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OTTAWA FURY & W LEAGUE:

RHIAN'S PERSEPCTIVE: exhibition game OTTAWA FURY VS NEW JERSEY WILDCATS

23rd May 2006

I played my first match for the Ottawa Fury on Sunday 21st May, as we continued a two match road trip with an exhibition game against the 2005 W League Champions, New Jersey Wildcats. As you probably already know from reading the match report, we lost 4-1 to our main rivals.

Even though this was, obviously, a disappointing result I am not too concerned as this is yet early in the season. I thought we made far too many errors: The kind of mistakes that are made because of nerves, lack of experience playing together and just plain rust. This was our second game of playing together as a team, and we have had new additions (and losses ) to our 2006 squad. The fact that we had many great scoring opportunities, and held one of the best teams in the world for most of the game, makes me feel quite pleased. We had some remarkable plays during the match, and if I been able to finish half of the chances gifted to me, the score line might have been very different.

We played an interesting formation of 4-5-1 that seems to work well for this Fury team especially against the Wildcats. The outside mids play like wingers, which means that when we all get match fit, we may have found a really lethal playing style which seems to work for us. Of course, it will mean that we will have numbers back in defence at all times, but we will also have numbers coming forward through the middle in attack - something I am especially excited about! All too often I find myself at the end line in games, with not enough options in the box. This new formation of ours might just change all that.

All in all, this weekend was an exciting one. We might have lost by a 3 goal margin on paper, but I don't feel that the score reflects the flow of the game. What this game did achieve, is to give the Fury squad confidence in our team, and I know that we can go far this season. I would much rather lose games at the start of the season, than win everything early, only to trip up at the end of the year when it really counts.

I am looking forward to our next rematch with the new Jersey Wildcats. As I expected, both KK and Charmaine played good games. Karina, as she often seems to do, stuffed me on a few plays, so it made the one goal I did get past her so much sweeter. The Fury had a number of excellent scoring efforts but Karina was on fire in this match, and from the opening whistle we knew it would take something special to beat her.

Charmaine and the new Wildcat forward from Brazil, Formiga, seem to be developing quite the partnership up front. Both played well and were a formidable duo to handle for the Fury backline. On one occasion, our rookie goalkeeper came out and challenged Charmaine outside the 18 yard box, only to have Charmaine pull the ball round her. She just missed slotting the ball home into the empty net from a tight angle. Erin played a good game for us in net, but I am also sure she will not soon forget Mrs. Hooper!

Next up are our home openers in Ottawa, and I have been shaking off my sore throat and cold. I am looking forward to the opening of the Fury's W League season, and to the whole squad gelling together.