Rhian Wilkinson's Official Website

RHIAN'S SOCCER JOURNALS:

RHIAN AND DIANA BOTH SCORE AS TEAM STROMMEN MOVES INTO NORWAY CUP FINALS 15th September 2009

We flew to Trondheim at about 10:00 this morning. I have trouble with remembering anything that happens before noon. The flight went well and was smooth, but we were way too early for the game.

We were picked up by our team bus just after 11:00 am, and then we had to kill time till around 3:00pm. Most of us just sat in a hotel restaurant while a few others used the time to catch up on some sleep on the bus. I was thrilled that I had remembered to bring along my computer - I would have been bored out of my mind without it.

Once we were finally headed to the game, we started to focus more on the importance of the match we were going to play. For so long this Norway Cup semi final against Trondheims Ørns has been something in the distance, something I was excited about, but it was a game which never seemed to get any closer. There is no doubt how important this game was for Team Strommen. It was the biggest of our season so far.

We were fresh from a training camp and a 3- 0 victory in a friendly match against Kolbotn. We knew that wereally had to win this game to make the season something of a success. After some disappointments in the League, and a last minute Pool round loss to Everton in the European Club championships, we needed some success.

Both Diana and I were playing in the forwards for this game, and the tactic seems to have worked. We won the match 3-1, and both D and I scored goals. So it is Norway Cup Final, here Team Strommen comes again - the third time in five years.

However, it was a strange game and all the scoring came in the first half. In fact, after 20 minutes we were three nothing up and we had only taken two shots on net. Our first goal came from a great run up the field by D. She had received the ball following a clearance from a dangerous Trondheims Ørns corner. D ran with it to the other end of the field, where she pushed the ball through to the top of the box for Nasra to score on a hard shot. It was a great goal.

The goal relieved some of the early pressure on Strommen. Our goal keeper Ingrid Bruserud made several fantastic saves to keep us in the match as we tried to sort ourselves out.

Our second goal was a strange one. I can say that as I scored it. Dorta (and I am sorry if I have spelt this name wrongly), made a great run down the right side of the field and in a challenge managed to get the ball back to me on the sideline. The ball was bouncing and I had some pressure on me, so I decided to hammer the ball towards the net. The shot was hard but looked innocuous. However, the goalkeeper decided to let the ball bounce. In fact, it bounced right over her head and into the goal. It was not one of my best goals, but I will definitely take credit for it. Some days the “bounces” just go your way. This was the goal that was not counted as a shot!! With these two scores Team Strommen was effectively in control. See Rhian's goal at http://msn.tv2sporten.no/fotball/toppserien/sjekk-denne-keepertabben-2909192.html

The third goal was another good one. Marit made a long run down the left flank and saw me peel off to the back post. She made a great cross which I headed back to the front of the net, where D volleyed it home.

I don't think we were the better team in the first half, so it was odd to be three goals to the good. Soon after D's goal, Trondheims Ørns Kristin Lie reduced the margin for the hosts, but it was too little, too late. We managed to hold them till the half time whistle. First, Trondheims Orns forced a great save at full stretch from Team Strømmen keeper Ingrid Bruserud. Then I had a chance just before the whistle. I broke through alone on a good feed, but my angled shot just missed the far post.

Half time and the break came at a good time for us. It allowed us to regain our composure and gave us some relief from the good pressure Trondheims Ørns had been exerting on us at the end of the half. That being said, we came out for the second ready to play. I think we actually played really well in this second period even though there were no further goals.

We held our lead by playing very well and we actually forced some really good opportunities. This was a strange game, but I have no doubt that the better team won. There again, doesn't every winning team say this?

Team Strømmen (4-4-2): Ingrid Bruserud – Ingrid Moe Wold, Maritha Kaufmann, Anne Stenstvedt, Dorte Dalum - Diana Matheson – Nasra Abdullah - Ingrid Wang Andersen - Rhian Wilkinson, Una Nwajei, Cathrine Dekkerhus

Substitutes: Ida Erlandsen og Eli Gulbrandsen - both came on in the 65th minute.