Ladies 5's win at home

We had a really good game this week, everyone worked really hard and kept that all-important intensity up throughout the match. Thank you as usual to Sophie Boycott, who continually makes these so much easier to write.

We had first pushback and somehow managed to do that unsuccessfully however we shortly win the ball back and get two shorts in a row, both come to the top but unfortunately the shots are saved and Oxford clear their lines.

We kept up that pressure in the Oxford half, especially Maddy who did some great work down the right hand side, got it across to Hollie who did a great job battling in the D, the ball dropped to Ruth on the back post and with a swing of her stick, the ball ended up in the back of the net.

After some back and forth, an Oxford sixteen fell to Hollie who drove into the D, her powerful strike passed the goalkeeper but was expertly stopped on the line by the defender.

This was followed by Hollie making some excellent play into the D, and then she took a great shot - it was on target but was stopped by a defenders foot on the line which lead to a penalty flick to maids. Katie stepped up to take it and the flick went mid left into the goal making the score 2-0 to Maidenhead!

Not willing to leave it at that, Annabel and Hollie kept battling in the D, and won another short to Maidenhead. Amelia put the ball to Hayley, who slipped the ball to Hollie who’s shot found an Oxford foot resulting in another short to Maids!

This time Amelia put a really fast ball through to Hayley, who slipped it to the left - the ball is transferred around the D for a while, and the deflection came to Amelia, who took a shot that went narrowly wide.

The half time talk was very positive, with Bex mainly stressing the need to keep the intensity up and to move as a unit a little more effectively.

The second half began with an Oxford push back, but we were instantly pressing high. We were forced back into our own half but Helen with a great challenge cleared the ball out of danger.

Amelia with a quickly taken free hit, passed to Maddy who ran with the ball into the D and slipped it to Pippa at the top. Pippa took a shot but it was saved by the keeper, unfortunately clearing the ball onto her own defenders foot resulting in a short to Maids. A few moments later and it was another short to maids but nothing converted into a goal at this point.

After the short was cleared, it was picked up and TJ had some lovely play in the middle of the field, winning a free hit to Maids after the defensive player backed into her.

There were a few changes made with Annabel and Hollie coming into play and instantly making an impact and Hollie taking numerous shots at the goalkeeper straight after each other, winning another short to Maidenhead. The ball hit the running player on the foot, immediately winning another short for Maids!

This was shortly followed by another short to Maids followed by another after a defender hit it off the back line. After a scramble in the D, Hollie played the ball onto the defenders foot meaning Maids have another attempt to get a goal!

Amelia injected a solid push to the top of the D, where Katie demonstrated some lovely control followed by an amazing strike that went firing into the bottom left corner! 3-0 to Maidenhead!

We kept the pressure up, transferring the ball across the Oxford Hawkes half and with Katie Day going for her third as she drove through the Hawkes half!

A loose pass in the attacking third from Hawkes fell into open space, and Hollie ran into the top of the D to intercept the pass - winning the ball, she got it under control and taps it beautifully round the goalkeeper, and then put the ball into an open net. Lindsey said Hollie ‘danced around the goalkeeper’.

The match finished 4-0 to Maids. An amazing performance from all, well done Maidenhead. And as always, thank you Bex for your support from the sidelines.

The Man of the Match was a close call but went to Katie Day this week for a really solid game - two goals and always being in the right place when we needed her!

Thank you to all the supporters who were cheering us on throughout the match, our umpires - it was much appreciated!

Caption Quiz - How many Ladies 5's does it take to put down a bench?