Similar to last week, the Roses only had eleven available and we were facing Lutterworth on a big 4G pitch which could have been a difference maker.

The Roses started really well and looked dangerous on every attack and it didn’t take long for Ellie to give us the lead, a good ball through which she ran towards goal and then a low shot found the far corner of the goal. A brilliant finish with power and accuracy.

We raced into a 3-0 lead with Ellie grabbing her hatrick. The first was another bursting run through the Lutterworth defence and a finish down the centre of the goal with power and then the third she powered past the defender and outmuscled her before finishing low in off the inside of the post.

It was a great start for the Roses but it wasn’t a game we were dominating, it was fairly even with a tough Lutterworth side. They were creating some chances out wide with a shot down their right which went behind the goal and later a cross from the left which went beyond the far post. Apart from those chances, Lyla had to do the basics which she did well and sweeping a through ball in with a clearance, recently playing higher off her line and it was good to see her collecting balls on the edge of her box and reading the game well when danger presented itself.

Defensively we were solid with Kayleigh and Caris having a real battle with the wide players but their good positioning was keeping them out, Lenna and Lilia were working well together centrally, one attacking the ball and the other covering when needed. Good to see all of the defenders trying to play passes forward at times to a team mate during the game.

Sophie in the midfield was covering every blade of plastic grass with Tilly being in the right position at the right time on nearly every Lutterworth attack, both girls had an excellent game. We soon made it 4-0 with Kiri finding her scoring boots of late and she finished a rebound after a good block from what could have been Ellie’s fourth.

In the second half we knew it may not be the same as the first, Lutterworth looked to have an extra defender and an extra player in attack which made it difficult for the Roses. For several minutes of the second half, the Roses were under pressure but we battled on and eventually grabbed a hold of the game again.

There was some nice play down our right with Katie showing great feet and trickery a number of times to keep possession and more often than not, Ellie was the target. It was really pleasing to see Katie and Sophie passing with purpose and finding a team mate. Katie also won her 1v1 battle in the second half with a number of successful dribbles.

The Roses created a few chances in the second half but nothing clear cut and we restricted Lutterworth although they did put in a great ball from a corner which was lifted over the bar from close range by a player in green.

A really mature display from the Roses and some real positives, a second successive clean sheet, Chloe B playing her first full game and in general a real team effort from fantastic eleven even carrying a few injuries on the day.

Ellie was given Player of the Match, her goals were a key difference between two evenly matched teams but we are so proud of everyone’s performance, fantastic effort from a team showing maturity in their performance again.