Ladies 1st XI Vs Newark 2

After last week’s heart-breaking loss, we welcomed Newark 2s who appeared to be of a mind to inflict exactly the same thing to us.

But Captain Eleanor (Rock of Gibraltar) Wallace as sweeper had other great ideas. Freya (Meteor) Beaumont donned the keeper’s pads and assured us all that as best she could, “they shall not pass”.

Because of substitutions, not all players in our team were on the pitch at the same time in the same position.

(Fleet-footed) Liz Foster shimmered back onto the pitch after her last week’s absence, fighting fit and possibly a bit scary to our opponents plus Jo (very formidable Barrier of the Pyrenees) Shaw storming up in active defence.

All defending our D and general defence with cool, stoic determination and trying to help movement up-field to attack. Indeed, in the opening minutes, Freya had to pull off two stunning saves from wonderful pre-planned attacks by Newark, until we pulled ourselves round again to create midfield mastery.

 In midfield, Eleanor welcomed back the Incomparable Caroline Brackenbury after her last week’s absence. Caroline was assisted by Tigress Sophie (Swift to Pounce) Atkinson, endlessly buzzing (Jet-Propelled) Gemma Robinson, Jo (Foxy) Foxall,  plus deep-lying inside forward, twinkle-toed Lucy (Strike Force) Lloyd.

On the touchline, we had great enthusiastic support from Steph Hagerty, Will Honey, Ruby’s family, Andrea Wallace, later on from Sophie A’s Mum and in the final quarter, from our men’s team next on.

It is difficult to single out particular team players as we were acting as  a seamless team through out. But at season-end, the stars are aligning and our team must be nearly on the cusp of immortality.

South Notts midfield were having to be more than a bit quick in covering back to counter successfully (every time) the frequent Newark breakaways. Constantly pressing to win the ball, trying to pin Newark back into their own 25

Similar activity buzzed at the other end by South’s admirable forwards, (Lightning) Liv Biddulph, (Shooting Star) Evie Bates, Becky (Comet) Humfris, (Rocket) Ruby Ryan and (Electrifying) Ella Pearce welcomed back from her last week’s absence.

We saw a brilliant piece of home dominance with Becky (Comet) Humfris and the others buzzing around the Newark defence, like a swarm of irritant hornets. But no way through. So far.

Our midfield had to work very hard to out-craft and out-think Newark, with in particular Caroline performing on the top line, Sophie A pouncing like a swift tigress on any ball passing near her, and twinkle-toed Lucy Lloyd cutting out Newark’s passes. Jet-propelled Gemma, Lightning Liv and shrewd Foxy were not left behind in effort and demonstrating at speed their great skills, out-foxing our opponents, successfully.

Eventually our pressures paid off, and Sophie A eased a cunning pass to Electrifying Ella, breakthrough by Ella, across to twinkle-toed Lucy, who swayed and diddled our opponents. Lucy made a neat precision pass to ball of kinetic, balletic energy Becky who made no mistake and made it 1-0

A bit later a game-changing pass from Liz Foster up to Lucy Lloyd and from her swiftly to Becky who ran half the length of the pitch, showing her explosive elasticity. By-passing the Newark keeper, Becky lashed the ball into the Newark net. 2-0 but Newark reacted in a highly positive and creative Very welcomefashion. 2-0 up is not enough against Newark

In the second half, Newark used some more pre-planned clever moves and made the score 2-1 and all to play for. A thrilling, dramatic contest was set up with tense, pulsating, ebbs and flows. Newark looked increasingly likely to score again, showing great attitude and competitive spirit.

About this time our next men’s team on, to play after us, arrived to offer “helpful” advice to our club ladies. Noisy, enthusiastic and energetic, firing up tired legs.  Very welcome.

Every one of our South Notts Ladies XI matched Newark’s efforts measure for measure, recognising that 2-1 up was insufficient in the light of Newark’s attacking moves.

Newark defence had tried to close down our lively Evie, and still double-mark Becky. But could not be in two places at once.

 Rocket Ruby made a genius cross, precisely to suddenly unmarked Evie’s stick. Evie whipped the ball from one side of a bamboozled defender to the other. She sped through and made the score 3-1 with ten minutes to go and that was the final score-line. We are now back on top of the league table, as below. Phew. Thanks  to Ben Walker and Andy Wallace for their lovely umpiring