cyclones started to back down out of challenges after a few knocks.
The referee made it very difficult for himself and for both teams as he was consistantly inconsistant throughout the contest. He called at least four fouls (two for each team) for girls shielding the ball, he called hand ball when balls were blasted at girls faces and bodies and they raised their arms to protect themselves, yet he seemed to not call more obvious infractions (as viewed by the coaches for both teams). This caused consternatin from the parents and coaches from both teams... but the girls on the field kept playing hard.
Unlike the first contest against Flemington, the Wildcats had more of the possession and were pressuring more, but couldn't get through the Cyclones last line of defense very often.. and when we did, their keeper was up to the task. On 27 minutes, and against the run of play the Cyclones took the ball down the right wing and cross low across the middle about 6 yards out. With the defense and Lin shifting from left to right the Flemington striker came in from the back post and pushed the ball back against the flow... Lin reacted well, but could only slow the ball down, and no-one could follow to clear the ball off the line as it gently bounced in for a 1-0 Flemington lead.
The Wildcats didn't let up, and kept maintaining the possession and pressure, but couldn't muster a threat on the Flemington goal. There wasn't much to say at the half except to continue their physical dominance and possession, and to get the ball in front of goal and shoot more. About 12 minutes into the 2nd half Jules fired a low left foot shot and the keeper's left post, and she made a very good save to parry the ball around the post with her fingertips for a corner. Amy sent in a nice high corner that just evaded heads at the far post, but the ball was sent back in 3 or 4 more times, each time desperately cleared by the Cyclones center-backs, until they finally got it cleared long.
With Andy out injured, Chelsea Liz Rachel Bre and Lin stifled the Flemington attack all day, which kept the ball away from the slick goal area that could have troubled Lin and Bre when they were in goal. But the same can be said for Flemington, as their defense managed to stifle our attack all game long....even in the last 12 minutes when we dropped down to 2 defenders and had 4 up top. The game ended as it was at the half, 1-0 Flemington.
This result really tightens up the flight as Cranford and Somerset Hills move up with recent wins, and everyone with at least a game in hand over the Wildcats. To become flight champs 4 seasons in a row, the Wildcats will need to win out and will need those other three teams to knock each other off, or tie. One game at a time... next up is Watchung Hills on the turf field where we knocked them out of State Cup last year.
GO WILDCATS !!!