Tractor Girls Talk - Unbeaten start, praise for Princess and promotion push?

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0:40Ross Halls:hello everybody it's me Roscoe and welcome back to the Kings of Anglia Tratnigals talk podcast a show where we cover all things Itchwich Town women and of course they've had a fantastic start to the season unbeaten in the WSL too and I'm joined by Tom Cann as standard my friend how are you I know you're really happy prior to the game because you got some Oasis tickets, which I'm sure there's a few people listening to this. You could be a bit jealous of that. How are you, my friend? Yeah, I'm very well, thank you. It was a nervy time trying to get the tickets yesterday because obviously the half marathon in Ipswich stopped me from getting across town in a timely manner.

1:22I think it took me 50 minutes in total to get from mine to yours to take you to the game. and that was exactly the time where my ticket window opened. So I pulled over in Chantry, just outside a random house, and purchased the tickets before heading to you and then obviously going on to Colchester for, thankfully, a very entertaining game and a 3-1 win. But how are you?

1:52Ross Halls:I'm very good, mate. Yeah, it's always good after a win. Daryl Wright's side of course unbeaten a 3-1 win against Wolves which we'll break down in today's episode since we last recorded they've got a draw away at Southampton won their first game of the season of course 1-0 win Leicester who of course a newly relocated side they were playing WSL football last year and Beth Rowe littlest player on the pitch scores a header and it's 1-0 and it's four games unbeaten for Daryl Wright's side and we're going to break it all down and there's a lot to talk about so a lot of talking points. I want to also shout out to Georgia Hunter, who I spoke to for a pod special prior to this game.

2:32Ross Halls:So if you haven't already listened to that, make sure to check it out. I'm also going to do a written piece around that as well. So check that out online on kingsofaniel.com when that drops. But yes, Tom, we're not going to muck about. We're going to get right into the game against Wolves. Of course, a newly promoted team. They're a team that have been pushing to get to the second tier of football for years. They've finished runners-up in the Northern Premier for, I think, five years or something in a row with the same manager. Of course, they're sort of backed by the men's team now, which is good.

3:02Ross Halls:But yeah, they're sort of high-flying, you know, start to the season. They won two of the opening three games. And yeah, Town, of course, got a 3-1 win. Your opening thoughts, Tom, because it's been a very good start for the Tratton girls. Yeah, it's been really good. I mean, the game yesterday was really entertaining. I think that's the first thing to say. The game on Sunday had an awful lot, almost everything that you could pretty much want in a football game it had. So that was good. Really confident display. I mean, all season they've been really good. Obviously, we'll come on to their good start, I'm sure, in a bit.

3:47but I was looking it up and I mean, they've got eight points already. And last season, it took them until the 8th of February to get to eight points. It took them until the same date to get to two wins for the season. Both of them coming against Portsmouth, who were obviously relegated at the end of the season. But that just shows how different it is this time round, that they've already got two wins out of four, still unbeaten. they've got to eight points they're third in the league i know it's very early but it's been such a a brilliant start from um from them this season which is obviously very pleasing to to the players the staff to the fans to to everyone involved um after having to wait so long last season to to get going um especially going into it last season with you know a lot of momentum thinking you know they could do something in the I think there was a quite harsh reality very quickly uh last time around but this time they look like a seasoned WSL 2 side who you know could um you know no danger I don't think of being anywhere near the bottom so you know then you're talking about top half finish um obviously down to three um third place goes into a playoff with a WSL side.

5:11So I'm sure that will be their aim. Obviously, no team goes into a league to not aim for that. But yeah, it's just been it's been a brilliant start. And obviously, Sunday was just showed how how different it is, you know, coming from behind controversially as well. And and playing well, keeping their head up. Yeah, really good start.

5:37Ross Halls:definitely means i will talk about the current state of the isl2 table and sort of round up the other results and also just discuss town's fantastic start to the season but yeah let's talk tom about maybe one of the negatives in this game and that is of course going behind and um i've just watched the goal back multiple times different angles that ball was out was out out of touch you know so um once again i think it's it's probably hard for the linoes the other side there i don't know what the ref's angle was but just watching it back i know once again after after the time you know you can you can re-watch it replays and stuff but um i think you saw some of the town players sort of appealing it but um obviously their player who scored the goal is out you know it was um georgia hunter sort of battling with the player um and you know she thought she kept it in which she didn't but she did and then obviously finishes it to make it one nil um Yeah, obviously it bounced out in the end, Tom, because a goal we're going to discuss later on.

