The first league game of the season was finally upon us. A new league meant new opposition and new challenges. Having moved into Div 3S (avoiding several trips to Skegness and Horncastle) we faced Wapping 4s.

We started strongly and won a short corner in the initial five minutes, allowing skipper Izzy to put us ahead with a strong straight strike from top D to the backboard. We managed to keep hold of our lead until just before half time when Wapping equalised. Aoife, Lucy and Charlotte mopped up any threats at the back and Jenny and Lauren worked tirelessly (literally - Lauren did not sub at all) in the sixer role to outlet to the wings. Grace, Sam and Dani A did a stellar job of driving forward and feeding the forward line of Izzy, Kendra, Flix and Eimear. We had chances up front but went into half time one-all.

Half time came. Our captains, Izzy and Jenny, urged us to be patient and play our game: the goals would come. There were some very melted jelly babies and Lauren declared that she might like a few minutes off at some point.

Through the second half we used the advantage of the extra two subs to tire out the opposition and push forward. We won another short and Izzy’s shot deflected off a defender and went in to the bottom corner to make it 2-1 to South. Shortly after, another short corner resulted in a penalty flick. Izzy stepped up to take it but was denied a goal by the keeper’s quick reactions. We had a number of shots on goal but Wapping’s defence were strong and denied us another goal. Nonetheless we managed to keep the lead until full time.

Aoife and Charlotte tied as MoM. Aoife displayed her usual impeccable fitness and ran for the entire game to close down Wapping’s forwards. Charlotte, in her second game of the day, frustrated Wapping’s forwards to deny their goals.

The unanimous LoM was ‘Sleepy Sam’, who turned up 65 minutes late after sleeping through her alarm, forgot her water and stole Izzy’s stick when subbing on in the second half.