MWFC 4 – Wairarapa United 0. In only their 3rd season Martinborough Women’s FC are showing almost greater achievements than Wellington Phoenix did in their 3rd season. The big difference is that 3 seasons ago some of the Marty team hadn’t played football before and they had never played together.
Robin van Persie — one of the Netherlands’ finest footballers, second only in the pantheon to Johan Cruyff and to Martinborough’s own Flying Dutchwoman, Mandy — once did something no one else had done, scoring four goals in a single World Cup game back in 1986. Well, that record has now been not just equalled but comprehensively obliterated by Martinborough’s very own Mandy. Against the stern and unyielding opposition of Wairarapa United, Mandy kept on slotting them away, to a grand total of four goals. Sadly, she narrowly missed going one better than Van Persie, when her probable fifth went screaming just over the crossbar. The keeper would have had no chance had it only been struck with a touch more spin to create the deceptive banana curve. Sophie was denied a visit to the score sheet when her nearly perfectly timed run was deemed offside. Clearly her fingernails are too long or the league needs VAR or someone should have gone to Specsavers.
Against the stern and unyielding opposition of Wairarapa United, Mandy kept on slotting them away, to a grand total of four goals.
It was a game of stars shining at both ends of the pitch, and everywhere in between. In goal — or, in terrace parlance, “between the sticks” — Rachel was launching herself higher than Hamish Kerr at the Olympics, with rather more grace in the air than your average gymnast. But her real claim to fame was yet another hard-earned clean sheet. So far, her closest rival on that front is Spain’s Unai Simón, who managed seven clean sheets across the recent World Cup.
In goal — or, in terrace parlance, “between the sticks” — Rachel was launching herself higher than Hamish Kerr at the Olympics, with rather more grace in the air than your average gymnast.
The defence was solid, the wings did excellent work feeding the forward line, and the midfield playmakers – Melinda and Mel – the vital link between attack and defence – controlled the tempo and carved out the chances all afternoon. Clearly, they’d all been watching Rodri and Cucarella with the HAIR (see the similarity) in Spain v Argentina on the big screen at the Village Café.
Martinborough Women’s FC are having a great season and just above mid-table. Go and watch. Why not.
