Ladies 1st XI Vs Men's 4th XI

Due to a strange combination of circumstances, the Men’s 4th XI and the Ladies team each had no match, so the two teams combined to let the Ladies challenge the Men. Very competitive!

Eleanor Wallace welcomed Alison Raynor for her first game for the club after attending training for several weeks. Jo Shaw led the team on to the pitch, keyed up and ready.  Because of rolling subs, not everyone mentioned below was on the pitch at the same time.

Tony Ellis led his team onto the pitch, the senior players in his team noting with mock alarm the vigorous warm-up exercises conducted by the ladies. No keepers on either side, by arrangement, so Club Chairman and Keeper Simon Recaldin came out to show his athletic paces and stick-work skills, to very good effect.

As seems to be usual this season, the Ladies’ opponents came out of their blocks fast, and put the Ladies’ defence under immediate and serious pressure. But came up against Jo (Barrier of the Pyrenees) Shaw, Alison (Zippy) Raynor, and Louise (Poacher) Price   who all sped with great field-craft, to shut down these attacks. Completely. And sent the ball wide, out to the wings, in pre-planned tactics to try to get round the back of the Men’s defence. Successfully.

Out wide, Sophie (Swift to Pounce) Atkinson and Alex (the Spear) McCusker-Stevenson played out of their skins; their sharp concentration was really visible. Slipping the ball by-passing   the Men’s defenders, inside   to forwards, Rachael (the Unseen Raider) Grupping, Gemma (the Jet-Propelled) Robinson, Sammy (the Arrow) Markwick, and Izzy (Shimmering Moonbeam) Brackenbury, using “triangulation” as planned. Or these wings using their amazing speed to drive outside down the wing and cross to the D much nearer the base line.

In midfield, the role of Caroline (the Incomparable) Brackenbury concentrated on the Men’s frequent attacks coming through the centre.  Capably aided and abetted at different times by Ruby (Rocket) Ryan, Sophie (Tiger) Runciman, Freya (Meteor)Beaumont, and Rose (Crafty) Cartwright all of whom were always up supporting the Ladies’ attacks and  all back to help with the Ladies’  defence.  And indeed, with shrewd passes, creating many new attacks.

In terms of play, the game fluctuated madly between both ends, with two completely different styles of play. The Ladies realised that they were unlikely to be able to match the raw physical strength of the Men, so their plan was to create “possession hockey”. Clickety-click, short, accurate passes, keeping possession.

The Men’s strategy from the back was to work to their strengths and bang long raking passes into areas which were completely empty and rely on strength and speed to collect on the run. Up front there were Ken Shapland and Paul Hollingworth forensically identifying and breaking open any perceived defensive weaknesses of the Ladies’ team.

In the ebb and flow, Louise (Poacher) Price slipped unnoticed up from midfield and poached an early goal out of nowhere. Quickly matched by Paul Hollingworth penetrating the defensive line and making it 1-1. Then Caroline (the Incomparable) Brackenbury surged up from midfield, unmarked, took a reverse pass from Gemma (the Jet-Propelled) Robinson and slotted it to make it 2-1.  Matched by Norman Buttery making it 2-2 and all to play for.

After half-time, the South Nottingham Men’s 2nd XI appeared ready for their own game later. But took the opportunity to give the Men’s 4th XI active vocal support in their endeavours. Matched by vocal support from the rolling subs for the Ladies, the volume generated   began to take on sound characteristics of a Wembley FA Cup Final. 

Then Ken Shapland broke through at unexpected speed and made it 3-2 to the Men, followed a period of deadlock play, by Alex McCusker-Stevenson on the wing making it 3-3.

Ebb and flow, with sound support increasing for both teams, and then came the “memorable goal of the season” by Izzy (Shimmering Moonbeam) Brackenbury. Lurking and shimmering on the far post, there was a shot at goal, but at the same moment someone called her name for a pass. She lifted her head and took her eye off the ball. The ball came to hit her stick and was directed into goal, much to her surprise and that of everyone else.  Mother and daughter on the same team scoresheet, again. 4-3 to the Ladies and the Men stepped up pressure.

But Jo (Barrier of the Pyrenees) Shaw ensured firm control until the final minute when Paul Hollingworth broke through to make it 4-4 and honours were even.

The match was very instructive. Both teams had to adapt to cope with unexpected differences in playing styles and did so with high competence and wonderful skill. Both teams relied on pre-planned tactics, to good effect, and were able to vary them as required.   The Ladies succeeded in developing, in midfield and forwards, their triangulation strategy, i.e.  coming up against an efficient defender, slip it inside, skip past the defender (whose attention was by now elsewhere) and collect a quick return pass, by now unmarked.  Very difficult for defenders to handle.   Both teams, particularly the younger players, benefited greatly from the match experience.

Umpire's record:

Men scored after 12 minutes

Ladies equalised after 18

Men went 2 - 1 up after 22

Ladies equalised after 34

HT 2 - 2

Men went 3 - 2 ahead after 7

Ladies equalised again after 11

Ladies went ahead after 27

Men equalised after 28

FT 4 - 4