6:36Ross Halls:But yeah, not a start, you know, Town wanted in this game. And yeah, that was over the line. Yeah, I mean, Town started the game brighter. I think there are a few chances that Princess had, you know, before she got her goal, where the keeper pulled off a really good save. I thought she was quite a good goalkeeper for Wolves, bar what we'll come on to in a minute with the second goal. But I thought she did really well, especially in the one-on-ones against Princess. I think there were two or three of those that she was able to stop a goal. But obviously, Towne going behind and it was out of play.

7:22It looked out of play from the press area at the time. but as you say for the official on the other side you've obviously got quite a lot in the way to to look past and you got a goal post in the way you've got and she wasn't kept up with play either um so she wasn't on the line to actually see the ball um it went out of play you could tell that georgia hunter obviously stopped and thought you know that's out of play it's going to be stopped it wasn't officials didn't see it and um and then amber hughes for wolves just had an easy sort of goal as it was just her and and lissy amperal um and all she had to do was just not put it at her um which she didn't and it went in and obviously after starting so well uh for the first 15 minutes it's then you know you then need to get back on track and as we'll talk about in a moment brilliant brilliant goal to actually get them back level but I thought it was against the run of play Wolves's goal um if either team looked like scoring it was probably Ipswich and you know just a uh an official mistake and um you know uh well it was out of play so it wasn't really a mistake from anyone um because she fielded the ball out of play it just wasn't spotted um and yeah that's the only reason why why town went behind but they they got

8:55Ross Halls:themselves back into the game really well they did indeed um i've got a point to make as well this is for the second home game in a row that they've switched and i don't know if uh boz has lost a toss or she decided to change over but i always sit up um in one position basically the area where the scoreboard is, the big scoreboard is. I always feel like I think that is always the plan is to shoot that way first. So I always set myself up there. And for the second home game in a row, they've switched. And I've had to get up and move over there. And it's just me being a photographer, being a moaning photographer, just annoyed about that.

9:32Ross Halls:It means I'm, you know, there's potential I can miss a goal because I'm trying to walk over. Maybe I need to learn my lessons just to go on a halfway line and wait. But I just feel like they're going to shoot that way first. and for the second time in a row they've changed, but it doesn't matter. That's just my little moan out of the way. So I don't know if it's Bo's losing a toss or she's deciding it. To be fair, it has been sunny, hasn't it, the last two home games. So maybe it's just like making sure the keeper's not in there, maybe a bit of wind and all that. Sometimes you have to think about that.

10:00Ross Halls:It's like at Porton Road, sometimes when the men get flipped, the opposition know that North Stand is our main stand, where the fans will really bring the atmosphere. maybe obviously shooting at that in the second half is already key for town um sometimes it makes it different sometimes it doesn't but anyway so enough of that let's talk about princess because what a player she is of course we we missed her at the start of the season because she planned for england which is uh not bad going playing course in the under 90s 20s i think it was in the under 20s yes um at the world cup of course um which is fantastic like england you know it's really having an England Youth International playing at a World Cup is fantastic.

10:41Ross Halls:Or was it Euros? World Cup, I think it was. Sorry, guys. It's me just second thinking myself. Yeah, yeah. But I'm sure we're getting corrected in the comments down below. But yeah, Princess Tom, what a player she is. Of course, on loan from Gotham in America. And she, of course, made such an impact last season. And she scores absolute screamer in this one. I'm like, how good is she? She's incredible. Honestly, every time you watch her play, she just looks a cut above everybody on that pitch. She looks like if you're a defender for the opposite team, you do not want to come up against her because she has literally got everything.

11:25She's got pace, which we saw about five times yesterday, just a looped ball over the top. Defender has like maybe a three-stride head start and Princess still beats her to it and manages to get one-on-one. Unfortunately, she couldn't convert any of those. She didn't need to after scoring an absolute screamer. But she's quick. She's really strong. There was one moment where she just had the ball on the left-hand side in the second half and just ran with it, just kept running. And a defender came up to her and all she did was just put out a little arm and the defender went flying onto the floor.

