There was much anticipation before the match against Haverhill, with Jan’s match preview regaling tales of injury, penalty flicks and yellow card-related crying (slightly sensitive subject as it was Jan who gave the yellow?!) The Boss required a prompt arrival one hour before the match to ensure enough time to get the team psyched up for this one. Walking out of the changing rooms with music blasting from the boom box, and a quick skip of song when “Footballsss coming homee” came on, South Ladies were warming up nicely.

The whistle blew and away we were, with only one sub on the sideline; no time for crying (Kim) or injuries (Lou) today. With a strong midfield of Heather, Kim, Georgie and Hannah we were soon pressing forward with some lovely work up the right wing to Amalia, working hard to score our first goal. Playing ping-pong with Haverhill’s goalie, a slip to the bottom corner and the delightful sound of the backboard rung in our ears. Quickly reset and South were hungry for more.

Keeping the ball in Haverhill’s twenty-three, South got their first in a succession of short corners. After the well-practiced stop and strike and the slip to the right, Haverhill were soon onto us: this required something more creative. Third time lucky, a slip to Heather, who then seemingly passed it back to Sophie in the middle (DUMMY aha) and through to Kim on the left post for a sneaky touch in, we were two-nil up. The third goal went something like this too.

With half time approaching, Amalia’s commitment to the game did not falter (consequently earning her MOM). With some hard graft from Sophie taking it around one, two…three players and striking for bottom right, Haverhill’s touch just sent it wide, but not wide or fast enough for an Amalian dive, putting South four-nil up at half time. An exciting first half for our hearty support crowd; special shout out to Lou’s auntie and uncle, Georgie’s dad and the Cambridge South Ladies who came to watch.

Team talk at half time from The Boss, or should I say Rambo, as she had somehow managed to smear blood all over her face. With everybody failing to tell Lou of her new Rambo-like look, we went into the second half fierce.

“BIG THREE MINUTES SOUTH” was The Boss’s order at the beginning of the second half, essentially unleashing the terrier in Kim to dribble from the halfway line into the D. With enough goals to her name, Sophie wasn’t letting Kim have any more glory as sweeper. A strike from the P spot from Sophie and we were five-nil up. In the second half the defence got involved more, working it well around the back with (pivotal) Robyn McClean and some lovely balls up the line from Emma. A couple of lucky breaks from Haverhill saw Loopy slide and make a couple of great saves, cleared out by Roisin who hassled hard on the right all match and sent some cracking balls upfield. A special mention to Amalia’s chip over the keeper, which was denied only by the crossbar.

Chip butties and tea. South Ladies were reveling in top of the league smugness.

Must not forget to mention that our LoM this week goes to Ellie Edwards for being unavailable to play because she had a ball Saturday night and had to get her hair done.