MNJYSA game # 8 (our 9th)
With Coach John on the road, Coach Martin took a risk by pre-planning the line-ups and substitutions - hoping that we would get subbing opportunities every 5 minutes and hoping that the Wildcats could control the flow of the game to allow the continually changing personnel to work together in sometimes unfamiliar positions and combinations.
We lost the toss, but had the ball to start, and from the opening whistle we pushed the ball deep into Readington's end. Constant pressure resulted in a few corner kicks, and on 6 minutes we had our best opportunity of the game on another corner that was well saved by their keeper. Six minutes later the ball was served into the box and we had a flurry of shots and scrambles that eventually ended in a goal kick.
Not relenting, the Wildcats kept driving and pressing winning another goal kick at 21 minutes. Amy received the low drive just outside the penalty area, touched in forward and BLASTED a shot high to the far post that the keeper actually got both hands on, but could barely slow it down.
Lin had two chances, one with a header off a corner that the keeper grabbed and the other, a shot that almost scraped the top of the bar from outside the box
Some players fielded some different positions.. (Liz, Amy and Syd at forward, Jules and Hannah at inside mid, Lin at stopper, and Mattie prepared for the EB at sweeper).. but it was evident that we are probably not ready (yet) to play that format against the more powerful teams. As players continue their soccer development, it will certainly cause them to become more versitile and allow for such free-flowing positioning.
As it turns out, Readington had beaten Watchung Hills last week, and then East Brunswick beat Franklin on Sunday, so the Wildcats can clinch the flight championship on Sunday at East Brunswick... GO WILDCATS !!!!
