Girls share points after taking a comfortable lead

The under 15's faced Crystal Palace for the second time this season at the Den and provided a game of two halves. Looking to match their last win against Palace the girls started strongly from the kick off passing the ball around in midfield and keeping possession. Jess to Kayleigh who passed back to Gina , Katie R to Charlotte then onto Maddie. Maddie received the ball but was pulled up for off side , this was a sign of how things were to play out throughout the game as the flag went against them more than once. On 2 minutes Annie put a ball through to Julia who in turn sent the ball through for Jess who knocked it on to Kayleigh who was met by the Crystal Palace goalie.

Crystal Palace had a turn on our goal but Gracie was there to save their effort. Play continued the girls passed the ball up the field Katie R received the ball from Kodi who was playing in defence and she travelled down the wing crossing the ball over only for the defender to intercept the ball out for a corner.
On 5 minutes the girls took the lead when Annie travelled with the ball and took a shot from 25 yards only for the goalie to get a touch to it, this wasn't quite enough as Kayleigh was there to ensure it went in the back of the net for the first of her three goals.

Kayleigh Got her 2nd when Annie turned provider with a through ball to Kayleigh to make it 2-0 . Looking comfortable and at this point dominating the game the girls continued to play their passing game, Maddie delivered a nice pass to Katie R who was working tirelessly down the wing, she once again knocked the ball over to Kayleigh but the defender was there to block it and off for another corner.
It was 3-0 after 15 minutes when this time Kayleigh turned provider with the corner and Annie this time found the back of the net with a well timed header.

On the restart Kodi tracked the ball back with speed and won the ball and passed back to Gracie. Gracie gave the ball straight back to Kodi who found Katie R free she cleverly went around the Crystal Palace midfielder passed back to Kodi who knocked the ball up field to Jess who flicked the ball over to Kayleigh. Gina also had her chance on goal but her shot was blocked.

The game continued on, the girls had a throw in with a nice little movement that followed, Annie to Gina back to Annie who passed the ball to Julia , Julia then found Alketa free , Alketa ran with the ball down the wing and crossed it to Jess but unfortunately the defenders were there again to stop our play.
The girls started to let Palace play and after having a shot missed then one saved by Gracie , their 3rd attempt found the back of the net when Kodi tracked the ball back to Gracie who couldn't get to grips with ball and the Palace forward knocked the ball in. 3-1 Denham.

On 23 minutes Katie A came on for Alketa and three minutes later she set up Kayeligh for her hat trick when she crossed a long ball over and Kayeligh slotted the ball passed the goalie 4-1 Denham.

On 30 minutes Maddie then made way for Reanna who took her turn in Midfield ,and Jess made way for Holly .
The girls continued to press on the Palace defence , Annie put over another long ball which Kayleigh chased but the ball was saved by the goalie. Katie A intercepted the ball in the middle crossed the ball over to the wing to Holly who chased after the ball but it was knocked off for a throw in. Moments later Charlotte this time put a ball through to Kayleigh whose shot just skimmed the post.

Palace then took their turn to press forward and found their way through the midfield and defence to score their second of the match 4-2 Denham . Just before the end of the first half Katie R had to come off and was replaced by Alketa.

Second Half

The girls started the second half a little bit slower than the first, Katie A won the ball in the middle and crossed the ball over to Alketa who chased the ball down the wing , the Palace defender knocked it off for a throw in. Reanna played the ball quickly Julia chased the ball down the wing and had a stand off with the defender by the corner flag . the defender stood her ground and the ball went of for a goal kick.

After 10 minutes Alketa and Reanna came off and Katie R and Maddie came on.

Palace started to press again but Gina chased the ball back and won the ball , this saw the girls take the ball upfield Katie A put the ball over to Katie R who ran down the wing and crossed over to Kayleigh whose shot was just wide.
Another attempt on the Palace goal was denied when Julia won the ball , passed to Charlotte who knocked the ball over to Katie A but her shot went wide.

15 minutes in Palace started to get back into the game keeping possession, their attempt at goal was saved by Gracie and another time when they broke forward saw Annie clear the ball. Again Palace kept pressing for their 3rd but this time Kodi and Annie stayed strong and both tracked the ball back and won the ball. With pressure mounting from the visitors they finally found their way through when they got past our defence and scored their 3rd . 4-3 Denham.

Crystal Palace levelled the score when the Palace forward received the ball outside the box and with a powerful shot lobbed the ball leaving Gracie no chance. 4-4.

In the closing minutes the girls had two chances to win the game , first when Kayleigh took a free kick after she was fouled just outside the box , her shot hit the cross bar , this rebounded then Katie A headed it which this also hit the cross bar , and a scramble followed , the girls were unable to get the ball past the goalie and Palace eventually cleared the ball.

Moments later Annie went on a run all the way through the midfield only to have her shot go past the goalie but just wide of the post.
The match ended 4-4 , the girls are still second in the league and face Beecholme Belles away next week in the cup.

Player of the match was shared between Annie and Kayleigh

Thanks to Katie A , Maddie , Alketa and Jess for their help with the match report this week.