This week the Ladies 1st XI took on Cambridge City 3s. I am sure everyone who has ever played for Cambridge South knows how much we wanted to win this one. They were also sitting just above us in the league which was an added incentive to play well: we’d even booked ourselves a coach for the occasion and (nearly) everyone turned up on time.

Things had started off well in the first half, with the evenly matched teams promising an exciting game, when misfortune struck. This took the form of an injury to Lou C, which not only lost us a key defender but our only substitute. (Also, anyone who knows Lou will appreciate that for her to actually leave the pitch it had to have really hurt. More than bruised ribs hurt). Anyway, Anne moved back into defence and did a sterling job, so we battled on, trying to ignore the fact that City had at least 4 subs and therefore were looking somewhat less exhausted than we were.

This hard work was rewarded later on in the first half with a great strike from Alice which gave us the lead. This was encouraging, but City had many opportunities to equalise and it was only through some remarkable defending, especially from birthday girl Diane and keeper Ali that we were still ahead at half time. Diane should also get a special mention for saving a shot *literally* off the line. In fact it was so nearly a goal that half the City team were celebrating in anticipation of levelling the score. Sorry guys…

Kim in the midfield also had an excellent game, galloping* all over the pitch, producing some awesome tackling and making some great runs with the ball. But we couldn’t really relax and enjoy ourselves at only 1-0 up, so we were all pleased when an inspired reverse stick strike from Alice widened the margin.

As is often the case, City were quick to reply with a textbook goal that loaded on the pressure once more. But, with five minutes to go, we won a short corner. Could we do it? Yes we could, with a goal from Elaine finally confirming our win and banishing the short corner demon forever.**

MoM was a deserved three way tie between Diane, Alice and Kim (captain’s vote to Alice) and LoM went to astro bambi George. Time to get the onesie monogrammed, I think.

* see last weeks match report
** to be confirmed