12:05and just was absolutely embarrassed by her. Played a low ball across and unfortunately no one could convert, but she just looks so good. She's really good on the ball. She's really skillful. She's really good at holding it up and spotting players, playing it off and then just sprinting forward. She chases down every ball. She knows where the goal is, which is obviously really important for a striker. She's made just such a difference since coming in in January. And I mean, I'm sure that Sean Burt is, you know, going to do everything that he can to make that move permanent or even just another year loan just to make sure that she is an Ipswich Town player for longer than past.

12:58I think it's December when her loan ends. So she's just so good. and it is a real treat to watch her play in this side. Thankfully, they didn't need her for the first two games of the season, came off the bench against Leicester, but started this one and just looked... She looked like the Wolves defenders were not happy playing against her. That's for sure. And it's only because of the goalkeeper that she didn't have a hat-trick on Sunday.

13:32Ross Halls:otherwise yeah she'd have easily had one yeah I think um yeah I just sort of echo all with what you just said Tom just some of the stuff she does where you just think like she's not even gonna win that ball and I don't know where she wins it and yeah I remember that that second half moment that defender she just went fly and I just was like see ya um and then yeah Princess is on her way but um yeah let's talk about her goal a bit more because what I hit once again when on pitch I'm sure you had a fantastic view, you know, sort of behind me of it. When I was there, I knew it was a good strike, but I didn't know how far it was out until I sort of watched it back.

14:10Ross Halls:And for her to even just go for it, because there's some players, they, you know, sometimes second thing and they pass it to someone or sometimes, you know, they actually have a really bad shot and it goes really, it goes absolutely wide. But what I love about this goal is obviously the distance, but also it hits the post and in. And, you know, just incredible strike. Love the celebration as well. Put a crown on her head, of course, you know, Princess. But yeah, Tom, just what a goal. Just a great way to, of course, get back in the game. Yeah, yeah, really good goal. I think it comes from the goalkeeper playing out to the right-hand side and just a really poor pass back from their winger, just going straight to Princess.

14:53And she takes two touches. I watched it back. She doesn't even look at the goal. She doesn't look where the goalkeeper is. She doesn't look if there's any defenders in front of her. She doesn't look at, you know, where the goal is in, you know, in where she is. And she just takes two touches and then sort of does a chip finesse shot. It just flies into the inside of the post, goes in. It's incredible. the technique to be able to finish it off the goalkeeper just she does not move she doesn't stares at it as it goes into the back of the net because she can't do anything about it I don't think I've we've seen some really good goals over the years you've probably you've obviously covered the women's team a lot longer and probably have seen even more really good goals I don't think in the four and a bit seasons that I've covered the team I don't think I've seen the media lot so shocked and, you know, so happy about a goal because I don't think anyone was expecting that to happen.

16:07And it was just a real piece of brilliance. Brilliant to get back in the game at that point as well. I think it was around half an hour in, which is obviously when you want to draw a level but just the technique to be able to score that was really good I'm sure she must try that all the time in training and just take shots from range I spoke to David afterwards I'm sure we're going to play his clip when he says we know that there's quality in the team if you get a chance just have a go and that is exactly what she does it's really good I know that the socials for the WSL2 have posted the video and it's got thousands and thousands of views from across different channels.

16:56Um, and you know, a lot of comments saying, wow, that's, that is some strike. Um, so yeah, it was a real, real treat to be able to watch that live and in person. Um, and yeah, brilliant way to, to get back into the game. Yeah.

17:15Ross Halls:It's going to be hard to top that for goal of the season. although Boz got a contender herself with a great strike, which we'll get onto very shortly, of course, this skipper, who is, of course, involved in the goal that gave Town the lead. We do have audio to play with David and Boz, and I meant to play audio from David on the win earlier in the chat. So I'm now trying to think when it's best to be placed. I may play it now to break up, and then we're going to discuss the Town, who of course made it 2-1 with a cross shot don't know how we're going to describe it I don't think it was a shot at all it was a cross it was definitely a cross let's hear from David Wright first of all on the win as a whole David, a good 3-1 win for your team this afternoon what were your reflections on the game?

