GU16 Calypsos Grind Out Win

GU16 Calypsos 2 - 1 London Wayfarers

There was high expectation from both sides ahead of this top of the table clash at the end of a school holiday. This was not best we have seen of the Calypsos but the whites managed to grind out a favourable 2-1 result to head the table as we cross the halfway mark of Phase One of the season.

The half term blues saw our girls put on a disjointed individual and collective display. The score may be flattering compared to overall reflections on the game. It opened with some resolute defence from our backline against Wayfarers’ prodding and probing. The recent success from our game plan again paid off handsomely in the 13th minute when Maddox delivered, on the break, the final pass to Winter who scored from a low drive at an acute angle beating the near post of Wayfarers.

Wayfarers responded almost at the restart with their own breakaway only for Lamb, our ever-present goalstopper, to halt their progress. The blacks seized the initiative and increasingly dominated the overall possession, in particular around the midfield. The Calypsos looked like they were playing a different formation from previous matches by leaving a sizeable gap between the front and backlines. Our midfield toiled for most of the match with a lack of numbers to compete. This made our efforts at distribution harder, though the accuracy of passing in part compensated for this shortfall.

The Calypsos came out for the second half with more urgency by registering the first three successive short corners of the game with a variation in play - different final ball strikes by Henkes and Beumer. The team’s improvement was telling with a more frequent use of the flanks, and better connectivity saw us clock up another four short corners before Winter reacted first to hit in a goal mouth scramble. However, we quickly ceded the 2-0 advantage, and just managed to hold onto the slender margin after the opposition hit our post in the closing seconds of game.

Not a vintage performance but the Calypsos remain at the top holding a three point advantage over the nearest challengers with two games to go. Next up - away to Old Cranleighans on Sunday 23rd November.

Scorers: Winter (2)

Result: 1-0 (HT), 2-1 (FT)