30th January 2017
Cheltenham Development came away with an undeserved defeat against a very tough AEK Boco team on Sunday.
Report by manager Adam Ryman.
The game started with a high intensity with both teams just lacking the final through ball or that killer instinct in front of goal. After 10 minutes the first goal came though as Leanne Goodwin (pictured) pounced on a bouncing ball and headed it over the defenders. She still had a lot to do once she gone on to the ball but found a lovely finish in to the bottom corner.
Unfortunately this seemed to kick Boco in to life and they replied instantly. A ball through caused Cheltenham problems at the back and the ball fell fortunately for the Boco forward. She took a touch and took aim under the body of debutant goalkeeper Caty Sterling-Lee. Boco took the lead shortly after as the same forward was freed down the left hand side. She had an awful lot to do but showed a lovely piece of skill to beat two Cheltenham defenders and finish well. Cheltenham reacted well to the goals and showed good fight finishing the half the stronger team but couldn’t find that elusive goal to get things level. 1-2 at the break.
Cheltenham started the second half brightly with substitutes Catherine Reilly and Holly Rogers making an immediate difference. The equalised came now long after the restart. Kayla Garland made a powerful run down the left hand side beating two players. As she got closer to the goal she teed up Catherine Reilly who rifled an incredible shot in to the top corner from 25 yards out to make the scores 2-2.
The next 20 minutes Cheltenham continued to press high with all players working so hard to get the ball. Cheltenham were playing great possession football but just could not get the breaks in and around the box as the Boco defenders dug deep. The winning goal came against the run of play as the Boco forward was played through and she delicately chipped the keeper to complete her hat trick.
Cheltenham finished strongly again with good intensity but it was not to be. The difference in the day was the quality of the Boco forward who finished every chance she had. It was a very strong performance from Cheltenham though which can definitely be built upon.
