Womens F 5 - 0 Phoenix

 The Foxes vs The Phoenix   - HKFC 6.30pm Saturday 6th March 2010. 

Match Report by Ali Halli   (Vice Captain The Foxes) 

FOXES 5 (wahoo!) - Phoenix 0 
With a night on the town to look forward to after the match the Foxes were on a high as they stepped onto the pitch determined to win and inflate our already high spirits.  We were also looking forward to trying out our new fluid positions that Chappie had demonstrated to us on his trusty whiteboard! 

The team talk from Chappie before push back gave us very precise instructions for the first few passes:  "Gen push back to Ali, Ali push out right to Viv... Viv take it down the line and straight to the top of the D where Gen will be.... and straight into the goal!  I'm timing you!"  Well, it didn't quite go to plan as the Phoenix had a fair bit of energy to begin with and soon had us defending in our own half within minutes of push back. Our defense sprung into action with eventual clearance coming from Christine down the left side which Alex picked up and down the wing to Sam.... then into the D where I think Gen, Ali, Viv and Sam all had a shot on goal before it was passed out of the D and back in for Sam to tap into the left side of the goal!  10 minutes in and goal number 1.... Yay!  OK so 9 minutes after Chappie's planned goal but hey... we're women... our prerogative to be late sometimes! 

Gaining momentum the Foxes began to attack the now slightly deflated Phoenix and the ball rarely left their half as our new fluid play patterns proved their worth as we sustained our attack.  Mairi's defender distracting role was providing just the right amount of confusion for the Phoenix defence and a couple of short corners were awarded as they began to make mistakes.  Unfortunately the first couple did not bear fruit with some very near misses from Mairi and Ali.   Another short corner to us and another huddle to discuss tactics.  "Same again, push out to Gen, Gen whack it in...."  came the instruction from our Captain Helen.   Well, not being a team to follow instructions precisely (see above push back instructions) again not quite to plan but with enough determination and some passing round the D over to Helen.... in the goal it went!  25 minutes in and goal number 2. There were absolutely no goal celebrations at all from Helen. None - No whooping up the pitch and delighted shouts of 'yes, about time too!' Nope - nothing like that was heard or seen from the foxes at all.......

With one or two break away efforts by the Phoenix into our half and one dismal effort at clearing the ball from Ali!!!  (Hmmm... straight back into our D... eeek!) Luckily Helen and Mel were there to pick up Ali's mistake and clear the ball back out down the right side to Viv which was picked up by Gen only for her to collide with a Phoenix player and emit an ear piercing screech as her shoulder popped out!  Not long after this the half time whistle was blown. 

Hot and sweaty back on the pitch we attacked again.... Gen had come back on despite her injured shoulder and then with a steely determination that she is well known for, smacks the ball into the back of the goal!  Number 3!  It was around about this time after some steely defence after the Phoenix found some energy from somewhere that a feisty Alex was almost green carded for a few choice words about a bad ref call.... his calls were a little dubious on a number of occasions so what can I say apart from "Alex, seethe in silence next time!" 

Not long afterwards with Rhona, usually our trusty sweeper, working mid field after a dash from a coaching course in Kowloon to play the second half, and following a fantastic run all the way from one 25 to the opposite corner of the pitch by Rachel, who passed to Ali who passed into the D and the ball goes into the back of the net again.... this time another shot from Sam, so number 2 for Sam, number four over all!  Go Foxes! 

With Sarah now replacing Mairi with the all important defender distracting another couple of almost goals almost shot past the Phoenix defence, only to go just wide or deflect off one of their sticks.  With two minutes to go we were on the attack again despite the heat and weariness taking their toll and the satisfying 'clunk' of the back of the goal was heard again.... from Sam again... a hatrick!!  Hurrah!!  4 minutes to go.... and a few very frustrating shots on goal followed before the final whistle blew seconds before Ali was going to score her goal!  Did the ref blow 30 seconds too early to save a little face for the Phoenix... one of whom had given up and gone to it in the dug out five minutes before!  We'll never know....  5-0 to The Foxes.... not like we needed another goal anyway is it!!??