The Ladies 1st X1 played Royston this week, our first away match for a while. Inspired by some recent successes such as 14-0 victories against Ely and some dazzling performances by the 2s (let’s pretend our match last week didn’t happen) we were intent on smashing some records and bringing home some glory for the club.

The first record we smashed was an extraordinary one. Never before, in my memory of Cambridge South (and I have played, collectively, at least a season and a half) have 11 players (yes, only 11, subs are for wimps…) arrived at the pitch over an hour before push back. After spending 20 minutes debating whether it would be appropriate to go for a coffee and another 20 locating the ladies' loos, our warm up was more true to form, but it was still a pretty special thing to be part of. But someone does need to update the club website which suggests St Edmund’s College is 60 miles away…

During the warm up, Georgie commented (unwisely, in my opinion) on the glorious weather, and the near-perfect hockey playing conditions. As if on cue, the heavens promptly opened. Thanks, George.

I can’t really remember what happened during the match, only that after about five minutes it was clear that we should win, easily, as long as we didn’t let the girl with short blond hair touch the ball at any time. We had all the possession and all the chances, yet a mysterious inability to do anything about the score line. About thirty (I don’t think I am exaggerating) short corners didn’t seem to help either.

Eventually we managed to eke out a couple of goals, due to some great play by Kendra, Naomi and George in the ‘D’ and by a lovely strike by Jess off a short corner. However the blond girl got the ball a few times, leaving the score 2-2. Bummer.

Some great running by Kim and Kylie in the midfield and great composure by the defence (Heather, Diane and Serin) did make for some lovely hockey and Royston produced a good tea, so it wasn’t an entirely wasted day.

As always, Loopy played marvellously, but I do feel nostalgic for past matches where we didn’t have to congratulate the goalie, but instead awarded her ‘Lemon on the Match’ for not doing anything.

On that note, Lemon was a tie between the deserved bad weather omen, George, and me, for a variety of very unfair reasons which gave me an overall win. The Lemon award now comes in the form of a very attractive ‘Lemon Onesie’. I have to say, for the benefit of future recipients (that’s you, George) that a whole week with glorious lemon-coloured TV-watching attire is well worth the temporary embarrassment in the Royston club car park…

Lesson of the week: we need to go to training and work on short corners. Quite frankly, I am surprised no one has pointed this out before.