Ladies 1st XI Vs Trent Vale Ladies I

03.10.20  match report   Ladies 1st XI v Trent Vale   1st XI for Club

The first competitive league match of the season. Drizzly wet day ,  but everyone was happy to be back in  Team harness.  Now  promoted to a higher  league division.

Elizabeth Turner was absent and new member Freya Beaumont stepped up to the plate.  Did brilliantly. Yes, South Notts lost,  but it could have been a great deal worse,  had it not been for Freya’s skills.  

Trent Vale played well  and always had a player dangerously sniffing round  Freya, our keeper,   looking for rebounds,   and pulling back one of  our defenders.

At the back were Eleanor Wallace and Mel Park treating the opposing rampaging forwards   with their usual vigour, shutting down numerous attacks almost before they had developed.   This was after Trent Vale  had with difficulty got past stalwart defenders Alice Hounslow , Sophie Runciman and Liberty Price.

Caroline Brackenbury  shone with distribution from  centre midfield, looking to pass to  the athletic new member Maddie Whalley rocketing down the right wing , the speedy Abbie Rimmington  getting unmarked and skilfully moving inside  the Trent Vale  defence, and the crafty Poppy Scothern , seeming to leave her opponents floundering on the starting blocks.

In midfield Ruby Ryan, Julie Whalley, India Clark  and Kate Parker formed a thoughtful  defensive wall, but continued pushing up  cleverly to support the South Notts forward line.

The calm experience of Trent Vale told in the end. Trent Vale have been playing together for many years and have played 3 matches already this season, so  they are probably several  weeks ahead of us in preparation.  5 goals against South, arising largely out of confused goalmouth melees rather than defensive errors,   but our Team was undeterred and never gave up. Near the end, India Clark saw an opening, shot through it, and slotted a brilliant drive past the Trent Vale keeper.  The Team showed a lot of encouragement for the season to come.  Good to see the injured Jo Shaw supporting from the touchline, get well soon, Jo.

Final score South Notts 1 Trent Vale 5