Back from a long Christmas break with lots of food, fun and festivities, the L1s trotted up the road to St Ives to what we knew would be a tough game against Div 1 side, St Ives 1s. Promoted from our division last season, and a strong opposition for the South girls, we were all a bit nervous to get back. Also slightly broken, with chesty coughs, dodgy stomachs and less than mobile hips and knees.

We started strong, putting St Ives through their paces and slotting four goals in over the course of the first half. The first came from Laura with a cracking strike, true to form, and saw another one in for her second of the match. Alice Wright played well throughout the midfield and secured herself some MoM votes along with another goal to her name after a reverse stick lift into the net.

Sadly Alice’s second goal was snatched from her, by Katie. Completely unaware of who had hit the ball between the goalie’s legs and ever the risk averse, Katie thought she would just help it across the line for safe keeping. Next time shout if you hit it last, please.

The second half was played against a metaphorically completely different St Ives team from the first. St Ives returned with much more vigour and close, sharp passing that had us on our heels. They fired in three well constructed goals over the next twenty-five minutes or so, with one reverse stick attempt that had Amalia squealing as she avoided injury but ran straight into an undeniable LoM.

South held their cool a little longer and, with Abi running all over the midfield with great opening play as MoM, we were able to try our luck at another few attempts with making St Ives’s defence still work hard.

The game ended as a four-three win to South, who all enjoyed the chance to play a team from the league above and learn to play at that level and pace.

For the season ahead of us we will hopefully try and keep momentum going and take the confidence from a hard fought win into the next few months! To all those in the team injured and ill…just get better. Meant in a loving kind of way.