With not only a change of time but also location, the girls turned up on time for a 3.30 meet. Some had taken an afternoon nap and for others a 4.15 game was well past their bedtime. The team talk was led by Rhi, who told us to push pass from the legs and not the wrists and to focus on pocket passing. We were ready for what we knew we would be a tough game.

We started the game well with a few chances in the opposition’s D from lovely triangular passing from Zara, Rhi and Jess F, who unfortunately had her goal disallowed for a foot. The back four consisting of Janette, Bella, Emma and Phoebe, making her debut, worked well as a unit to block Shandy’s key players out of the way. From the back line and a pass to Rhi we earned our first break. Jess F ran toward the keeper for a one-on-one, with a defender closely behind her. The keeper managed a lucky save with her toe as she dived.

This was the first time these teams had meet and the 3s were faced with a very physical and vocal side. Even with a few fantastic saves from Bryony and superb defending from our back four as well as some key tackles from Kirsty also making her debut, Shandy managed to find a gap and scored. We kept our heads up, fighting till the end of the first half and holding our own. At only one-nil down we knew the match was not over yet - it was still all to play for and in the team talk we were told by our captain to run towards the ball, allowing for Sandy’s sandy pitch.

We started the second half with a fighting spirit. Jas and Tabby made some great tackles in the midfield. Our press was starting to get to Shandy who were struggling to find their way through, using aerials as their last option. Rhi was running around the pitch doing everything she could blocking out their key players with Louisa supporting behind to gain any deflections. However, the physical nature of the game lead to some of our player falling down (of course, Rhi had her fair share.) They gained the upper hand getting a succession of short corners. Running one, Bella put a lot of pressue on the opposition striker but they managed to pass around the D to score.

South were beginning to get frustrated but we were determined to get something on the score board and moved our hockey up a gear. We were tracking the opposition and increasing the pressure on their defence. This finally led to a break - a cross goal assist from Jess F led to our first goal, deservedly scored by Tuffers with a dive towards the post deflecting the ball into the back of the net. We were pumped and Shandy began to make mistakes. We started to gain some short corners. Unfortunately, another opposition stick were flying and we could not find the back of the net again.

The whistle blew for a two-one loss, but despite the difficult on-pitch environment we were pleased with how we played. We kept calm and played good hockey.

With almost everyone on the pitch having a MoM nomination, MoM has been awarded to the whole team for supporting one another and really battling through the game until the final whistle. LoM was a more closely battled postion between Kirsty, who was unable to find the back doors of Rhi’s car, and Lousia, who lost her clothes and had issues with her deodrant. With one vote in it, Lousia gained LoM.

On our home turf, I’m sure the next match with be a completely different story- we will be ready.