18:05really pleased with the performance the girls have been working ever so hard in terms of we want to control the game more is in we want to control the football more and they've been working, they've worked their socks off to do that, to learn it, to practice it and then they've come out here today and they've executed it brilliantly. Yeah, I mean Wolves are a tall physical side but you guys matched them really well today. Were you expecting it to be quite a physical game from both sides? Yeah, 100%, 100%. They're in a good moment. Obviously, they've been promoted. You can see the girls are all together and they're going to fight and they're going to scrap from each other and they've got some good quality.

18:49They're dangerous once they enter your final third. So for us to stand up to that and defend the frame of that goal as well as we've done was great. And then once we got hold of the ball, obviously to show the level of control that we did to create the amount of top quality chances that we did was really pleasing. obviously we're hungry and we want to get better and then the next step now is once we're creating them chances is to be ruthless

19:20Ross Halls:Yes Tom and you made a good point Wolves did have some really tall players and they were physical and I think they know they probably have to be like that as a newly promoted team and they've obviously recruited a lot in the summer but Town took the lead just for half time in controversial I wouldn't even say controversial fashion because since I've watched it back it was definitely over the line the ball the keeper dropped well the goalkeeper basically has got hold of the ball in the net and she obviously chucks it back out but obviously the Wolves players weren't happy their manager was not a happy bunny especially when the half-time whistle blew he was on the pitch there was actually stewards and sort of security at Colchester you know there to sort of protect the referee but yeah we're watching it back prior to recording and I'm just now going to bring it up obviously Boz crosses the ball and obviously it floats Goldwood and yeah the keeper sort of catches it but she's in the net obviously the ball drops and then Georgia Timms is there to sort of try to battle and get it you can sort of say foul the goalkeeper but she's obviously just battling it but the ball was already out of play and everything.

20:38Ross Halls:But your thoughts on it? Because, yeah, the ball was over the line. If we had goal-line technology, the ref would be straight away. I thought they would have done, had goal-line technology at the two level. I swear they had that. Especially at WSL two level, they should have it as well.

20:55I had no idea what was going on for about a minute after that goal. I don't think anyone knew what was really happening. I think I've literally just watched it back now as well. As the ball goes over the line, I don't think we'll ever properly know if it's fully over the line or not, because there's no... It's definitely... It's over. The key part is right in the net. She catches it, lets it slip, and then sort of drags the ball back in with her, and then palms it out. So that suggests to me that she sort of went, oh dear, I've sort of made it come into and I'm just going to palm it away. Whether the entire ball was over the line, I don't know.

21:41However, I don't think, Georgia Timms definitely had no idea if it had gone in right because she made zero sort of claims that it had. There was only two Ipswich players that did claim that it had gone over the line. That was Meg Hornby and Tegan McGowan. and whether they saw it or not, or was just hoping that it'd gone out or gone over the line, I don't know. But then it happens. The linesman puts his flag up. It's the flag that you do for offside. So at the time I thought, okay, Georgia Timms is offside, and that's why he's blown up. and then they clearly talked to each other you you say that you heard the the ref said goal I heard him say goal so so that's why everyone in the media area was really confused because we were like well he's flagged for offside and he hasn't done that thing of you know doing that and then literally running back to the halfway line to say you know I saw the goal that's my decision it's final.

22:51So then there's confusion between linesman and ref. I think the ref gives the goal. The Ipswich players celebrate. Wolves players then surround the referee, you know, with claims that obviously it wasn't over the line. She then goes to have a chat with the linesman. And you're thinking when that happens, it can sometimes be overturned or they're talking through what each of them saw and things like that she sticks with her decision and i mean it it gets town ahead so i don't think anyone is is complaining in a in a blue shirt um wolves fans who were you know fair play to them they were very vocal and gave a good bit of banter to the to the town fans yesterday or on sunday um they were up in arms.

