GU16 Calypsos Win Seven Goal Thriller

GU16 Calypsos 4 - 3 Bromley & Beckenham

Match 2 of the Tier 2 competition saw the high shooters from Round 1 so far meet at Reed’s. The perfect weather conditions saw a closely contested game that Calypsos took the maximum points from after edging Bromley & Beckenham (B&B).

Bryer opened the scoring with the Calypsos’ first meaningful attack, a quick tap-in, as early as the third minute. The match was very much in free flow despite B&B coming to the match with a clear game plan: 1. stifle Calypsos’ play by giving the whites little time and space, and 2. using the pace on both flanks and/or through the middle channel for their counter. The equaliser was very much the latter in making, it was well executed to square the match within five minutes of the restart. But Winter restored the whites’ half time lead with a well struck goal in open play.

The Calypsos managed to nullify some of pace that had been so prevalent in the first half, in part, after Frankie’s team talk at the break and in part as fatigue gradually sank in. That said, B&B served another warning of no easy turnover with their breakaways. The pick of the saves came from Lamb, our keeper, in the 40th minute, first with the stick to halt a clean direct hit from the opposition at the edge of our D, then a reflexive save with her hand protector. That raised the tempo of the match and injected more urgency to kill off the game from our perspective.

Beumer made a number of darting runs between B&B’s defence. Her endeavours were finally rewarded with a reverse drive goal after initially being denied by the keeper. Henkes made it 4-2 after having previously hit the base of post more than once in the match. A lapse of concentration enabled B&B to pull a goal back from the counter. But our girls managed to hold onto their marginal lead and saw out the game with the spectators on the edge of their toes.

Next up, a top of table clash at home to Wayfarers with the winner of this tie likely to be in the driving seat to advance beyond Tier 2 in phase 2 of season.

Scorers: Bryer, Winter, Beumer, Henkes

Result: 2-1 (HT), 4-3 (FT)