For future reference for these friendlies, you need to come out of the school, turn left and take the first left before the Spar shop and park on the road down there. You can then cut through a little path to get to the pitch. Note to self, plan to arrive earlier to away games. 

Luckily, Louise and the umpire got stuck in some traffic. Thanks for cooking this up Louise to allow us enough time to warm up!

This week was a massive change in events to this time last season; squad numbers were short across the board so we had people playing out of their normal positions and a serious lack of subs.

We were under pressure in defence for a big chunk of the first half, with both myself and Hannah wondering if a sub fairy would come and save us, and Louise saving us with some absolutely cracking saves (that one so casually off her left hand, just glorious).

At some point, we broke through - great linking play from little Emily and Emma in the mid led to them both recieving MoM votes and our forward line could finally do what they came here to do. Juliette received a ball up high and sped ready for her 1-on-1 with the keeper, to be brutally taken out and a flick was called. Whilst Juliette checked all her bones were still in place, little Emily stepped up to the mark and scored our first goal!

The forwards played beautifully together - Tess, Anna and Juliette switching about, confusing those defenders and Tess popped another goal in, just lovely.

2-0 at half time (I think).

We held our own and dominated their half for the first 10 of the second half; their goalkeeper continuously keeping our strikes out. However, the tides suddenly turned as our legs faultered and the end-to-end game wore us down. Goal after goal fell into the net and we were 3-2 down until an assist from Bethan led to Anna putting another one in the net. This and her savvy skill work up front earning her MoM votes.

Hannah wasn't sure if the umpire was waving at her or calling 5 mins remaining, turns out it was neither and he laughed to himself at how many times the defence line had asked how long was left. Fairly sure he told us it was good practice too.

We lost our formation, tiredness, no comms and general chaos led to overload after overload and we lost the game in the last 10.

A good practice indeed and definitely a good run around, but here's to subs next week and holding our formation!