23:44They were booing, obviously, when the halftime whistle went and all sorts. The Wolves bench in general were really, you know, up in arms about it. Wolves manager, as you say, he was not happy at all. He went straight onto the pitch at halftime to have a go. I think some of his staff had to sort of keep him back. Otherwise, he'd have probably got, you know, sent off and shown a red. Not happy at all. Wolves players weren't happy. But I mean, the ball does go over the line, whether it's the full ball. I don't know, but it does cross the line. And you can tell that by the keeper's reaction of having to palm it away.

24:27It is her mistake. I think it's gone down as an own goal for her. I think that's what the WSL have said. I mean, it was going on target from Boz. So, you know, I just said that it was Boz's goal, first goal of the afternoon. but it was just a minute of just complete confusion from everyone. I didn't write anything down until it was decided what had happened because I don't think anyone really knew what was going on for a long time. But, I mean, it was good build-up play to get to that point. Boz was found in a little bit of space on the right-hand side and obviously you saw Tims who was in an offside position.

25:07but I think because obviously the ball had crossed the line that didn't matter that she'd gone in for the ball after that. So yeah, it doesn't matter. They got themselves ahead and that's all as a publication covering Ipswich Town, we don't really mind. So yeah, we'll take it.

25:32Ross Halls:Yeah, taking my blue tinted glasses off, I still think it's over the line. So annoyingly, I haven't got like photo evidence of it because I will admit when Boz sort of crossed it, I then, you know, I sort of, I wasn't expecting it to sort of go in the way it did. So you sort of follow the ball, but then, you know, I thought, oh, it's sort of, it's gone, you know, it's not a great cross. And then out of nowhere, it's getting in the net. I'm like, whoa, whoa, what's going on? And you're sort of watching what's happening. And, you know, as I heard the Rino going goal and it was just, yeah, craziness.

26:08And then, but we don't mind

26:10Ross Halls:because our town take the lead just for half time, which is a perfect way to score. And then second half comes, Tom, another battling second half. Town had some chances, of course, as you mentioned earlier, Princess with a big chance. Wolves, of course, had moments as well. But I'm just going to segue straight onto Boz's goal, Tom. This is, she scored absolutely Screamer last year. And this time around, she scores another one. although does the goalkeeper should be doing better there probably but don't take away for Boz to even just go for that I know she's got that in her locker anyway but take her bow obviously from a corner she obviously gets the ball chests it down and then just goes why not boom to make it 3-1 sort of seal the win but yeah should the goalkeeper do a bit better Tom?

27:05I don't know she does get a touch on it I'm just going to go back to Boz's first one quickly you know it goes whether it's over the line or not is you know redundant considering Wolves scored from a goal with the ball that did go over the line so it is swings and roundabouts you know you can't complain about one decision if you get another decision go your way earlier on in the game you know you get luck and you don't get luck. That's how football works sometimes. But this goal, this was a brilliant goal and there was no reason to even talk about the controversy for it. I think it's the second corner after, you know, they had a couple of corners in quick succession and it's the second one delivered in, just cleared away.

27:51I mean, Boz is given the freedom of Colchester on the edge of the box. She's just not closed down. Her first touch is really good. Her second touch to sort of get it away from her feet, set herself up for the right foot shot was really good. And then she just with the laces just absolutely fires it straight at the keeper. But it's got so much pace and it is rising, you know, really quickly that she does get a touch on it, the keeper. But I think it is so quick that I would I would have been shocked if she'd have saved that. I think it was a really difficult one to tip over the bar from that position that she was in and it was just such a good finish with so much pace on the strike that you know yeah she wasn't going to save it she tipped it into the roof of the net and it's again a really really good goal um it's rare to see two really good goals in one game um but you know this game had it and it had one from a striker and one from a right back um and you know we know that boz can score those sorts of goals because we've seen it um and you know we've seen her sort of waiting on the edge of the box for those sorts of opportunities before.

29:20And she had to be there. She was in the right place. She controlled it really well and took a chance. And that sort of settled everyone's nerves because, you know, there is always a worry when you're 2-1 up, when you're 1-0 up, just one goal in it that all it takes is, you know, a mistake or just, you know, one bit of brilliance. and you've lost the three points. So that was really important to get it at that time. I think it was like 15 minutes to go before the end of the game. So that settled everyone's nerves and just meant that they were able to sort of not take their foot off the gas, but they had that two-goal cushion then to sit back on a little bit more.