MHC Ladies 5s 0 - 2 Sonning Vets

With a full team sheet, 2 new players, 2 umpires and a coach we were all set this week. And despite the late hour the 5s were all fired up right from the start. We started so well with great passing out to the wings, good runs up the line, positioning and attitude. We had several attempts on goal and even a short corner. It was the best I've seen us play and seemed inevitable that we would score. Beautiful links ups with Holly & Rippon, Ruth got stuck in and didn't look as though it was her first match, and Catrin proved she's back to full fintenss.
But then Sonning stepped up their game and started finding the holes in our game, and we left a few key players loose. Then to everyone's surprise Sonning scored despite TJs best efforts. We battled on til half time but seemed to have lost our momentum.

Our half time talk by Coach Ruth helped us gather ourselves and focus on what we needed to do.

We went back on in the second half determind to get the goal back. Sonning also upped their game and really pushed us. Our backline of Helen, Hayley and Katie had to work hard and hold high and our midfield really had their work cut out for them. Pippa and Jess worked their socks off, we also had a guest appearance by Sophie who also showed great skill in midfield. The tide gradually turned in Sonning's favour and in the last 10 minutes they scored another goal, after some great saves from TJ who made them work for it. But we didn't give up and kept fighting, getting the ball into the attacking 23rd time and time again with some lovely interplay with Sophie and Rebecca. Emily, Todd and Rippon all drove into the D with strength and Ruth was no slouch either. We also had a couple of shorts but with all of our attempts we just couldn't find the net.

A frustrating loss but there was some great team play, a really high work rate; we just need to start getting those goals in. We'll be working on this in training.

There weren't many of us for teas (please do try to join us) but the ladies from Sonning commented on not only how nice we were but also how polite all our girls were and what great potential the team has this season.