The Satellites continued their unbeaten start to 2023 with a hard fought 1-1 draw against a very strong and improving Mole Valley team.
Churt started the strongest of the 2 teams and created some half chances early on with through balls and balls over the top. Churt continued to apply pressure and in the 25th minute a through ball from Ruby Clark, who came on after 17 minutes, was superbly converted by Hannah Watts to put the home team ahead.
At this point the momentum of the game changed and Mole Valley started to look much stronger as they looked to gain an equaliser. The Satellites, however, looked rock solid in defence and the away team were unable to create any shots on target.
The Satellites created 1 more chance in the first half. A through ball from Maisie was missed by the away team defence, and Ella Farrier found herself 1 on 1 with the goaly who was on the edge of the box. Ella elected to shoot rather than dribble round the goaly, but her shot went just wide.
Mole Valley looked the strongest team in the second half. They won several corners and put the Churt defence under a lot of pressure. However, the Satellites continued to defend well with key challenges being made from both Isobel and Phoebe, and the away team failed to find a shot on target during the first 20 minutes of the half.
The first chance of the 2nd half fell to Churt. Amy O chased a through ball from midfield, outmuscled the defender and found herself 1 on 1 with the goal, but put her shot just wide.
The breakthrough for Mole Valley came in the 60th minute. They won the ball near the half way on the left and played a ball behind our defence down the left. The Satellites defence became stretched, and a cross / shot came into the box, where Churt only had 1 defender. Tilly made a superb save, but a Mole Valley player was waiting to pounce on the rebound, and the away team drew level 1-1.
The Satellites pressed hard for the rebound, but the away team continued to defend resolutely as they had during the whole game.