TRUK lost for the first time in the Clubs United league as Stonewall grabbed a controversial last minute winner in an epic match which finished 5-4.
The top 2 met at Haggerston as TRUK and Stonewall faced off for the first time since the TRUK Cup final earlier in the year and yet again it was a game full of goals and incident. TRUK fielded the same team as the previous weeks fixture with one addition Lucy Gladding who was playing her first ever competitive match, Stonewall had a splattering of players making their first appearance in the competition.
Like a heavyweight fighter before a world championship bout Stonewall kept us waiting due to some late arrivals and kick off was delayed for some time as they got ready and had a chat with the referee….TRUK tho remained calm and focused on the job ahead.
The early stages saw both sides tentatively trying to work out the others formation and style of play, Julia had Stonewall first effort which Claire Green fumbled behind for a corner before a snapshot from Maysa P flew just wide for TRUK. The first goal came just after the 5 minute mark when Claire Green threw the ball to Lucy Copsey who beat the defender and smashed it into the bottom corner. Maysa P had the next chance when she shot from the half way line but this troubled the corner of the pitch more than the goal. Lucy Copsey then had another effort that was well saved by the GK who then threw the ball out and Maysa P managed to get a touch on it with the ball falling to Lucy Copsey who beat the defender and shot which the keeper could not keep out and TRUK were 2 nil up. Orlagh then put Lucy Copsey clean through but she failed the hit the target when we all expected to see the net bulging. Claire Green then had to make her second save of the match when a well struck shot from Reid was tipped around the post, TRUK cleared the corner and the ball found it’s way to Heather who held it up well before passing to Orlagh who did well to get a shot off that the keeper saved, the ball however rebounded to Orlagh and she laid it off to Lucy Copsey who put the ball into the back of the net for her hat trick and to put TRUK 3-0 up and in full control.
Some great football from Lucy Copsey and then Orlagh saw Heather with just the keeper to beat from just outside the box but she failed to make contact. Flora then had a good effort for Stonewall which Claire Green managed to stick a leg out and divert it behind. TRUK then brought on some fresh legs with Lucy Clark and Orlagh being replaced by Abi and Lucy Gladding.
Claire Green then made a great double save as she parried Reid’s long range effort straight to Julia who managed to get a shot away which Claire tipped round the post as Stonewall looked to get back into the game. Claire then made another good save from Flora before Heather had a chance at the other end which she dragged wide. TRUK then committed too many players forward and Flora broke free and finished well to give Stonewall a lifeline. Julia then had a shot from the edge of the box after more good work from Flora that spun out of Claire Greens hands and went out for a corner. From the corner Lucy Gladding needlessly went into the box to give Stonewall a penalty which Reid smashed home to make it 3-2. The half ended with Claire making a good double save from Julia as TRUK trudge off having been cruising at 3-0 they shot themselves in the foot to let Stonewall back into the game.
HALF TIME TRUK UNITED 3 STONEWALL 2
The first effort of the 2nd half came 3 minutes in when Flora shot across the face of the goal and just wide. Lucy Copsey then had 2 efforts in quick succession both just going wide. Stonewall completed the comeback on the 5 minute mark of the 2nd half when Lucy Copsey played the ball across to Abi who got caught in possession and Flora ran through to put Stonewall level. Maysa had a good effort saved from a corner and was then involved when she received the ball on the touchline after some great work from Abi and Lucy Copsey, Maysa showed great skill to lay the ball into Abi who had the chance to put TRUK ahead but she couldn’t get a shot away and possession was lost which led to Julia firing over the bar from distance for Stonewall. Sophie and Julia both had further efforts from distance for Stonewall which Claire Green dealt with and Maysa nearly finished a good TRUK move but ended up colliding with the Stonewall keeper. Reid had a free kick go just wide for Stonewall and Lucy Copsey had an effort fizz across the face of Stonewall’s goal as both teams looked for the 4th goal.
A game changing decision then occurred when TRUK should have had a penalty and the chance to take the lead when Reid clearly went inside her own area but despite the loud appeals the referee said no. Sam then had an effort saved well by Claire which led to TRUK countering well but Heathers shot was well blocked. Flora then skipped past the TRUK defence with Claire making an excellent save a feat she managed seconds later when Reid was clean through as Stonewall put the pressure on. With 5 minutes to go Stonewall took the lead when Flora skipped past 2 TRUK players and laid it off the Sophie who had just Claire to beat which they managed to do firing into the near corner to put Stonewall 4-3 up. The lead however lasted less than a minute as Claire fed the ball into Lucy Copsey who turned brilliantly before smashing the ball home to make it 4-4.
TRUK then went looking for a winner and forced a corner but stupidly committed everyone forward allowing Flora to break free and have a free run in on Claire who made yet another fantastic save. Maysa for TRUK and Julia for Stonewall both had long range efforts saved.
With one minute on the clock and the match seemingly heading to a draw Flora sliced a shot that clearly went out for a TRUK throw, the referee gave the throw to Stonewall and with TRUK not set up properly they took it quickly rolling the ball to Julia who smashed it into the bottom corner to take the 3 points….
TRUK UNITED FC: Claire Green, Lucy Clark, Orlagh O’Driscoll, Lucy Copsey, Maysa P, Abi Cornell, Lucy Gladding, Heather.
GOALS: Lucy Copsey 4
Player of the match: Claire Green
Clearly a TRUK throw in at the end! Shocking decision
Looked a great game ruined by a rubbish decision by the ref