LATEST MATCH REPORT: LADIES 1A XI
14/10/07
Oxted 3 v 1 Wanderers 1As
It was with some trepidation that Wanderers met at Platform 13¾ to join the Southern Express to Oxted School. Those sixth formers in the team will recall the exciting, high scoring game from last year where somehow Wanderers netted just 1 of the 11 goals scored that day.
However, things we different this term; Oxted were bottom of the class and we had picked up 2 wins from 2 and were near the top. Surely there couldn’t be a repeat of last year….could there?!
Things started off well, Nips (aka Claire) was late as usual for the meet, the changing rooms and toilets were open (as was the pitch) and the sun was shining brightly.
Then we realised our first problem of the day; we had foolishly turned up to play with hockey sticks when buckets and spades would have been far more useful on the rather sandy pitch.
Whilst others were still discussing how best to utilise the sand, Cathy began her team talk urging everyone to go for it from the start and show why we are doing so well this year by playing our passing game and not letting Oxted get into any rhythm. Unfortunately it would appear that Oxted had secretly viewed our game plan and from the start they resolutely refused to give up the ball.
When we did get a touch and begin to string some passes together, the home team took the ball back and piled the pressure on the Wanderers defence. After a series of (questionable) short corners, Wanderers found themselves behind for the first time this season as a solid strike flew inside the left post.
From the re-start it seemed to be more of the same and with the well structured home team constantly feeding the ball to their speedy forwards, it wasn’t long before we found ourselves two goals behind.
Having given Oxted a two goal start, we decided it was about time to start playing at the level we are capable of and began to build some attractive attacks and pressurise their defence. Unfortunately at that point the half time whistle went.
After the break there was more attractive play from both sides (though to be fair, more of it did come from Oxted) but even when we found ourselves a third goal down, we didn’t give up. In fact that goal seemed to spur us on and we regained some of our structure and composure and finally 10 minutes from time we were awarded a penalty flick which Annabel calmly slotted home.
It was disappointing to lose but a) there was no toilet fiasco this year, b) it was only by 2 goals rather than 10, c) we had a lovely picnic afterwards, d) the sun was still shining and e) we were off to watch England trounce the Saffas…. Or maybe not! Oh well.
Scorers: Annabel
MOM: Becks
DOD: Nips (late once again and kept sitting on the floor during the game)------------------------------------------------------------------------------