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Whitchurch Saints v Howards Cup Game Match Report

Wednesday 3rd December 2014

Saints hosted local rivals Howards at the USW pitch on what proved to be a very cold evening for players and supporters. 

Games between these two teams are always tight, but with Saints usually seen as the underdogs they went into the game with a very positive attitude, and ready following a great warmup with Kier. 

Their high intensity was evident in the first few minutes. Charlotte Smith, playing in a more unfamiliar defensive role, was able to make inroads with Jen Stuart-Smith down the right flank, but Howards defence stood firm and kept Saints at bay. Midfielders Lauren Matthews and Katie Butler were allowed time on the ball, and were able to distribute well to the forward line. It wasn't long before Saints made the Howards defence work - a great cross by Stuart-Smith fell to an unmarked Noelle Cramp in the 'D', but her shot was quickly dealt with by the Howards keeper. 

Saints continued to dominate the possession, and were also leading the way with their pace. Nia Davies produced some surging runs to the baseline, only to narrowly miss the forwards waiting in the 'D'. A hopeful and innocent-looking pass by Cramp into the 'D' hit the post, when it looked like it was going wide, but the Howards defence were able to clear before the forwards were able to react. 

Halfway through the first half the momentum shifted back towards Howards. Saints were warned for not retreating 5 and some good play by Howards led to some shots on goal, which luckily weren't on target. Just before halftime, Nia Davies was the unfortunate recipient of a yellow card, for not retreating 5. Saints had dig deep to go into the interval with 10 players, and it was made more difficult when Howards were awarded a short corner just before the whistle. As they have scored at this point of the game in previous encounters it was a tense time for the players and supporters, but much to the delight of the crowd Howards missed the target. Halftime score 0-0. 

Buoyed by a positive team-talk from coach Rory Gorman, Saints kept the intensity up in the second half. The game became increasingly more physical but Saints were up to the challenge. Kat Hunter and Lori Waterer were putting in great tackles on the left, and a solid defensive unit was impressing the men's 1st team players on the side. It was then Howards' turn to lose a defensive player to a yellow card for a bad challenge. 

It was during this one-player advantage that Saints scored the only goal of the game. Forward Sara Davies nearly cut off a defensive transfer by Howards, but she did enough to put the centre back off. This allowed her to dispossess the defender and slot the ball under the advancing keeper. Score 1-0. 

What ensued was a gutsy performance by the team to prevent Howards from equalising. For the next 15 minutes the game was end-to-end, with both teams having chances in front of goal. Morgann Williams produced a fine save from a Howards attack, and Liv Laxton and Emily Greenwood were difficult to beat in defence. 

Howards dug deep in the last few minutes to force a number of short corners, but none were converted. Once corner was seemingly cleared well by Saints, but following an infringement Katie Butler was yellow carded for not retreating 5 for the resulting free-hit. Saints had to finish the game with 10 players, but they had done enough to hold onto their slender lead, and now go into the next round of the Welsh Cup.