Post by Dave on Jan 7, 2024 18:46:19 GMT
Match Referee David Corderoy
Final Score Paignton Villa Woman 8 Lakeside Ladies 0
Davesworld Thoughts
Football was always considered to be a mans game and sadly even today there are men who feel it should have remained that way. I am not one of them as the game of football should be for everyone and in the case of woman’s football; it has come such a long way in recent years.
Putting my neck on the chopping block, I will openly admit I enjoy watching the England ladies team play more than I do the English men’s team. Plenty of skill on display and their games are just so more exciting to watch the way they go about playing it.
The success of the Lionesses has inspired so many ladies and young girls to take up playing football and even at the lower levels, the standard is constantly rising. So many young girls will put on their kit on a match day and dream that one day it will be an England kit they will be wearing. Who is to say that dream will not come true one day, but in the mean time it will be all about being a part of a team and enjoying all the fun and enjoyment playing football can bring.
As a team you learn to lose and win together and that is something the Paignton Villa Woman has had to do. Playing their very first season last season was never going to be easy playing against so many established sides. They took the defeats on the chin and just kept working hard to improve their performances and all that hard work is finally paying of.
I saw that for myself, I covered their first ever friendly game against Bradninch Woman FC 29th May 2022, a game they lost by eleven goals to nil. When I covered their game away to Plainmoor Ladies on the 26th February 2023 the progress they had made was there for all to see, a game that ended up in a one all draw, but it was a game they came so close to winning.
Move onto this season and the Villa Woman proudly sit in forth place in the league table on ten points. Their record, played eight, won three, drawn one and lost four.
Today they faced the Lakeside Ladies who where eighth place in the league table on six points. Lakeside have only played three league games before today’s game, winning two and losing one.
Their defeat came at home against the Paignton Villa Woman on the 22nd October 2023; the final score was seven goals to six, so Villa were hoping to do the double over them.
Onto My Match Thoughts.
The sun may well have been out, but boy was it bitter cold this afternoon. Things were made even worse as a junior game of football was taking place and did not finish until close to 2.20pm. Both sets of ladies had to endure the cold for longer than they should have done and credit to all of them and also the match referee.
The game got underway and my mind was soon drifting back to the very first time I saw the Villa Woman play. Just kicking the ball in hope and not that well and any shots were so tame or heading for the corner flag.
What progress this bunch of Ladies has made since then, now a neat passing side and passes played with intent and not just hope. Powerful shots on goal from inside and outside the box. Many of the Villa goals were top notch and ones many men players would have been proud to have scored.
It only took Villa nine minutes to score their first goal, after that it was all one way traffic as the goal tally mounted. It was soon two nil and then three and by halftime the Villa Woman had scored six without reply.
After a strong halftime team talk the Lakeside Ladies enjoyed a much better start to the second half, but the Villa goal never came under any meaningful threat.
Villa rode the threat and got back on top again and could have scored a good number of second half goals. A number of lows shots ended up just going wide of the posts with the Lakeside keeper beaten.
Villa did add two further goals to make the final score eight goals to nil. A polished performance and they are only going to get even better. I was so glad to hear the final whistle, I had not taken my gloves and my fingers could hardly move. But I am glad I saw my first Villa win and one they made look so easy.
Footnote. There was a canon lens I have wanted for sometime and one I had put in the shopping basket so many times. But I was never able to click the final buy button manly due to its very high cost. But the other day I did and after using it today for the first time I am so glad I did. It gives me so much better reach over the pitch and it is the sharpest lens I have even owned and the image quality outstanding.
I did struggle a bit at times using it today but will get better after a few more games. My motto for 2024, if you want it Dave just buy it and get as much use out of it as possible.
