Ladies 1st XI Vs West Bridgford 4

A damp pitch, a dull day warmed and lit up by sparky zest by both teams.

The light grew gloomy with pending rain. It was difficult for spectators to identify our players on the far side of the pitch. But we were helped by seeing Gemma (the jet-propelled with blazing after-burners) Robinson scorching through, in a quick slalom, into the West Bridgford D , and on a pirouette made a great strike. Only to be thwarted by an unbelievably good save by West Bridgford’s keeper.

West Bridgford were in fine form, constantly attacking our goal, but were foiled again and again by our sweeper Eleanor (Rock of Gibraltar) Wallace and by our energetic keeper Elizabeth (They shall not pass) Turner.

Jo  (Barrier of the Pyrenees) Shaw,  Liz (the Fleet-footed dynamo) Foster and Sophie (Tiger) Runciman played out of their skins with skilled athleticism. Defend, Create, and set up Attacks . 1000% effort against very competent and highly experienced West Bridgford forwards.

In midfield, Caroline (the Incomparable, “No messing with me, I am on the attack”) was engaged in an ongoing battle for midfield supremacy. It never quite got established as neither side conceded an inch. Both teams raised skill sets to almost unbelievable levels, but it was always Even-Stephen.

Aiding and abetting Caroline, were Fiona (the Greyhound) Sweetman, Sophie (Swift to Pounce) Atkinson and Rose (the Crafty) Cartwright. Their energy and skill left our admiring spectators almost out of breath, and the amazing midfield energy was put to good creative use.

Evie  (Shooting Star) Bates bewildered opponents by her brisk and brilliant bombardments on the West Bridgford goal which, sadly for us, proved Impregnable.

West Bridgford’s breakaway counter-attacks were just as fast and powerful, but proved to be just as unsuccessful. Well done, Elizabeth T., Jo S.  Liz F and Sophie R. Pillars of the side.

Others up front included Lucy (Strike Force) Lloyd, Sammy (the Arrow) Markwick, Emma (Speedy Gonzales) Roberts and Ruby (Rocket) Ryan. Their inter-play and moving into being unmarked, ready to give or receive an assist, or a strike at goal, was much admired by our commendably enthusiastic spectators.

Then came a sudden torrential cloudburst half way through which made the pitch unplayable. The umpires rightly called it off. As both teams paddled and squelched off, each eagerly looked forward to an early rematch, as each is confident of victory next time!

We never got a chance to settle down and show our paces, but we will next time.