What a glorious morning for a hockey match! An early start, but that would work in our favour, we thought. They’re students; they’ll be hungover. Actually, it turns out they’re too young to get hangovers yet. We were brought down to earth afterwards when we worked out that most of our team could give them ten years (fifteen in some cases), but that just sweetens the victory!

Georgie started the day like she meant to go on, by winning the toss. This is becoming a habit. As is scoring five goals or more per match. Long may they both continue! The sun was still low in the sky so Georgie made the tactical decision to choose ends, meaning the Uni spent the first half attacking into the sun.

The 1s have been guilty of starting slowly in their matches so far this season and were determined not to do so again. The Uni started brightly with their strong centre-mid acting as a good pivot for some slick passing. However, we were quick off the mark and strong in our challenges so were soon able to hit them on the counter attack. After a few “practice strikes” – some off target, some good goalie saves and one off the post – Caroline triumphed in a goal line scramble. 1-0.

Tuesday night’s training session had been all about channelling attackers out wide and there were some beautiful demonstrations of this across the pitch. Georgie was bossing midfield and there was strong play by Julie and Polly at left and right. This was an evenly matched game and some strong defending by Ellie and Diane kept us in front. A badly deflected clearance up the left wing left Liles with an egg-shaped lump on her forehead and us down to eleven men. It was going to be a long game against fourteen Uni players and we were all glad Diane came back from her holiday a day early. A special mention to Emma for playing the rest of the match at left wing for the first time in her hockey career.

We were strong in attack and a break down the right wing gave Laura the opportunity to make it 2-0. Moments later, some strong play by Elaine in the D allowed Laura to slot home the ball on the line for 3-0. A disallowed goal at a short corner from Elaine followed, but we were still going into half-time in front.

The half-time talk reminded us not to get complacent and to keep the pressure on. We were making lots of space on the pitch and troubling the Uni with our great press. The Uni started strongly in the second half but were no match for our sharp tackles and quick counter-attacks. Another break down the right wing and Laura made it 4-0. There then followed the most selfless piece of hockey you will ever see in East Div 3NW(S) (does anyone else find it strange that our league has all compass points in it?!) as Jess made a storming run down the right and pulled back to the P-spot for Laura to slot in our 5th goal.

The match wasn’t over and the Uni continued to fight hard, won a few short corners and pulled back two goals. Loopy might argue that it was fun for her to be more involved in the game after a few quiet weeks. We’ll try to make sure you have less to do when you’re back from holiday! Laura was MOM for scoring 4 goals. Georgie was this week’s Lemon for telling the team we were playing at Rutherford Road, wherever that may be. A well-deserved 5-2 victory and fantastic pizza and chips for match teas. What better way to start the weekend?