The matches between these two sides are always hard games, with not many goals scored, and this game was no exception. The game started off at a high tempo and this was kept up for most of the half, the Shots started to press from the start and were trying to thread the ball through the Wycombe's back four, which were coping well. When the Shots did get through, the ball just seemed to be over hit and the Wycombe keeper was there to tidy up.

The ball was being strung around the midfield area and chances at both ends became scarce. North was driving hard from midfield but seemed to always end up facing a blue wall. When the Shots were getting the ball wide, it was crossed into the box, but always seem to evade the Shots strikers, McDonald started to get the better of her marker and was working the ball well with Hann ,who came close to opening the scoring with the Shots first real effort.

When Wycombe did break Grover, Coles and Smith where there to snuff out the threat.

On 32 minutes, The Shots again came close when the ball was whipped into the box, it eluded Wallman and McDonald couldn't get a foot on it to put the Shots one up.

On the stroke of half-time, Hann and a Wycombe defender both went in for a ball near the edge of the penalty area, and both players went down injured. The Shots striker was down for several minutes (although the referee had by that point blown for the half-time interval) before gingerly regaining her feet.

In the second half it was more of the same, with the Shots system again giving them time and space on the ball to push on and attack the Wanderers goal, again as much as the Shots tried the ball never broke for them in the final third of the pitch.

On 57 minutes, the game had its first goal, but it went against the run off play. The Wycombe midfield won the ball and launched it forward for the Wycombe striker to lob the ball from outside the box. It dipped over Calder in the Shots goal to give the visitors the lead.

The Shots upped the tempo again and laid siege to the Wycombe goal. Again the blue defence was there to frustrate the Shots forwards. Again when the Shots had the ball wide it caused the Wycombe defence problems, but the Wycombe keeper was always on hand to clear up.

With just over 10 minutes to go, having bravely battled during the second half taking several more knocks, Laura Hann was replaced by Tasha Meredith.

The Shots continued to pile forward giving absolutely everything, with Giberson and Caz Shepherd coming close. But in the end the Shots had given their all, and the game finished with a 1-0 win to Wycombe.

Player of the Match goes to Caz Shepherd

Gaffer's View

"From a neutral point of view, it was a great game to watch. Wycombe made it hard by getting numbers behind the ball. We struggled for the first time this season in front of goal and should have really done better. The girls never gave in and kept working away to the final whistle.

I am disappointed as the game was there to be won, but you get games like that and we need to focus on our next game at home to Oxford United.

The squad injury list has now dropped to one (Laura Funnell) and with hopefully two new signings this week; we will strengthen in every department on the field."

Captain's Corner

We knew before Kick off that this was going to be our first real test on home soil and given our results against Wycombe last season we knew it would be a tough match. It was a hard fought battle and I was pleased with the effort that was put in by all the players involved. The most disappointing factor was that we failed to create ourselves any clear-cut chances to really test the Wycombe keeper. Overall it was a pretty even match with Wycombe just managing to get that vital first goal midway through the second half which made things a bit frantic for us towards the end. We will be working hard in training this week to put things right for this Sunday at home to Oxford United.

Squad:

Hayley Calder, Di Smith, Kath Giberson, Tara Coles, Hanna Grover, Nikki McDonald, Emma North ©, Laura Wallman, Laura Hann (Meredith 77") Caz Shepherd, Danni Shepherd.

Cautions: Caz Shepherd 88"

UPCOMING FIXTURES (all 2pm kick off)

· Oxford United (H) - League - 11/11

· Riverside Strikers (A) - Hampshire Women's Cup - 18/11

· Bracknell Town (A) - League - 25/11