ROUND 3 – Sun 2nd
May’10 (Ashburton Park, High St Rd., Ashburton)
Match Reports: FERNWOOD VIPERS vs Ashburton
After we knocked them out of the WPL finals with our final round win
over Ashburton at the end of last season, the home side were always going to be very keen for some ‘revenge’.
Unfortunately, the Vipers hopes of extending a promising start to the current
season with a repeat of that result were undermined before the games even
kicked off. With no less than five players unavailable, including three key first
team players, the Vipers arrived at Ashburton with
only 17 players for the two games. As a result no less than 10 of the firsts team players rotated via the interchange bench to
allow the reserves game to go ahead. This is clearly not ideal, and our squad numbers
will need to be quickly addressed or an alternative option (perhaps involving
some dispensatory help from the FFV) may have to be considered. In spite of the
developmental value of the Vipers participation in the WPL, including its
reserves competition, the competitive reality is that the Vipers survival is
dependent only on the firsts avoiding relegation, and though the quality of our
players is unquestionable, our current squad numbers is putting the future of
the Vipers at risk.
Reserves
Although the ten firsts team players shared the five purely defensive
positions (a back three and two central stoppers in midfield) these players
were under instructions to save themselves for the main game, putting a lot of
pressure on their young reserves team-mates. Ashburton
on the other hand had a strong reserves line-up with several experienced WPL
campaigners, and the added advantage of plenty of practice playing on their difficult
home ground. Their tactic of utilizing the wings (to avoid the rough ‘cricket
pitch’ area in the centre of the pitch) coupled with crosses and diagonal balls
to their forwards made the most of their substantial physical advantage. While
the Vipers technical team play out of defence and in
midfield was still good to watch, our attacks often fell down because of a
combination of inadequate movement from the strikers and rushed but hopeful
passes that more often than not simply turned over hard-won possession.
With such a young squad lacking more mature Vipers team-mates to steady
the ship, the physicality of the Ashburton play was
clearly rattling many of the Vipers players, but to their credit these players
never gave up. Our youngest player, Tegan M, not only
scored a well-deserved goal for the Vipers before half-time, but relished her move
into a demanding midfield role in the 2nd half, her play and
confidence improving steadily as the game went on. Unfortunately, the need to
rest and prepare players before the firsts game meant
the reserves had to battle out the last half-hour with just the bare minimum of
6 outfield players, though the fantastic efforts and numerous point-blank saves
from Sarah W-O in goal was almost as good as an extra player.
The final whistle blew giving the home side a 10-1 win that sounds much
more one-sided than was the truth – except for the last 30 minutes when the
home side (with an 11:7 player advantage) had most of the possession and added
several goals to their score. Overall the Vipers were well and truly in the
game, controlled and moved the ball creatively and skillfully, but were outmuscled
and outnumbered on the day.
Firsts
The absences of key players like Maika R-H and Alex C (whose defensive capabilities
are second to none) and injured striker Emily L took 3 of our physically
strongest players out of the Vipers line-up. In contrast Ashburton
had their strongest side on the park, with an intimidating blend of experience
and skill, coupled with an effective if simple tactical approach. Again their
familiarity with how to make the most of the difficult Ashburton
pitch added to the home side’s advantage, with the Vipers unable to play with
its usual fluency through a rough central midfield. The unsettling effect of the forced changes in our defence,
and lack of strength, especially in defending aerial balls, were
immediately apparent when Ashburton scored from their
first corner in only the 5th minute of the game. After fighting back
from the early disappointment, the Vipers had an even share of possession for
most of the first half, though as with the reserves game, use of the ball in
the final third of the pitch let down some good build-up play. A second goal to
the home side, an uncontested finish at the far post just before half-time, was a disappointing end
to the half, but again reflected understandable defensive uncertainty given the
circumstances.
While the Vipers raised their intensity in the second half, few of the
Vipers players were comfortably able to match their opponents physically, and gradually
the strength and speed of the fresher Ashburton
players began to take its toll on the tiring Vipers team. Welcome contributions
from substitutes Bridget B, Jackii L and Jackie P who
came on during the second half lifted Vipers spirits with their determined and
skilful efforts in attack, both when in possession and by increasing pressure
on the Ashburton defenders. As with the reserves
game, the final score (5-0) was more a reflection of the capability of an Ashburton side at its strongest to turn its clear physical
superiority over a changed Vipers line-up into goals, than of the relative
abilities of the two teams.
Some of the younger Vipers players who were obviously upset on the day
should forget the score-lines, and take heart that they had so many good
moments in an under-strength Vipers performance against bigger, more
experienced and stronger opponents. While many of the Ashburton
players have already reached their peak, virtually every player in the Vipers
squad has improved in leaps and bounds in the last year or two, and can only be
expected to keep getting better, and STRONGER, over the coming weeks and years.
A big thank you to our loyal Vipers fans who once again were loudly
encouraging the team right to the end – your positive support is much
appreciated.
Report from Peter Richardson, Head Coach