Ladies 1st XI Vs Trent Vale 1

In the absence of  Eleanor Wallace and Freya Beaumont, the Incomparable Caroline Brackenbury stepped up for the day as team captain.

Other of the 10 absentees from usual duty were Becky Humfris, Gemma Robinson, Fiona Sweetman, Rose Cartwright, Sammy Markwick, Jo Foxall, Claire Stuttard, Louise Price, and goal keeper Elizabeth Turner.

Caroline welcomed back to the All Stars Sensations, Rachael (the Unseen Raider) Grupping, fresh from her massive extra NHS surgeon duties over Xmas, Ruby (Rocket) Ryan, fresh from her Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve training, Steph (the Wall) Hagerty, fresh from her maternity leave and Alex (the Spear) Stevenson freshly returning to sub-zero UK for a short time from her world-wide-travels in very hot countries.

Caroline and her team sprinted out on to the pitch and were undergoing a vigorous daunting pre match work-out before the Trent Vale opposition arrived. And when they did, they watched us with shivering admiration.

Will Honey of the men’s club was there loyally in support, as was Euan Temple, about to be told off by one of the All Star Sensations (you know who you are!) for standing too close to the touchline!

Captain Caroline assembled her troops and welcomed the following more South Notts Sensations, All-Stars all:- Jo (Barrier of the Pyrenees) Shaw,  Liz (the Fleet-Footed) Foster, Twinkle-toed Lucy (Strike Force) Lloyd, Sophie (Tigress, Swift to Pounce) Atkinson, (Lightning) Liv Biddulph, (Electrifying) Ella Pearce, Evie (Shooting Star) Bates,  and (Bounding Leopardess) Sophie Runciman.

Several had been seen in secret pre match fitness training in the Bingham Arena gym.

No-one has ever asserted that we lack strength in depth (and lived!)

The All-Stars Sensations clearly have “Fire and Edge”, so there was optimism about trying to remind ourselves what the Trent Vale goal backboard looks like! Close up.

Several had been seen in secret pre-match fitness training in the Bingham Arena gym, telling Euan Temple that he was not working out hard enough, despite him being the Arena “Member of the Month”.

Brisk usual pre-match pep-talk by Caroline Brackenbury with an emphasis on developing and improving our inter-play. She re-emphasised our need to play wide. Use our wing spaces to the full. Our tactical plan must be to continue to create “possession hockey”. Clickety-click, short, accurate passes, keeping possession. Trent Vale are always very swift to pick up and chase a loose ball.  

Because of rolling subs, not everyone named, was on the pitch at the same time nor in the same position. This made it very hard for Trent Vale to deal effectively with our player to player marking.

Elizabeth Turner’s unavailability in goal left us without her stardust. Stepping up as courageous volunteer today with the keeper’s pads was the valiant Jo (normally “Barrier of the Pyrenees” in defence but today also “They shall not pass”) Shaw.  If Jo, when padded up and helmeted up, scares her own side, (and scares our own spectators) we can guess how her opposition must feel!  The door to Jo’s goal was Firmly Shut.

In front of Jo were (Fleet-Footed) Liz Foster, few possess her all-round hockey intellect and ability to make wonderful interceptions, and Steph (the Wall) Hagerty who was stoic in defending set-pieces and piling forward to support Midfield so ably. They held to the calm way in which the team wanted to work the ball out of defence, passing accurately to an unmarked team member.

Our defence had Structure and Attitude.

Caroline was calling and constantly guiding our team, as a Captain should. Steph’s stick-work and ability to turn an opponent’s attack into creating one of our own, was notable. And Liz’s opponent must have been disheartened by Liz’s close-marking, effectively shutting down her opponent. Time after time.

In midfield, the Incomparable Caroline Brackenbury, and Tiger Sophie (Swift to Pounce) Atkinson ranged wide and began to assert their capable control over the play-making. Whenever Trent Vale passed the ball across midfield, Sophie Tiger or Incomparable Caroline just “happened” to be there nearly every time, to cut it off. Both with tireless tenacity and dynamic dexterity.

The stars are aligning, our Midfield must be on the cusp of immortality.

All of our Midfield’s clever readings of the game enabled them to be assisting in Defence, in midfield to be shutting down attacks, and to be up creating opportunities in support of our Forward line. Our thoughtful, dynamic, intelligent play showed our skilled field-craft. Ceaseless, purposeful motion by all. Shimmering and Dazzling.

Up front we had firebrand spirits (needed in these subzero temperatures) Sophie (Bounding Leopardess) Runciman, Lucy (Strike Force) Lloyd, (Lightning) Liv Biddulph,so full of flair, (Shooting Star) Evie Bates, (Electrifying) Ella Pearce (no longer “quiet and shy”, oops!), Rachael (the Unseen Raider) Grupping, Ruby (Rocket) Ryan and Alex (the Spear) Stevenson who brought back to our team her very own inspiring sparks and flames.

Trent Vale did not surrender control to us; they contested every ball. Every time. And Trent Vale had an experienced defence, with very capable plans to try to stop us scoring. Last time we played them, in September 2024, we won 5-0 with goals by Ella, Ruby, Rachael, Evie and Becky. Trent Vale clearly had plans to stop a repeat score-line, successfully put into operation this time, and giving our keeper Jo Shaw very busy ad a very hard time.

Our forwards seemed to bewilder the Trent Vale defence by our brisk and brilliant bombardment, but no joy for us, nor for Trent Vale against our defensive barriers. South’s will and dynamism strongly showed our team’s personality and character.

Pulsating exciting stuff, with frequent swings of momentum and switches of emotion

Some memorable bits from early on.

Ella slalomed into their D with an electrifying run, but their defence caught it in time. She always showed sharpness in front of goal and the certainty that comes with confidence

Lucy rocketed past 2 defenders, rode a challenge and struck hard, but had no joy. Lucy’s vision and reading of the game is breath-taking

Evie is an undimming, undiminished force, showing her remarkable attacking skills, time after time. Giving opponent defenders a continual real headache.

Rachael somehow managed to sway and dart inside defences unmarked and continually surprise the opposition. Devastating skill.

Liv nearly scored by a deflection but met a brilliant save.

Sophie R showed her marathon-fitness, high-quality, field craft as she kept outwitting the opposition, breaking through at speed, dipping and twisting evasively

Alex demonstrates coolness and calmness in front of goal, creating an extra half second when opponents do not; demonstrating other-worldly ball-mastery that captures the imagination.

Ruby’s awesome speed and technical skills were highlighted when she stole the ball from under Trent Vale’s noses, and rocketed through. Ruby then whipped the ball sideways to an unmarked Caroline who had slipped through unmarked. Such was the thunderous power with which Caroline lashed the ball, she probably dented the Trent Vale backboard!  A zest-filled moment.

Because everyone kept piling forward in support, there were dangers of Trent Vale breakaways, which happened, potentially leaving Jo over-exposed. But these were successful in scoring only once.

After a frenetic final quarter, the final score-line was 1-1. Phew. 

Caroline commented afterwards that our creation of beautiful patterns and quick transitions was lovely. But scoring only one goal from so many shots from strong positions, with the possession and chances that we had, should have had a better conversion rate. But well done everyone, delighted with the effort put in by everyone in our Team

Thanks to our usual noisy band of loyal spectators.