Ladies 1st XI Vs Redhill 3

The Rock of Gibraltar and the Barrier of the Pyrenees   were unavailable so Caroline (the Incomparable) Brackenbury stepped up to lead a dead- keen South Notts squad on to the pitch at Goosedale. The opposition was Redhill 3s who  are biting at our heels in the league division.  Our team is top and Redhill a close second.

Both teams had to raise their game to amazing levels, and did. Because of rolling subs, not everyone below was on the pitch at the same time.

Steph (the Wall) Hagerty and Freya  (the Meteor) Beaumont took on the task  of blocking access to our D. Despite every energetic effort, iron-fisted, occasionally a Redhill attack slipped through, only to be confronted by Elizabeth (They shall not pass) Turner at the scary top of her keeping game.

It did not take our midfield long to assess the dangers posed by Redhill, which kept varying but consistent. Caroline (the Incomparable) in the centre was aided by Sophie (Swift to Pounce) Atkinson, Kate (the Terrier) Parker and Rose (the Crafty) Cartwright. A really splendid and cunning combination.

Their skills at shutting down attacks by clever reading of the game were prodigious. Covering yet again, miles and miles in cover, to devastating effect, and their close marking rarely gave Redhill an opportunity.   And at one point Rose Cartwright appeared out of nowhere to Redhill’s surprise  and she ghosted (again) through  the Redhill defence  to rattle the Redhill backboard. And then Kate Parker did the same, wonderfully.  

Up front we had Emma (the Gazelle ) Turner, Ruby ( the Rocket) Ryan, Gemma (the Jet-Propelled) Robinson , Sammy (the Arrow) Markwick    and Alex McCusker-Stevenson “Spearing” through the Redhill defences. The Redhill keeper had an outstanding game and with athletic saves kept her goal-line intact for a long, frustrating time.

What was deeply impressive to the spectators was the visible maturing of this Team’s team-play during this match. Subtle inter-changes, keeping possession hockey, creating open, unmarked spaces  for opportunities. And the defenders avoided any gaps growing between them and midfield by cunning positioning, and very thoughtful, creative play.

For rolling subs, we had only one forward available, very unexpectedly.   The trumpet rang out across the nation and Liz (the Fleet-Footed) Foster answered the clarion call at very short notice and arrived at speed as a “Half-Time-Heroine”.   Wow and triple wow.   (We were told by a language teacher to remember the phrase!). Her speed and power as a rolling sub gave relief to our defence  players  and really rattled Redhill. Thank you,  Liz.

At half-time, the joint contributions by the Team were awesome. Keep it wide, stop funnelling through the centre, stop trying to welly the ball at the goal, (a quick flick is likely to be more successful) and keep possession, get unmarked. And with our usual  100% commitment, it worked a treat.

With all this , what happened? Goals by Rose Cartwright, Emma Turner, Kate Parker, Sammy Markwick, Gemma Robinson and two by Alex McCusker-Stevenson  made it 7-0  to South Notts. And South kept our place at the top of our league division table  against a doughty opponent.  Phew.

 Very well done,  everyone.