LATEST MATCH REPORT: LADIES 1A XI

01/12/07

Epsom 2s 3 v 4 Wanderers 1As

Most of the 1As are not known for being good at early starts so a 10am pushback in Epsom was far from ideal. Anya on the other hand felt this was late so arrived with enough time to drive round Epsom College four times before still getting to the pitch ahead everyone else. On the subject of the pitch, we’ve played on water and sand based before, but this one appeared to be worm based with an inordinate number of the things getting underfoot and in the way of the ball.

Despite the early start, Wanderers began the game brightly and were moving the ball around the defence and midfield with skill and speed. For the first 20 minutes they dominated the game and it would surely only be a matter of time before the hard working forwards were rewarded with a goal. Sure enough, from their 1st short corner of the game, the ball was slipped out to Jo who swept the ball into the back of the net (or technically into the back-board).

For some inexplicable reason, scoring a goal signalled a bit of a lapse in the high level of hockey we’d been playing at and Epsom were allowed back into the game; first through a penalty stroke and then a well taken one-on-one.

A half time score of 1-2 wasn’t a fair reflection of the game (or at least we didn’t think it was) and after some wise words from our coach for the day (Darran) we took to the pitch confident we could turn it around. 90 seconds into the half another stroke was awarded which Annabel slotted home to level the scores.

10 minutes later we had regained the lead. Jo received the ball from Vicks just outside the top of the D, dribbled it to the backline before pulling it back for Amber to send a cracking first time shot into the bottom right.

Obviously, not wishing to make things easy on ourselves or our many spectators(?!), we had to allow Epsom to draw level once again when they broke quickly down the left and sent the ball across the D.

Determined not to let the 3 points slip away, Wanderers upped their game again and scored a 4th goal which was an almost carbon copy of the third; Jo picked the ball up outside the D, took it to the backline and dragged it back to the P spot for Lucy B to slot away.

With just 2 minutes remaining, Epsom began celebrating equalising once again as they fired a shot towards the top left corner of the goal. Unfortunately, they hadn’t reckoned on Becks choosing this moment to make a contribution to the game and deciding to actually make a save.

4-3 the final score. 3 more points to the mighty Wanderers which keeps them 2nd in the table.

Thanks to Darran for coaching us and Jo for telling me what was going on up the other end of the pitch.

Scorers: Jo, Annabel, Amber, Lucy B

MOM: Jo “did I tell you how many goals I set up” Bryant

DOD: Anya

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