Maidenhead Ladies 5's v Sonning Ladies 5's

We started the game with pushback and drove hard up to the D, within 55 seconds we had won a short as Debs put the ball on a foot. Amelia pushed the ball out the Ruth at the top of the D but we didn't manage to find the back of the net.

Sonning pushed us back hard and drove down the left-hand side towards out D but our defensive team of Hayley, Helen and Tegan kept the ball out of the goal (and Keira made an amazing save to a ball flying high in the air!).

Sonning kept on pushing us hard in the D and after a couple of feet were awarded a short corner. We were ready and Tegan ran out hard. Unfortunately, the ball hit her foot resulting in another short. Unbelievably this happened 3 times in a row but finally we managed to get the ball out!

It was time for some fresh legs on the pitch as our subs gave us a well needed breather (we had worked hard to keep up with Sonning) we worked the ball slowly up the pitch and we managed to keep the ball in Sonning's half even though they closed down every pass and movement we made.

Sonning then managed to break with two of their players running to the D, Helen and Hayley ran back and caused the Sonning players shot to go wide.

Then as we moved the ball up the pitch, Ava and Amelia worked well together on the right-hand side, passing between them. Unfortunately, Sonning broke again and we all tracked back to the D to defend. Ruth then forgot which D she was in and scored a lovely goal... against us! 1-0 to Sonning!

Sonning continued to press us hard and managed to win another short, which the defensive team cleared without Tegan kicking it this time!
But as our energy level dropped after working so hard for the half Sonning managed to slip past us to score a second goal, followed by a short corner which we managed to clear.

Half time 2-0 to Sonning

Sophie helped lead our half time talk as she had seen from the side line what we needed to do. Meet the ball, Sonning were on every ball straight away. Look before we passed as we were giving the ball away too many times and using our wings.
Second half started with some lovely play down the left-hand side by Amelia, followed by a lovely tackle by Devin which gave us a chance to break. We all moved up the pitch but unfortunately a Maidenheads foot stops our attack.

With Sonning pressuring us hard we managed to switch the ball around the back line and up the pitch with Molly Ava Deb and Ruth all breaking through Sonning's defence, a great switch of play but Sonning intercepted the ball and broke through. Tegan sprinted the length of the pitch but in the panic to defend manged to score an own goal (our second of the match!). If we had managed to score in the right goal, we would be at 2-1 at this point!

Sonning then won a short but it was expertly cleared by the defensive team. We had some lovely play after our hit out but Sonning once again broke through and managed to find the back of the net.

By this point we were tired and struggling to run back. Sonning overwhelmed us again in the D and they scored again. We didn't give up and in the final few minutes worked hard to move the ball back up the pitch and managed to win a short corner. One of the Sonning players broke to early and was sent up to the half way line but even with this we didn't manage to get the ball in the net. full time whistle 5-0 to Sonning. It might not have been the score we wanted but well done for keeping our heads up and fighting right to the end!

Pippa