Team Player by Cindy Jefferies Page B

could prove costly by the final whistle. It’s a lucky let-off for Moore.
    â€œDon’t worry, Geno!” shouted Roddy encouragingly. “You’ll get more chances.”
    The play settles down again to a pattern of Moore’s relentless attacks breaking on the solid Charlton defence. Dvorski hasn’t had to make a save of note, and has just been clearing up any stray passes that make it through the defence. Charlton are working hard and don’t look like they’re going to concede, but 0–0 is no good to them. As halftime approaches, they begin to push forward, hoping to exploit Moore’s tired legs.
    Sanders spreads the ball out wide to Eboni Nagel, who goes bounding down the left wing. George McInnes, the Moore full-back, can’t match her blistering pace, and she’s clear behind the defence. The rest of the Charlton team are streaming forward in support, and Nagel cuts the ball back to Jones. Jones threads it through to Perotti, but Ratcliffe is there to pinch the ball before he can get a shot away. Suddenly it’s Charlton who are exposed, and Ratcliffe hoofs the ball downfield to Mohammed Shariff. Shariff evades the challenge of Mbeki, and passes it forwards to Finnegan. Finnegan draws Piper out of position, then knocks the ball to Bullard, who unleashes a piledriver at the Charlton goal. Dvorski can’t get to it, and Bullard wheels away in celebration. 1–0 to Moore, and does this spell the end of Charlton’s hopes of cup glory for anotheryear? It’s time for the new captain to earn his armband.
    The Moore supporters were cheering wildly, and the Charlton team looked deflated. Floating over the ground came the sound of Jack taunting, “Losers! Losers!”
    Roddy was trying to raise everyone’s spirits, but on the touchline Sam’s shoulders had slumped the instant the ball hit the back of the net. With only a minute or so until the break, she had to start working out how they were going to turn this game around.
    The match had barely restarted before the ref blew his whistle, and the team trudged into the team-talk room to regroup.
    â€œAll is not lost,” began Sam. “Two goals in a half is possible, we just need to convert our chances. You did brilliantly to hold them for as long as you did, but now it’s all or nothing. We’ve got to go out there and attack; theCharlton way. It’s the last game of the season, so enjoy yourselves, and let’s get some goals.”
    â€œI need more support up front,” said Geno. “The few times I’ve got the ball there’s been nobody to pass to, so we end up losing it again.”
    â€œAbsolutely,” agreed Sam. “You’re right. Keira and Roddy, you have free roles this half. Roam around wherever you want, cause problems for the defence the way you did earlier in the season. Stephen, you’ll need to stay back and help out the defence still, but our front five should be able to create plenty of chances. If we attack right from the whistle, they won’t know what’s hit them before we’ve scored. Now, let’s do it! Charlton for ever!”
    â€œCharlton for ever,” echoed Roddy. “Let’s just go out and play football, no pressure.If we play our natural game we can’t help but score goals, and once we get one back, Moore will fall apart. It’s time to have some fun!”

10. All or Nothing
    The ref blows his whistle to get the second half of this cup decider underway. Charlton kick off, and immediately they look more threatening. The Nagel twins are taking up much more advanced positions on the flanks, and Sanders slides the ball out to Ashanti on the right. She takes the ball past the full-back and plays it in towards Geno Perotti. The pass goes slightly behind him, but Jones is there to collect the loose ball. He thinks about shooting, but instead rolls the ball neatly to Perotti. Perotti has time to steady himself