Ladies 1st XI Vs Newark 3

We were at Newark’s ground early on a sunny Spring morning, bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Twinkle-toed Lucy Lloyd was seen really flexing her muscles pre-match, to such a vigorous extent, that Euan alleged “to general disbelief” that he could flex like that, once upon a time! Hmm.

We were back at the top of our league division, just two points ahead of the chasing Boots 4. So Captain Eleanor (Rock of Gibraltar) Wallace gave us all a punishing warm up and an inspirational pre-match pep talk. All to play for.

Freya (Meteor) Beaumont donned the keeper’s pads and assured us all that as best she could, “they shall not pass”. We then rehearsed our penalty corner routines forwards v defenders with all our tactical variables. Looked good.

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

Captain Eleanor told us that our team always makes a contest and we needed to win the first ball of the game to establish the pecking order. That is just what we did with a high octane start by us, the atmosphere fizzing. Our control and movement throughout were excellent.

Jo (very formidable Barrier of the Pyrenees) Shaw stormed back in active defence to help Eleanor at sweeper when Newark were counter-attacking.  More often Jo was racing up in support of our midfield as was Steph (the Wall) Hagerty - try getting past Steph in a hurry!  Newark couldn’t. And when Newark inter-passed, our sturdy defenders were ready in position to intersect

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 pulled off three remarkable saves from wonderful pre-planned attacks by Newark, until we pulled ourselves round once again to create midfield mastery.

 We know that we are not a team that just sits deep, just soaks up pressure and just counters. We like to attack from all over the pitch; 100% of the time, if possible.

In centre midfield we saw the Incomparable Caroline Brackenbury, shining brightly like the All-Star she is, endlessly creating and out-thinking our opponents. Caroline was assisted by energetic Tigress Sophie (Swift to Pounce) Atkinson, endlessly buzzing (Jet-Propelled) Gemma Robinson, Fiona (running Greyhound, running so effectively and always in position) Sweetman plus deep-lying inside forward, twinkle-toed Lucy (Strike Force) Lloyd.

Up front we had (Lightning) Liv Biddulph, (Shooting Star) Evie Bates, Becky (Comet) Humfris, (Rocket) Ruby Ryan, Sophie (Bounding Leopardess) Runciman, and  Rachael (Unseen Raider) Grupping

On the touchline, our Team had great enthusiastic support from Will Honey from our men’s 1st XI, cheering us on, and from our very own electrifying Ella Pearce who was up there on the touchline with her smart camera. Had she come from the BBC, or from the national newspapers? We were not sure. But it all looked jolly professional and hopefully a great record for the future.

It is difficult to single out particular team players, as we were acting as a Seamless Team throughout. Defenders are not the glamorous scorers of goals, but an essential base. Forwards are not the sensational defenders, but without goals we have no wins. The bedrock of all is our splendid midfield, endlessly creating, defending, attacking. Our superb midfield had to work hard to out-craft and out-think Newark.  But we did.

At one match from season-end, the stars are aligning and our All-Stars must be nearly on the cusp of immortality.

Eventually our pressures paid off, and Sophie A shrewdly eased a cunning pass up to Lightning Liv, breakthrough, across to in position Unseen Raider Rachael, who swayed and diddled our opponents. She made a neat precision pass to ball of kinetic, balletic energy Becky who (as ever) made no mistake and quietly made it 1-0

A bit later a game-changing pass from Greyhound Fiona to Rocket Ruby, inside to Shooting Star Evie, swiftly to Comet Becky who as ever showed her explosive elasticity. She by-passed the Newark keeper, and lashed the ball into the Newark net. 2-0 but Newark reacted creditably in a highly positive fashion.

Captain Eleanor wanted our Team to shimmer and dazzle. And our Team did just that. It is a joy for spectators to see players with such great mutual understanding. Not just quality, on-the-ball skills and character, but availability to be in position to receive clever passes is decisive. It is often like this at season end, but we need to start over again in the autumn!

Then Newark mis-controlled twinkle toed Lucy’s brilliant through ball, Ge mma Robinson pounced and slipped it to Liv, then Liv to Ruby, to Evie, to Becky who made no mistake in rattling their backboard, 3-0 at half time. But Newark had much more of the game than the score-line suggests.

The game re-started with us all piling forward, leaving Eleanor over-exposed to mop up at the back. Then a pre-planned Newark fast breakaway, and one on one by a powerful run, at a solitary, unsupported keeper Freya, resulted in a score to make it 3-1. Newark now had tails high and on a roll. Newark looked increasingly likely to score again, showing great competition. Newark were sometimes lost in tides of South’s intensity of Teamwork and for brief moments, Newark were sometimes swept away, but always kept competing.

A high percentage of our shots at goal came from fast breaks set up by our midfield. One was from the Incomparable Caroline, up to unmarked, unseen Rachael, inside to Comet Becky, out to Rocket Ruby, inside to Shooting Star Evie. Then Newark blocked Evie’s driving shot but Sophie R bounded through like a Leopardess and scooped home the rebound. 4-1

Our entire team showed uncomplicated, rehearsed skills with a splendid work ethic. We were playing well and looked increasingly comfortable.  But Captain Eleanor did not allow us to slacken our pressure. Our pace and driving force were noticeably upgraded.

Another fast break was from twinkle toed Lucy up to unseen, unmarked Rachael, she raided through, then precisely out to bounding up Leopardess Sophie R. The ball could not have been more sweetly struck and perfectly directed by Sophie R to make it 5-1

Captain Eleanor said she was delighted with the effort all our players put in. There was great attitude and competitive spirit.  Phew. But Boots are still uncomfortably close behind us….