This Win is for Sophie

In a fixture that normally results in Silsden snatching all three points at the tail end of the season Hepworth were determined to find their mojo and detroy the myth. And although a finmal score line of 2-1 doesnt make it look convincing, anyone who was in attendance would tell you that the Ladies played some "Sexy Football" and practically dominated the entire match. Opting to play up the slope Silsden were pinned back from as early as the second minute as some quick passing between Emma Holroyd, Rebecca Purchon saw the ball move from defence to attack and set up Abigail Iggleden but her shot was just wide of goal. Five minutes later Iggleden set up Captain Jo Forrest who also put her shot wide, closely followed by another effort as Iggleden set up Renata Feherova whose shot was well saved and Jo Forrest put the rebound into the side netting. Silsden were somehow still in the gamewhen even the nuetrals would have admitted thst they should have been three goals down. Hepworth kept on pushing forward and from a superb Feherova corner which evaded everyone except Laura Hirst it looked like the Silsden goal would be breeched but agonisingly Hirsts shot struck the post and it was another let off for Silsden. Five minutes later jo Forrest delivered another great corner which was met by Rebecca Purchon whose header was parried and from 2yards out with little or no time to react Hirst fired over the bar and again Silsden breathed a sigh of relief. A minute later Hepworth laid siege on Silsdens goal again as jo Forrest from wide on the wing set up Iggleden but her shot was straight at the keeper and Hepworth were denied again. Ten minutes later and the pressure was ramped up again, first following a great passage of play Renata Feherova shot just wide having meggsed two players in side a minute,then Iggleden had another goodn chance but shot straight at the keeper and still the deadlock was not broken. Rebecaa Purchon from 20 yards out was next on the ever growing list of chances as she blazed her shot over the bar following a clearance, then Igglden was denied again following a great save by the keeper. It was very akin to the Alamo as shots reigned down on the Silsden goal, Steph Teale wa up next as she weaved her way down the right but after all the hard work her effort hit the side netting, then the inevitable happened as Hepworth gave away a cheap free kick some 25 yards out on the right and the ball wa pumped in to the box but only half cleared and the rebound cross come shot found its way into the net to give Silsden the lead with their only effort on goal.
The half time chat was all possitive and the team were just instructed to carry on as the "Three Amigos" John, Steve and Bambi were all confident that goals would come, a few ideas were suggested on how to exploit the gaps and Hepworth were sent out to deal with the job and that they did. Silsden feeling confident went to three at the back playing down the slope but were soon forced to go to a back four again as Hepworth continued their onslaught. |Feherova sent another quality corner over on 67 minutes which was met by Steph Teale but again her effort went just wide and Silsden survived again. The game became a hard fought tatical battle as both teams jigged their teams about as Silsden tired and looked to stem the wave of attacks and Hepworth looked to push on and complete the chances turning them into goals Emily Husband was pushed further forward Claudia Cleary and Claire Berry were introduced to sray the ball about and Gemma Robshaw was given a short spell up front having been class at the back and impressing in training in front of goal. Rebecca Kirk was brought on at the back and her strength wa an imeadiate bonus at te back and she was harshly ajudged to have fouled a Silsden winger when she just used her strength to shoulder barge her tiny opponent off the ball a tatic that several Silden players had done all game yet not been penalised. She was then subjected to some verbal abuse but kept her cool and didnt retaliate which lead to Silsden taking the offending player off as she had seen the red mist descend uponn her. Hannah Nicholl was introduced and imeadiately was lumped straight up in the air but the tiny warrior just dusted herself down and got on with things. Merita Prebrezova was also introduced following a week of intense warm wether training in Benidorm and the effects were obvious ! yes you could see she failed to use adequate sun protection as her red face glowed as she raced around the pitch. The midfield was the battle ground now as both teams slugged it out, Harper in goal for Hepworth was rarely troubled asexcept by a header from Nicki Halstead which she had to parry and let Laura Hirst clear. The odd long range effort was easily dealt with and Hepworth looked to use their strength and fitness to run Silsden into the ground with Emily Husband being the main instigator along side Jo Forrest, previously Emma Holroyd had worked wonders slipping through balls to the forwards and blocking and tackling.
Then in a two minute spell the sucker punch happened not once but twice as first on 73 minutes a free kick from 25 yards out was floated over from Claire Berry and Emily Husband timed her run to perfection to fire home Hepworths first goal and her first goal for the club closely followed a minute later by Rebecca Purchon. Purchon received the ball out on the left wing before turning the defender inside out and unleashing a curling unstoppable shot into the far top corner from 20 yards out to seal the win and a great comeback from a goal down. Silsden then through everything at Hepworth but the home team held firm marshalled by laura Hirst at the back the ran the clock down well to remain unbeaten in the league and still top of the Premier Division.
This was a great display of quality football today and Hepworth fully deserved the win having been outstanding in ever area, the team spirit and mojo were back and unleashed. It was also great to see injured players and players not in the matchday squad being very vocal on the side line ebcouraging the team on. This result was exactly what the doctors ordered and was dedicated to Sophie King who start her long journey back to a full recovery following the freak injury from a bizare incident in last weeks match.
The player of the match award was claimed by Emily Husband following her superb performance as judged by her team mates however any single player could have been equaliy the recipient.