Having not been able to play due to frost the week before the team were all keen and raring to go. Including number one team mascot Thomas. After a loss against Saffron Walden – bottom of the league – our expectations weren’t particularly high for the game against Hertford – top of the league. Team talk was positive nonetheless and everyone was up for a tough game with the aim to do our best and have fun. Plus Rebecca’s idea to mix up the, ‘What we’re going to do well today’ was well received and helped to get everyone in the mood.

Hertford had an early goal within the first ten minutes of play. It was a decent two-on-one against the keeper after getting through our defence. Our spirits didn’t drop however and we held it at one-nil until half time thanks to some good defending and great saves from Bryony. Oh, and our revised press was working a treat! Thanks, Paul.

Some jelly babies down and we were back out there after a rousing team talk. We had come back from worse and planned to do the same again. The second half is where we really showed how well we can play as a team.

There were some cracking triangles, Jess W was a linchpin at centre mid, Rebecca, Dani A and Flix battled up the wings. There were beautiful passes around the back from Charlotte to Ellie to Aoife, some strong tackling from Jenny and Lauren, some outstanding saves from Bryony and strong drives from the forwards. We were really piling on the pressure on to Hertford and making them play our game.

Our first goal and IZZY’S 100TH GOAL came from Kendra driving into the D and along the baseline. She drew the keeper out and slipped it round to Izzy who jabbed it past the last defender into the goal! Which puts Izzy in second place for the most goals scored by a lady in the club ever! Might I add that Hertford were probably a bit baffled as to the celebrations for this goal, especially for a mid-game goal!

After bringing the score to a tie the team really got a fire in our bellies and picked up the pace. Paul says we’re dangerous on the break and he’s right. After a long ball from Izzy, Jess F broke through, drove to a one-on-one with the keeper on the edge of the D, the keeper went down and Jess slipped it right, open goal, totally kept her cool, and slapped it in to bring us into the lead at two-one.

Hertford could clearly feel the pressure as the game got a bit more intense….very intense for a few players, including Jess W who got a bit carried away with her player. Let’s just say sticks were used in ways they weren’t intended and Jess ended up with a card. Naughty girl!

The last few minutes were agonising. We conceded a short, defended it well (possibly the most stressful seven minutes of hockey any of us has ever played) but when the final whistle was blown anyone would’ve thought we had just won the league! Some serious celebrations, well from everyone except me…I thought it was a draw and frankly I thought all the cheering was a bit excessive. Fortunately it was a win, not a draw; unfortunately for me I made the mistake of telling someone and got lemon for it. Whoops. (Jess W got votes too for the card!) Jenny gave Charlotte a lemon vote for supposedly dropping her stick. No-one else, not even Charlotte, has any recollection of this happening…

Man of the match went to Izzy for being on top form and absolutely smashing her one hundredth goal! Votes also for Bryony so being a life saver, especially the saves right towards the end!

Epic game, everyone played great, bring on the next match!