All even against Wycombe 4s 1-1

Our match got off to a great start with the lovely ladies from the Wycombe 4s by introducing the new Shaking Hands gesture. This is a gesture of friendship and gamesmanship that the 5s hope to do for all our home matches, and was much appreciated by the opposition.

We started the game strong with a couple of great runs up the left by Sophie and Catrin but we couldn't apply enough pressure in the D. The opposition then replied to this. The cool composure of our defenders and Ali in particular kept many a ball from heading to the D. But when they did get it in the D their skilled defenders seemed to manage to find a foot. There were three short corners in quick succession, but the defenders and TJ cleared the ball each time. Emily made the most of a loose ball and ran the length of the pitch all the way to the back line but was ultimately denied the goal as it rolled off the back line. Tori did some great maneuvering around players in the middle and passing the ball out wide time and time again. Sam too was determind not to be left out and made great use of the space out on the wing to drive it in to the D. But no matter how many times we got in from of the goal we just couldn't seem to find the back of the net!

Half time was an opportunity to take on much needed water in the heat. The weather men had once again got it wrong, it was far from cold and windy! Half time also gave us time to regroup and refocus and we went back on the pitch more determind.

Wycombe too raised their games and some of their younger players made some great runs. But the back line kept their cool. We had 2 short corners and 2 spectacular saves from TJ. The defenders really kept us in the game as the opposition kept the press on. Taylor and Sophie were like a double act passing back and forth as they moved up the pitch . We had a couple more attempts at goal, even me! Tori then made a great pass straight in to the D but we just couldn't get a stick on it. But she didn't give up and ploughed on and on. At times the game felt like ping pong, it would be our end then back to the opposition and then back to us again.

Towards the end of the match we began to look a bit ragged and loose our formation. Liz really kept us going with some beautiful long range balls up the pitch. Two minutes to go and one of these balls was picked up by Lydia who then passed it in to Emily who was in the D. Emily was determind not to be denied this time. She showed great skill maneuvering around two defenders and headed fro the goalie who made a dive for the ball, but Emily deftly side-stepped her to push it in to the now empty goal. It seeemed like we would get our first win, but in the dying minute of the game Wycombe's most experienced player took on our entire back line to somehow find a gap and and another Wycombe stick and end up in the goal.

It was a very even match with a team similar to ours and I know we will both look forward to our rematch later in the season. We then went to the Clubhouse to enjoy our first teas, debried and vote on Man of the Match. This was awarded to Liz Allen, who dropped down from the 4s, for her stalwart performance.