Ladies 1st XI Vs West Bridgford 6 Development

Report 28 January 2023

South Nottm Ladies V Newark Ladies

Match report 

Eleanor (Rock of Gibraltar) Wallace led out her team on a day that could have been colder, just possibly.

 Brisk pre-match  pep-talk with an emphasis on developing and improving inter-play against what was expected to be a relatively youthful side. We should win but need to use the day to try out improvements as per training. She re-emphasised our need to play wide.   Use our wings to the full.  Our tactical plan must be to continue to create “possession hockey”. Clickety-click, short, accurate passes, keeping possession.

Because of rolling subs, not everyone below, was on the pitch at the same time.

 Elizabeth (They shall not pass) Turner was seen togging up and very pleased to be one of the warmest players on the pitch! She confessed that she had conceded one goal this season but only one, and in comparison to the many goals scored by us, this was negligible. But still annoying for this perfectionist!

In front of Eleanor at sweeper, were Jo (Barrier of the Pyrenees) Shaw,  Freya  ( the Meteor ) Beaumont  and Fiona (the Greyhound) Sweetman, all resolute and determined to shut down the expected attacks from what looked like  a pretty nippy side. And was.

As now seems customary with loosely-marked Becky (the Comet), Newark were not paying her much attention so she took advantage and weaved unexpectedly  into the D for a swift  poaching  strike; 1-0  after 7 minutes!   And repeated this a few minutes later. 2-0 after 15 minutes.

So Newark then double-marked the ever-dangerous Becky   and so left  the other forwards  free to roam. And so they did.

Caroline (the Incomparable) Brackenbury then started in midfield to move the ball about, playing wide, out to our speedy wings  Rachael (the Unseen Raider) Grupping and Ruby  (the Rocket ) Ryan, inside to the lurking forwards Evie (the  Shooting Star ) Bates and   Gemma (the Jet-Propelled)   Robinson.

These all caused a lot of pressure on Newark’s defence.   Gemma was arrowing through the Newark  defence and sliding the ball sideways to a waiting unmarked colleague,  as was Ruby. Gemma (the Jet-Propelled) Robinson was invisibly and unexpectedly (to Newark ) doing the slicing- same and  kept moving like lightning for diagonal return passes and making more, as she kept up the penetration.

At times, our speed and untried variations hurried some of us at all parts of the pitch into unforced errors.  Sammy (the Arrow) Marwick   and Kate (the Terrier) Parker stepped up to mop up. Assisting Caroline to keep overall control and direction as a seamless midfield unit.  Swing left, swing right, push through, swing right, swing left, and pass to an unmarked player to dart and pierce Newark’s D. Devastating and inspiring to watch.

At one point, for one brief moment, our upfront forwards appeared for moments to be efficiently shut down by an efficient Newark defence.   But they had not reckoned on Kate Parker sliding up (unnoticed and unmarked) with sensational speed and skill to rifle in a third goal; and Becky a third  (and yet another  hat- trick for her )  to make it 4-0 at half time.

Our midfield had been outstanding in this in the first half but it had to be the whole team doing it. Caroline (the Incomparable) Brackenbury, Sammy (the Arrow) Markwick, Kate (the Terrier) Parker and Rachael ( the Unseen Raider)  Grupping increased more positional calling to our upfront  forward line. With their very clever readings of the game, they kept plotting the shutdown of their opposite numbers, (with 100% success), while opening up new opportunities,  and gloom in the  Newark ranks.   These heroines collected and distributed passes to where they could (and did) cause most damage to the Newark defence.

 Our doughty defenders never lost lose touch with our attacking midfield and were up in support all the time. Perhaps a bit risky, leaving such a space between them and our goal, but they were careful not to be caught out. And were not.

Undeterred, Newark kept up throughout the game, a series of strong breakaway attacks, particularly  by their young exceptionally speedy wings which were skilfully parried by Eleanor  Wallace,  Jo  Shaw and  Fiona Sweetman.  Their strikings of the ball were joyfully crisp, clean and penetrating.

Still 4-0 up until Ruby (Rocket) Ryan on the right wing raced  up with consistent strength and amazing speed. She was “Hard to Catch” unless  Newark had a spare  Ferrari , which they must have left behind.   Ruby Ryan  kept slipping the ball inside to the centre (again and again)  and  so let Evie rattle the backboard in goal  to make it 5-0 up. And Kate Parker sped up again (unseen) and did the same.  6-0 up.

So what were our forwards doing?  Using our well drilled and well-rehearsed tactical ploys, learned again and again at Thursday training so that it becomes second nature.  In this match it moved into top gear.

By full-time, Becky had scored 4 in total, Kate 2, and Evie 2 .  So   8-0   at full-time as a result of very thoughtful play, and trying to use our team drills to best effect. A Team Game with extra intelligence and a real joy to watch. Despite the score line, Newark were not a pushover, but we created our opportunities and used them well. 

So far we have won all our matches, 83 goals scored and 3 against. New target for the season 100 goals. Can we make it? YES !!

We have kept our place at the top of our League Division table.   Very well done, everyone.  And thank you to our very much-valued, supporters on the touchline.