Crystal Palace Ladies FC

Our first home game of the New Year saw us play Epsom and Ewell for the first time this season.
Again, in what seems like a good habit, we started off playing strongly, with an early chance falling to Ellie – she had a shot which hit the side netting.
Our next good opportunity fell to Ellie again, showing great determination to make galloping run down the left hand side. Unfortunately, her shot was captured well by the opposition goalkeeper.
The cavalier football that was on display was rewarded shortly afterwards when Rebecca took a low hard shot from the middle of the penalty area to make it 1:0.
Shortly afterwards a great goal-kick from Carmela found its way to Brooke. Some intricate passing moves between Brooke and Rebecca ended with an opportunity that fell to Ella. With one of her trademark accurate finishes, Ella, not looking a gift horse in the mouth, scored a well taken goal to make it 2:0
In defence, the back line of Rose and Rhianna were proving to be a stable influence with Ellen acting as a sweeper and keeping a tight rein to deny Epsom any opportunities.
Our last good chance of the half started with a move started by Brooke on the right hand side of the pitch. Brooke passed to Rebecca, a quick 1-2 with Katie meant that Rebecca had sight of goal and hit a shot low and hard past the keeper to make it 3:0.
Carmela, with little to do in the first half, showed great concentration as she was called into action to make a great catch from one of Epsom’s attacks.
The referee blew the whistle for half time and it was one of the best first half performances that we have managed this season.
The second half started a little more evenly, we were getting pushed into our half more and more as Epsom were gaining the upper hand. The pressure from Epsom paid off for them as a defensive mix up meant that they grabbed one goal back to make it 3:1.
We started playing a little better after that wakeup call and another piece of good passing football between Brooke and Rebecca meant that Rebecca had another chance and she made no mistake to grab her 3rd goal of the game and our 4th.
The 4th goal spurred Epsom into action again and, to their credit, they did start to play some good football. Another defensive mix up meant that the ball fell to the Epsom striker who scored another goal from close range to make it 4:2.
There followed a period when we were struggling to retain possession and were forced to hoof the ball out of defence to stop
There was a chance for Natalina on the right hand side of the pitch but she was crowded out by some good Epsom defending and so the attack was snuffed out.
Epsom had a chance with a few minutes to go but some good goalkeeping from Carmela meant that the attack came to nothing.
In the very final minute the ball fell to Brooke who was champing at the bit to get on the score sheet. She got her wish when she got the ball on the right hand side of the pitch and placed the ball past the goalkeeper’s left to make it 5:2.

The final whistle blew and it was a good performance from the girls and our third win on the trot.
Carmela done well in goal, Ellen, Rhianna and Rose held the defence up well, Ellie and Natalina were a constant threat, Katie worked tirelessly in midfield whilst Ella, Rebecca and Brooke played some great attacking football.
Well done to all of the squad.