Reading Ladies 0 - 11 Aldershot Ladies

Last updated : 25 February 2008 By Stray Shots Team
The Shots had already played Reading twice this season and had already put 30 goals past them.

The Shots started the better and settled straight into their passing game. The wide pitch was helping the two wide players to stretch the Reading defence in the first couple of minutes, but the Shots couldn't connect with the crosses.

After 5 minutes the Shots opened the scoring, when the ball was switched to the right side of the area, a Shots striker held the ball up and waited for North to burst through from midfield to fire her shot in from the edge of the box.

5 minutes later the Shots increased their lead. Smith's corner came into the box and caused Reading defenders some confusion, and as the ball wasn't cleared, Grover struck the ball firmly into the net.

The Shots seemed to enjoy most of the possession for the next 15 minutes, with Ireland, Meredith and North controlling the midfield. At the back Coles was winning all the aerial balls and Smith and Giberson were exploiting the space well.

On 25 minutes the Shots went further ahead. Thanks to great cross from Funnell, one of the Shots strikers was there to fire into the net.

In an eight-minute spell, the Shots doubled their lead.

On 37 minutes, Wallman received the ball, held off the defender to lay the ball into Funnell who drove a thunder shot into the top corner, to her sheer delight after missing the first half of the season through injury. On 40 minutes, Wallman played in North who laid a well-timed pass into Funnell, who again rocketed a shot into the net.

As half-time approached, the Shots made it six, when North was given the freedom to fire her shot from the edge of the box pass the out-stretched keeper.

After half time it was more off the same as the Shots pushed to increase the score, Barely two minutes into the second half, and Funnell raced onto the ball, she seem to lose her balance, but still managed to chip the advancing goalkeeper, to finish a superb hat trick.

The Shots brought on two fresh legs, in Danni Shepherd and Nikki McDonald (replacing Funnell and Kath Giberson, and both started to get the freedom on the wings, with Shepherd sending in some great crosses.

The Shots made it eight on 54 minutes, when the ball found Hannah Grover, fired over the keeper from the edge of the box. Grover, following her disappointment over being suspended two weeks ago, had obviously returned in fine form.

The flowing football was there and the Shots where putting the Reading goal area under constant bombardment. The ninth came 13 minutes from time, when Ireland sent Shepherd clear on the left and Wallman was able to head the ball in off a defender.

As the game came to a close, a Shots attacker received the ball on the edge of the box and fired home. In the second minute of stoppage time, the ball was again sent out to the left and crossed in for Wallman to slot home past the keeper.

Player of the Match went to Laura Funnell who said, "Today's game was an enjoyable one. The team worked hard, and we all worked together. On a personal level it was great to get back on the score sheet after coming back from a bad injury. I hope this gives both myself and the team the confidence to get the results for the rest of the season which we deserve."

"Another good performance from the girls. We changed our formation slightly from the Oxford United game and took the game to Reading. There was some very good performances from every part of the pitch, but personally it was nice to see Laura Funnell score a very good hat trick after being out for most of the season through injury. We haven't rushed her back, but she is playing like the old Laura we knew. Two good results with some very good games to come next month and I think the girls are relishing the challenge to upset a couple off the form teams."
Andy Liddicott