Ruthless, Relentless, Clinical

This Thursday I made the short trip down the M40 to French School Meadow, home of Penn & Tylers Green FC, for a massive Southern Region Division One North clash between Penn and champions-elect Denham United. The visitors, playing their 17th league game of the season, were still protecting a 100% record and, what's more, avoiding defeat on the night would confirm them as league champions. Penn, in fact, were the only team that were still capable of catching them.
The reverse fixture at The Den had been a tight affair in which Penn came from behind twice before eventually succumbing to Liana Horwood penalty. Penn were coming into the game in pretty good form too, with just one defeat in their last nine outings. They'd also put seven past Tilehurst last weekend, with the league's top scorer Tara Woodward adding five more to her very impressive tally.
Thanks to both coaching teams for letting get photos of the teams sheets before the game. Really good to have a chat with United's Andy Moore as well. Thank you for your kind comments about the blog and web sites. Much as I do this as a hobby, it's really good to hear that it is appreciated.

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​The opening couple of minutes felt a little cagey, with both sides trying to get the measure of the other. However, five minutes in Niamh Cashin was played into the Penn box. She was forced wide to the left of goal and the home defence closed ranks quickly to block her out. Two minutes later Cashin turn provider, sending in a ball from the left that Brogan Moore met. Unfortunately for United, the strikers timing was slightly out and, although the ball looped over Amy Whale, it clipped the bar an went over for a goal-kick. Two warnings for Penn in quick succession. A minute later, the warnings took further shape. This time the threat came from the right, Rebecca Horwood sent over allow ball that evaded defenders and strikers before finding Daisy Baranowski on the left-hand edge of the box. The winder proceed to curl a delightful strike back across Whale into the far corner. 0-1
Penn's response to going behind was to launch an attack of their own, breaking quickly through Shannon Read up the left. With Zara Butt well out position, Read found Tara Woodward, who took the strike early but couldn't quite find the target. The action switched to the opposite end. Amy Whale's goal-kick was controlled well in midfield by Niamh Cashin, who burst forward, exchange passes with Brogan Moore and slipped her shot past Whale for 0-2. Clinical.
Punished twice in quick succession, Penn could have been phased, but they pushed back themselves and, just four minutes later, they pounced. It was a moment of indecision at the back from Denham that gave Tara Woodward the opportunity she wanted, nipping between goalkeeper and defender to slide the ball into the bottom corner. 1-2
Three goals already and we weren't even halfway through the first period, and the action kept coming. Just on the midway point a Denham corner from the left caused problems for Penn and when a Denham strike seemed to hit a Penn hand, there were big claims for a penalty, which referee Richard Blackwood waved away. 
The turned down appeal just spurred United on. Two minutes later, a back pass left a little short, put Amy Whale in trouble. Annie Hewitt was on it like a shot, dispossessing the keeper before swivelling to send the ball into the empty net. 1-3
Undeterred, Penn were straight back on the offensive . Woodward went clear down the right before sending over a cross was helped on to Shannon Read at the far post. The strike made herself a little space before sending a shot just over Butt's bar. Whale then had to pull out the stops at the other end, saving well from Horwood, before paly switched back again. Rachel Southby latched onto another loose ball inside the Denham half and, seeing the goal unguarded, tried to guide it home. However, Jo Torr was alive to the danger, getting back to hack the ball off the line.
Once again, a let-off at one end sparked a response at the other. Rebecca Horwood, out on the right, lofted a pass over the Penn defence for Brogan Moore to run onto, before slipping a low strike past the advancing Whale. 1-4

HT Penn & Tylers Green 1 Denham United 4. Phew! What a half of football. Despite the lopsided score, this was far from a one-sided game. Penn generated a fair few chances of their own. However, Denham's passing, movement and clinical finishing was just too much for them at times.

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​It was unlikely that the second half would like up to the breathless action of the first, but it did start with another goal. Only five minutes had passed after the restart when Denham went close again, this time denied by a brilliant goal-line clearance from Holly Wyncoll. however, there was nothing the defender, or anyone else could do, when Kayleigh Currivan lashed the loose ball home from the edge of the box. 1-5 and cue big Denham celebrations for their captain, grabbing her first goal after missing half of the season through injury.
Once again, Penn tried to respond. Butt had to be strong to punch away a left-wing corner a few minutes later, before her defence managed to fully clear the danger. Amy Whale was then called into action again, diving full-length to push away Annie Hewitt's drive. Brogan Moore then had another effort flash just wide of Whale's right-hand post.
Aside from these opportunities, much of the second half was being played out in the midfield area. Penn were plugging away, trying to get a foothold back in the game, but with a four goal lead, Denham were seemingly content to hold them at bay. Megan Brockwell made sure that Zara Butt was still paying attention, letting rip from way out, but the keeper was well positioned to make a comfortable stop. Apart from that, the Denham defence was holding very firm. Tara Woodward, as ever, was buzzing around the back-line, but was being well marshalled by a strong Denham defence.
With five minutes remaining, Denham struck again. Cashin did really well down the left before setting up substitute Liana Horwood to volley in the sixth. 1-6. Two minutes later, it looked as if it had got worse for Penn when Cashin got in on the right, slotting home from a narrow angle. However, with the ball back on the centre spot and following consultation with the assistant, the referee signalled that a Denham player had got a slight touch on the ball before it crossed the line, from an offside position. Goal chalked off. Not that it really mattered at this point.
Soon afterwards the referee blew to end the game and signal wild celebrations from the newly crowned Division One North Champions.

FT Penn & Tylers Green 1 Denham United 6. Congratulations to Denham, who are champions with there games remaining and are still defending their 100% record. Thanks to Penn for contributing to a great game of football. On the night, they fell short because they came up against an exceptional team who were bang on form, especially in the first half. Penn are a very good team themselves and, with their games in hand, will almost certainly finish as runners-up for the third season on the bounce.
Penn are back in league action on Sunday as they welcome Oxford City Development to French School Meadow. Denham have a week off before they face Premier League Oxford City in the Chairman's Cup Final at Scours Lane on the 26th.
Finally, a shout out to referee Richard Blackwood who, in my opinion, handled the game brilliantly. I think it's fair to say that both Denham and Penn have players who are not shy about making their point to the referee should they be in disagreement. Blackwood calmly explained his decisions at all points, usually with a smile on his face. His communication with the players, I am sure, is very much appreciated, even if they don't always agree with his logic. 

Penn & Tylers Green: Whale, Harnby(c), Mackay, Baden, Wyncoll, Troth, Brockwell, Thompson, Woodward, Southby, Read. Subs: Woods, Coughtrey, Ludgate-Williams, Stopforth, Lockey
Denham United: Z.Butt, Cox, A.Butt, Rragami, Torr, R.Horwood, Baranowski, Cashin, Hewitt, Morre, Currivan(c). Subs: Fletcher, L.Horwood, Harris, Potter, Keary

Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 
Entrance: N/A
Programme: N/A

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