At the Village Café on Monday 20 July, most of the Martinborough Women’s FC team were spotted watching the World Cup final. Clearly, as a training session, it was worth getting out of bed early for. Tactical analysis was studied hard, hints taken and the coffee order accuracy was world class.
Saturday 25 July saw MWFC take on the high-flying Douglas Villa Women’s FC.
In true football reporter’s parlance, “it was a game of two halves.” MWFC decided that leaving the goal to the last few minutes was far too nerve-wracking for a capacity crowd, so they got on with it early instead.
The highlight of the first half was a stunning one-two between TwinkleToesMel and Amaia, the ball laid off to Louise, who whipped in an inch-perfect cross into the box.
The highlight of the first half was a stunning one-two between TwinkleToesMel and Amaia, the ball laid off to Louise, who whipped in an inch-perfect cross into the box. There, MWFC’s very own flying Dutchwoman, Mandy Cruyff, leapt skyward to head the ball down to Amaia, who — in the style of her fellow countryman Ferran Torres, scorer in the real World Cup — met it with a controlled, powerful instep shot that curved deceptively into the top of the net. 1–0.
Amaia, who — in the style of her fellow countryman Ferran Torres, scorer in the real World Cup — met it with a controlled, powerful instep shot that curved deceptively into the top of the net. 1–0.
From there, MWFC — Argentina-style — absorbed wave after wave of attacks. The defence, at times desperately “parking the bus,” with Tam and Tab hassling and harrying anything that moved. A ball was cleared by Sophie, the Fox in the Box, up to Louise, who sprinted clear on the break, got within shooting distance, and unleashed a thunderbolt toward the top corner. It drew a spectacular save from the DVFC keeper, who then produced a second fingertip stunner soon after — the first of her two heroics being from the penalty spot, rather fittingly, a bit like Martinez in the Argentine goal, who coincidentally plays for Aston VILLA (AVFC). She cleared off the line, but the ball fell straight to the feet of a DVFC attacker.
Winding and weaving, MWFC Charlie and Katie simply strolled their way around the opposition — but on one of DVFC’s rare visits to the MWFC penalty box, a penalty was mysteriously awarded for apparent handball. The ball was placed on the spot. The penalty taker did a stuttered run-up, apparently stopped (a foul, though nobody stopped play), then fired it with gusto — only for it to be spectacularly saved by Rachel, who will be signing autographs at the Village Café indefinitely.
I’m told a shot to the right bosom is never fun, but I wouldn’t know, so I’ll take their word for it. Braver reporting than mine has never been filed.
The crowd bit their fingernails, perched on the edge of their seats — in true football parlance, it had become “squeaky bum time.” MWFC, in equally true football reporter’s parlance, were “digging deep.”
Final whistle: MWFC 1, DVFC 0. Coincidentally, Spain 1, Argentina 0. And amazingly, the MWFC goal was scored by a Spaniard.
Somewhere, the football gods were taking notes.
