Ladies 1st XI Vs Southwell Brincliffe United Ladies III

17.10.20

South Notts Ladies 1st XI v Southwell Brincliffe United 2nd XI

Final score 2-0 to South Notts

Our energetic team sprinted out onto the pitch to meet a strong and experienced Southwell Brincliffe United team (SBU) . Last time the teams met, in the County Cup Final two seasons ago, we lost 1-5.

This time in her pre-match pep talk, Captain Eleanor Wallace ignited up the team’s flame of self-firing. In the opening 10 minutes, we were all over the SBU ‘D’. Abbie Rimmington, Maddy Whalley, Izzy Brackenbury and Ruby Graham kept expertly weaving and darting through the SBU defence. Always making themselves visible for passes. But with SBU’s stern and very vigorous defending, no goal.

Then SBU made a sudden startling breakaway attack on the South Notts goal. Somehow getting past our supporting midfield in great numbers, then met the athletic Freya Beaumont, and the vigorous and fast Alice Hounslow, then the ‘Himalayas’ final line of the fearless Mel Park and Eleanor Wallace.

But ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ Elizabeth Turner (with her shiny new goalkeeping pads) was on top form and sent SBU packing, again and again.

So both teams settled down to a midfield tussle, where South Notts started to prevail. Caroline Brackenbury asserted control and distribution. New club member Rachel Tidy confounded SBU with her acceleration and skills. India Clark was robust in both attacking and defensive moves.

Kate Parker showed her usual imagination and attacking creativeness. Bella Whalley showed her usual awesome calmness under pressure, and her clever skills began to confound the SBU defence. Sophie Runciman sold dummy passes and she thus created neat openings for the South Notts forwards.

Ruby Graham’s speed over 30m on loose balls was unmatched, speeding into unmarked spaces, and all this combination kept SBU very much on the back foot.

Shortly before half time, Rachel Tidy slipped a neat pass to Maddy Whalley, who swiftly broke clear and rifled her shot past the SBU unsuspecting goalkeeper. 1-0 and that is how it was at half-time.

After half-time, SBU regrouped and set up a series of very effective planned attacks on the South Notts goal. Elizabeth Turner’s new pads kept them at bay and our back line’s careful marking, ground down the SBU attacks.

Our midfield under Caroline Brackenbury analysed SBU’s new formations and slowly began to operate a stern counter-strategy. An increased number of planned attacks on the SBU goal were met with SBU’s equally determined and experienced defence. But after a period of sustained pressure in a goalmouth melee, Caroline Brackenbury neatly slipped the ball over the SBU goal line. 2-0.

The growing crowd of South Notts supporters outside the caged pitch area were getting very excited and noisy. Led by injured vice-captain Jo Shaw and injured player Julie Whalley. Our team is beginning to gel well, with much better and practised teamwork. We might even have won the match by much more than the 2 goal margin. Well done, everyone.

Final score 2-0 to South Notts. So far in the League, we have played 2, drawn 1, won 1.