Ladies 1st XI Vs North Notts. 4 Development

On a bitterly cold early morning at Worksop Leisure Centre, Captain Eleanor Wallace led out her shivering troops. We were imagining (only in fantasy !) a 10,000 person crowd  of supporters, community singing and marching brass bands. No such luck at Worksop this week!

We knew in advance that we were missing today our regular goal keeper but Evie (the “Shooting Star” but today “they shall not pass”)  Bates valiantly stepped up  from our planned forward line.  To general acclaim, Evie donned the kit. It was asserted that it was “pure coincidence” that she became by far the warmest person in our team! Right.   Very sensible, Evie.

Eleanor (Rock of Gibraltar) Wallace told us before Push-Back that our opponents were mostly a young “Development Side” and our team should use the opportunity to try out a few tactical innovations   during the match but above all, to play absolutely by the book.

But it was likely that there would be some North Notts players who were extremely fast and skilled, so we would need to keep good marking AND to pay full  attention.

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

Eleanor added   an innovation in that she encouraged Jo (Barrier of the Pyrenees) Shaw, Steph (the Wall) Hagerty and Freya (Meteor) Beaumont   to press slightly further up, in support of midfield to enable them to press up more closely in support of our forwards.  But to avoid too much of a gap between our defence and midfield.

This left Evie Bates   in goal potentially exposed to breaks but she was at the scary top of her (very first time) goal-keeping game. She parried North Notts’  breaks  with nonchalant ease,  while the spectators were having heart attacks about the varied  North Notts attacks! Evie did brilliantly.

Sophie (Tiger) Runciman  stepped up (as if to the manner born) to take control of midfield.   Outside her were Sophie (Swift to Pounce) Atkinson, Kate (the Terrier) Parker and Gemma (the Jet-propelled) Robinson.  Given the extra support behind them, they were able to press up and put extra pressure on the packed North Notts defence.

Sophie A was pouncing swiftly on any loose ball, Gemma Robinson’s consistent strength and speed seemed to rattle North Notts,   Kate Parker was seen racing up to collect reverse passes and press up to their D.  Gemma Robinson was shrewdly and consistently creating new opportunities. These shared teamwork skills at shutting down North Notts’  attacks, by clever reading of the game, were prodigious.

And all the time Sophie R  was tigerishly collecting and distributing passes to where they could (and did) cause most damage to the North Notts defence. Subtle inter-changes, keeping possession hockey, creating open, unmarked spaces for opportunities. Our tactical plan was to create “possession hockey”. Clickety-click, short, accurate passes, keeping possession and playing wide to make the most of our speedy wings. There was some player rotation between our forwards, and at times Sophie Atkinson moved into the forward line as an extra player up front.

We all needed to keep running to stop our blood freezing. It seemed that over Christmas a number of us had continued our training runs to work off the Xmas puds. Our speed and athleticism were enhanced and not diminished by Christmas. It was breath-taking to our admiring spectators and a joy to watch.

By half time we were 6-1 up  with Becky (the Comet)  Humphris scoring 3, Sammy (the Arrow) Markwick 2 , and  Ruby (the Rocket ) Ryan) 1.  North Notts’ defence tried (and very well indeed)  to match our clever possession hockey, trying to keep our dynamic athletic forwards at bay. Who (in the event) proved unstoppable.

Captain Eleanor Wallace   advised two main things in her half-time briefing. First, we were accidentally creating too much of a gap between our midfield and our defence  by our  midfield’s surging support of attacks. Second, we would run a risk of North Notts fight-backs if we did not pay enough attention to the very speedy and efficient North Notts’  wings, one of whom had already scored. Quite right, and the North Notts wings did keep breaking free, but were foiled by teamwork.

Becky Humphris kept slicing open the North Notts  defence  and slipping the  ball sideways,  opening up to other forwards.  Sammy Markwick kept moving like lightning for diagonal return passes and making more, as she kept piercing the heart of the defence, like the “Arrow” that she is.   Ruby Ryan kept up her dazzling “Rocket” impetus from the right wing.  Sophie R kept appearing from (it seemed) nowhere like a  “Tiger” sentinel at the head of the D,  for any  (rare) casual clearance  by  North Notts.

By full-time, Becky had scored 2 more (5 in total), Sammy 3, Kate 1, Sophie Atkinson 1 and Sophie Runciman 1    to make the winning score 12-1.  

Our team stays top of our league division with a goal difference in our favour of 72.  Wonderful.