23/1/16:
Mendip were keen to put their loss last week at the back of their minds as they took on last year’s league toppers Salisbury. Mendip started with high intensity putting the Salisbury defence under pressure from the first whistle, with Ella Sage only narrowly missing the goal within the first few minutes. Mendip continued with this high tempo and moved the ball from defence to attack with composure and accuracy. Jess Harding in midfield continued to press and send some great high balls. Salisbury’s game plan was to send long balls to their high forwards, but the experience in Mendip’s defence of Sammy Chivers, Anna Swift and Cherilyn Carey ensured every break was quickly quashed. Towards the end of the first half Salisbury began to find some pattern to their game and had a few chances, April Callow took a nasty knock to her knee therefore a change in structure meant Mendip had to close the first half without their captain. The goalless first half was definitely not a reflection of Mendip’s high levels of possession.
The second half continued like the first with Mendip pressing high and Salisbury continued to try to find ways through the Mendip defence. Sammy Chivers made some excellent runs down the right feeding the ball to Jess Smith and Ella Sage. Against the flow of play a mistake by the Mendip skipper gave the Salisbury’s striker a chance to pick her spot in the goal and she finished with an impressive strike. Mendip slightly deflated did not let this dampen their efforts and an excellent run by Harding around the back gave Hayley Young the chance to equalise 1-1. In the final seconds of the game Callow injected a searching ball into the D, where Young for the second time finished off to take the lead. Hayley Young, deservingly, was awarded player of the match but every member of the team deserves to be congratulated for an excellent team performance. Thanks to Carol Holmes and Vicky Parfitt for umpiring.
Mendip take on local rivals Frome next week looking for another 3 points.
April Callow
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