Another week another game, but what a game it was!! Full of drama, blood, sweat and a few tears. Again it was ridiculously too hot for hockey, but after settling into the game and having some good early possession, South found themselves on the back foot and despite some stoic defending from Diane, Naomi, Julie and Heather, Ely registered their first goal. Heads could have gone down but instead South continued to contest some tasty battles particularly in midfield and after some great work by Emma Moss, the forwards, South soon found themselves with some scoring opportunities.... if only the ball would have gone in!! We smashed, we swept, we pushed, we tried to hit it at chest height (yes Alice i'm talking to you) we hit at least three Ely players who got in the way but alas it just wouldn't go in. Then Ely did the most obnoxious thing possible, they got it down our end and with a sweet strike, Loopy decided to kick the ground instead of the ball and low and behold 2-0...

After this setback, South continued to fight but Ely were well into their groove and another sound from the backboard meant we were now down to 3-0...

Despite the doom and gloom, South rallied and some greak work from Alice released Sophie and we finally clattered the ball into their goal.. 3-1. Hope renewed, the battles continued as did the injuries with Emma Moss displaying some war wounds on her legs and Alice generally feeling like death... Unfortunately another good move from the Ely midfield and they won a short which resulted in another Ely goal 4-1...

Half-time beckoned where the weary warriors could rest and rehydrate. We knew that if we took our opportunities we would be right back in the game so after some rousing words and cries to play simple hockey, South started the second half well but again the bloody ball just wouldn't go in. It clipped the post, it came off the keeper's face mask without her knowledge, it came off an Ely player's back and deflected away, Sophie even had a glorious reverse hit onto the post and the bounce of Long Road betrayed Elaine in the follow up...

Injuries also continued with the most unelegant of falls on the sidelines by Elaine which deservedly met with some laughter as well a twisted ankle. Meanwhile Loopy clearly felt we needed another challenge and decided to take out Naomi with a vertical punt into her forehead!! Ely then tried to assist us by having a player yellow carded for calling the umpire Sxxx, an unwise thing to do, but no matter how we tried, it just wasn't our day.

Special mention to Emma Moss for her MOM performance, for Loopy with her well deserved Lemon and for Heather with her first game back for South. Despite a loss, well done team for leaving it all of the pitch, we couldn't have done anymore.. now onwards and upwards!