A Cambridge too far

Despite a valiant effort from the much-changed Suds side, Cambridge United edged us in another thrilling encounter.
It was a promising start to the match, Jeffers and Evie both forcing the opposition ‘keeper into good stops early on. In spite of a good start, Cambridge grew into the game and began knocking on the door. First off, a good effort was denied by the frame of our goal, then they were blocked once again somehow, when a powerful shot rebounded off the inside of the post and bounced out of the goal, they were stopped once again by the post a minute or so before they scored the opening goal. A great bit of footwork down the right-hand side resulted in the ball being squared across the face of the goal and, with a lot of power, Stojko-Down tapped in for the hosts. Unfortunately, things got worse not long after as Evie Creaton went down and had to be substituted by Lola Harvery-Cox with about 10 minutes remaining of the half. However, a moment of magic got us level. Outside of the eighteen-yard box, Jeffers received the ball to her feet, and she curled her shot right into the top corner, with the last real bit of action of the half!

At the beginning of the second half, we had to make a change. Lillia Prior being substituted with a concussion being replaced by Amy Brunning. Inside two minutes of the half, the hosts got a corner. It was whipped in, and the first shot was blocked off the line, but the rebound was tapped in by Kosky. Not the start to the half we wanted. We then grew into the game, and we equalised with an even more magical moment by Jeffers once again! From 30-yards out Jeffers received the ball after some neat passing from the suds and once again she curled her effort over the top of the goalie and into the net! Magnificent! But... were only level for two minutes. Cambridge quickly won a corner, and the delivery was headed in off the head of one of our own players, apparently. We were then forced into a third change, Lola getting injured and being replaced by Kaylee Dodd.
With just over five minutes to go, Simmonds dinked her effort over Amy who could only get finger tips to it as the hosts made it 4-2.

Well, a disappointing afternoon but that’s the way it goes sometimes. We were missing some key players, and the players that replaced them then got injured, I don’t think I've ever seen three changes having to be made due to injury but that’s the way it goes. However, the fact that in the FA Cup, the most prestigious English competition, concussion substitutes don’t come in to play until the next round is nothing short of disgraceful. I hope that the rule is changed so that Concussion Substitutes are allowed to occur at all levels of the football pyramid and in every competition.
UP THE SUDS
By Isaac Mennie