Cranleigh FC Women hosted South Park Ladies in a return fixture at The Sanctuary, Glebelands School, 15th September. After their win the previous weekend in Surrey Division 1 South, Cranleigh were hopeful of doing the double, but their optimism was quickly challenged by a strong South Park side.
Fixtures & Results
South Park, known for their excellent footballing ability, started confidently, retaining possession and moving the ball well. Cranleigh seemed unsettled in the early stages, and an unfortunate South Park goal threatened to derail the hosts. However, Cranleigh’s resilience was evident as they battled on, refusing to let their heads drop.
South Park capitalised on a defensive lapse to extend their lead with a second goal. As in the previous encounter, Cranleigh managed to limit their opponents to long-range shots but struggled to find their rhythm in the first half. A goal from Genevieve gave the home side a much-needed lift, and Cranleigh began to piece together some promising spells of passing football.
League table
The second half mirrored the first, though Cranleigh showed marked improvement. Genevieve netted her second of the match, but despite their efforts, Cranleigh could only manage two goals against South Park’s four. A late opportunity to reduce the deficit further came from a Caroline free kick, but the South Park defence stood firm to block the strike.
Cranleigh saw two debutants, Abby and Emily, make their first appearances, both settling in well and looking forward to their development in future games. Despite the defeat, Cranleigh’s growth as a team—physically, technically, and tactically—was clear, and their team spirit remains strong.
Player Profile: Fiona Hughes
Cranleigh now have three points from their first two matches, with a break next weekend before facing Ash United at home on Sunday 29th September, 2pm at The Sanctuary, Glebelands School.
Players interested in joining the team are invited to join training on Friday evenings, 7:00-8:00 pm, at Glebelands School’s 3G pitch.
Final score: Cranleigh 2-4 South Park
Next fixture: (H) Ash United, 2pm, Sunday 29th September, The Sanctuary, Glebelands School, Cranleigh
Coaches: Nick Bamford, Wayne Stevens
Team sponsors: Create-I-Ltd, Heartwork Coffee, Informed Choice, Bear Content, The Beautiful.
About Cranleigh FC
Cranleigh Football Club is an inclusive club and its youth teams welcomes boys and girls of all abilities, with an emphasis on fun and enjoyment. Coaching is based around a variety of games and exercises, following the latest FA models for player development.
The coaching models the club follows place emphasis on equal opportunities for all players, regardless of background or ability, and on participation rather than winning. All players receive equal playing time, are provided with the opportunity to play in all positions, and the coaching focus is on playing the ‘right way’, even if this has a negative impact on results in the short and medium term.
