13th November 2021: The Aztecs get their first Bedford win over London Genesis.
No changes from the squad that faced Bedford last week.
Southampton took the lead with only twenty-five seconds played. Kayleigh Tonks pressing well and then pouncing to put the Aztecs ahead, before many fans had even taken their seats. Two minutes later, and the score was now 2-0 to the greens, with sister Rebekah receiving a pass from Kaylee Senter, beating the defender with an excellent chop behind the leg, and firing into the near corner.
The first half suffered much kerfuffle, and was delayed for more than five minutes while the referee had to deal with some Genesis players that were wearing jewellery. This clearly slowed down the momentum of the game. The Aztecs were on top and flying, but then had to wait over twelve minutes to get their third goal. In the meantime Genesis pulled one back three minutes later. Their keeper played the ball forward, which was held up well, and fed off to her accompanying teammate who beat Lauren Sayler, making it 2-1. Taking a while to get back into the swing of things, the third Southampton goal came from Kayleigh Tonks, who was fed by Nicola Curtis. The shot nutmegged the keeper, who nearly saved it, but stumbled on the ball, pushing it over the line. In search of the fourth goal, Bekah Tonks had a shot blocked, and the Aztecs were awarded a penalty for handball. Attempting to relive her BT Sport glory, captain Kaylee Senter's toe punt was saved by the keeper, who then smothered the rebound. The fourth goal came before half-time, with Nicola Curtis stabbing the ball to R. Tonks, who played a reverse pass across goal to K. Tonks to score at the far post.
Ninety seconds into the second half, the Aztecs got their fifth goal. A long shot was caught by Lauren Sayler, who put the ball on the ground and played a brilliant diagonal ball to Rebekah Tonks, whose disguised shot beat the keeper at the near post. Bekah added the sixth goal pressing high, stealing the ball, and finishing at that same near post. To make it 7-1, the Aztecs scored what was likely their best goal yet, and a clear candidate for goal of the season. B. Tonks played a corner to K. Tonks, who rolled it back to her. B. Tonks laid it off to Kaylee Senter on the edge of the area to shoot. The touch was mistimed, so instead Senter laid it back to Sayler, who hit a first time chipped ball to B. Tonks, who chested it down and set it for Kayleigh to smash across goal into the far corner. Sublime futsal, and a sign of improving game intelligence as these footballers add to their futsal arsenal.
The Aztecs missed another chance from the spot. Kaylee Senter giving off Martin Palermo vibes, being brave enough to take the second penalty, which was awarded after a foul in the area. This time Senter shot wide. Kayleigh Tonks made it 8-1 after being sevred the ball from Senter on a counter-attack, beating the keeper with the most delightful disguised shot. Genesis pulled back another to make it 8-2, when Southampton were caught in possession. The Genesis player pulled off some great skills to breeze past two Southampton defenders, and then expertly poked it through Lauren Sayler's legs. It wasn't long before the ball was in the back of the net at the other end. Alo Ilolo received the ball from K. Tonks from a kick-in. Fluffing her first shot, Alo Ilolo reacted well to pounce and hit home. Divina Alo Ilolo assisted the ninth Aztecs goal, playing an expert defence splitting pass for Kathryn Heath to tap-in at the far post. Great movement involved in this goal with Kayleigh Tonks' movement disrupting the defence, Heath recognising the open space on the blindside, and Alo Ilolo playing a perfectly weighted ball.
10-2 to the Aztecs now, and of course the sisters were involved in scoring the eleventh. Heath and both Tonks pressed well on the recovery as Senter delayed the attack well with her positioning. Bekah Tonks stole the ball, poking it to Heath, and creating a 3v1 in the process. Heath laid it off to the right for Bekah on the overlap to move the defender, creating the opportunity for Kayleigh to toe poke home for 11-2. A minute to go, and the sisters combined for the final time in the game, making it 12-2. Bekah Tonks stole the ball near the Aztecs goal, played an excellent diagonal pass along the ground to Kayleigh, who took one touch with the left, and then nutmegged the keeper with the right, for her seventh goal of the game.
Below is the full match for your viewing pleasure.
Kayleigh Tonks was voted as player of the match. Check out her seven goals, and the rest of the highlights below.
The scores from the day of games.
There are two massive games remaining. Can the Aztecs make top four? They'll have to start with a win against third placed Bloomsbury on the 27th of November.
The race for fourth is going to be very tight. If you'd like to make your own predictions at home, here are the remaining fixtures.
Aztecs; Bloomsbury, Reading Royals.
Bedford; Genesis, Helvecia.
Bloomsbury; Aztecs, Birmingham.
Reading Royals; Birmingham, Aztecs.