Ladies 5s 2 - 2 Buckingham Ladies 4s

It was a long way to go for our first match and we just managed to get a team together. We had two newcomers and a returning player and quite a lot of excitement!

This carried on to the pitch and we had a good start. However Buckingham were more focussed on the pitch and before we knew it they’d scored a goal. However due to some superb umpiring we discovered it came off an opposition foot and was disallowed!

Fortunately this gave us the time to focus and we became more determined to get the ball up the other end of the pitch. This lead to several short corners. Taylor did some great push ins, and Jess W was strong with her hit. This eventually paid off and she scored a great goal.

Buckingham in turn put the pressure on and they had some fast runners up the wings and strong players in the middle. We kept trying to pass up the middle. Our brilliant back line of Jess, Hayley & Sophie M made sure that Emily in goal didn’t see any action. Pippa and Jess did a good job pushing the ball out to the wings to Catrin and Taylor. Rippon & TJ made some good runs and Amelia in her debut attacked every ball.

But was Sophie B who made the most of the opportunity and scored the next goal. There were several attempts on goal and their fantastic goalie kicked them all out. But it was Sophie B who walloped it in the goal on a rebound.

With us waning half time gave us an opportunity for a breather and a good discussion on what we were getting right and wrong. We had to leave Jess D off the pitch as she took a nasty hit, hopefully fully recovered now!

The talk definitely worked and the second half was much better. We used our wings and Catrin was absolutely tireless running up and down the pitch. TJ (who was brilliant in defence) and Jess W swopped positions and Jess put her hit to good use driving the ball in to the D time and time again. Rippon and Sophie tried time and time again but their goalie thwarted our every attempt. Some really great attempts showing how much we are taking from our training sessions into matches. It was during one of these attempts that Rippon got hurt on her thumb - again. Fortunately it is not broken just bruised. And hats off to their brilliant goalie.

Catrin, Taylor and Amelia worked hard in mid field to keep the ball up in the opposition 23.

But with just one minute to go, and our side flagging, Buckingham made a breakaway and unfortunately snuck into the D and scored. We tried hard in the last minute but the match ended on a draw. 2-2.

It was a good start to the season against a very nice opposition, and a good omen for the season. We need to increase our fitness and continue to practice hard at our training sessions.

Man of the match was given to our new comers - Sophie M, Ameia and returner Taylor. But some great play by Catrin who was tireless and provided the chocolates at the end of the match.