Women's B Vs Naenae - Nil all draw!!!

With a crisp but fine Wellington winters day we always knew it was going to be a good game... With the game transferred to another park where there were no changing rooms open it made an interesting start.  In typical women's soccer fashion we all managed to get changed in cars, toilets or sideline.  Our goalie was feeling her knees during warm up causing a few nerves to how that might impact the game but as it turns out Toni got player of the day with some great saves and had her first clean slate as goalie!! well done Toni!!!

Naenae have always been a team to beat with our last two games against them being close losses.  We hit the pitch with spirits high and lots of talking determined to get our goals on the table early.  We had some good shots on goal from Wendy and Jules, thanks to lots of accurate passing and hard work from the mid fielders Jo and Jacqui.  There were a few feisty runners that kept the backs on their toes (I have the bruises and lumps to prove it!!).  Naenae were not without their chances but thanks to some good pressure and aggressive tackling the backs were able to shut down the Naenae attack.  Toni also had a hand in the Naenae attack by coming out from the goal and stoping all that came her way.  Then just before half time Marie from Naenae (we all know her name after everyone yelled goodbye to the ambulance) tripped over herself on the side line trying to keep the ball in and broke her leg!! that stopped the game for a few minutes... we tried to take advantage of the opportunity with Naenae one player down, as a Naenae spectator kitted up, but before we knew it the half time whistle blew.

The second half we went on determined not to let our usual drop in mojo happen and the determination paid off!! We were beginning to dominate being able to take our time with the ball and pass with ease.  This half our mid fielders got a few more chances at goal as well as our wings, with Meg running the ball in the left side, and Catherine getting a few shots at goal as well.  Jo and Jacqui also managed to get in the action but it was a bit like the curse we had in the Petone game where all the shots were close but no cigar!!!  At the end of the second half Jules took her usual boot at goal and had the most unlucky of the day's misses with two shots within centimetres and one hitting the far post and coming back into play. Naenae did have their chances in the second half and again Toni stood up and made the saves and the backs had to make a few mad dashes to get back as a few Naenae attackers made their way through but to no avail.

While we can say we played well and should of scored Naenae had their chances and the game came down to good goal keeping on both sides and some great football all round.  We were happy with the draw and only slightly unsatisfied that all our shots missed but the great teamwork made it feel like a win.  Once again Football was the winner on the day!!