No, the author is not remotely biased (playing almost exclusively at center back or front sweeper)

The day’s drama started around 9:40am as drivers and drivees converged on Long Road at the designated meet time to find the barriers all down & not anticipated to be functional until after 10am… Gridlock on the roadway into the Fortress ensued… As well as the first nomination for Ginny’s LOM title in her unconventional by-passing of the barrier via some large kerbs… To clarify all her car’s under-carriage is still firmly attached despite slanderous claims otherwise made during teas…

Having finally made it to our destination in Kettering, we trotted off for a warm-up round the car park. Standard. Until we return to the pitch and Hannah attempted to break back into the pitch via the padlocked gate adjacent to the open entrance gate… Very nearly earning her LOM.  Fencing renegotiated, we attempted to acclimatise to the sloth-like pitch before pushback. It started fairly evenly. Though South made a couple of nice baseline drives resulting in a bit of a scuffle in front of goal, but no goal. About 15 minutes in Ka makes one of her characteristic drives down the line and into the dee. I think Naomi was responsible for extracting the ball from the resultant chaos and pinging it to the left of the keeper for Amy to pop it in. 1-0 to South. Kettering rallied back and kept our intrepid defence busy. Keeper, Mia definitely wasn’t getting another game of not touching the ball… During one of several defensive shorts, Ginny made the brilliant goal line save as our left post player. Cue theme of the report. Kettering were denied a break back. South however would not be denied. Emily S broke the mounting pressure, following another reverse of play clearance, carrying the ball from around the halfway all the way into the dee, faced with the keeper, her goal Queen bid flashing before her mind, she selflessly slips the ball to Emily B on the left post. Take note - Emily S’s pupils & Coach Izzy – proud moment. 

Not all South’s actions in this half were bathed in such glowing light however… Our sweet, mild-mannered law-abiding citizen Claudia apparently breaking the 5m rule first and immediately getting green carded for it! A couple of mins before half-time Emily S left a trailing stick when around 2ft from a player who took a running free hit, resulting in a team escalation to an immediate yellow card. The halftime break found South 2-0 up and when Jimmy enquired how long was left on Emily’s card, we were informed the next South player to break the 5m rule would be red carded!

An upbeat and highly positive team talk over our nostalgic healthy half-time orange segments, done, 10 of us returned to the pitch (Emily having to see out her sin bin). Not without some left/right difficulties for Shree rectified before Kettering pushed back… (mysteriously forgotten about at teas).

In terms of play the second half remained fairly like the first, with opportunities both ends, though South with more attacking pressure. We also definitely delivered on out half-time objective to switch it round the back more. No mean feat on a pitch resistant to fast, longer balls. However, this was triggered by the heavy congestion of Kettering players into the defensive 23 limiting opportunities or more goals. Our pressing of 16s proved remarkably effective often leaving their taker little option but to punt the ball into a space, which Becky, Hannah, Erin and myself were more than happy to mop up and redistribute back up the pitch.

Whenever they did succeed in breaking through this, their high player was frequently thwarted by the precision timing of Ellie’s impenetrable flat stick at the back, earning her runner-up POM with 4 votes. Their attempts to throw more numbers high were marked out by Shree’s dogged tracking back and forth across all sides and extremes of the pitch cutting options out of Kettering’s game. Anything getting through this was expertly dismissed by Mia. We couldn’t however avoid conceding the odd further defensive short. Fear not though - as Ginny was still sat as our left post player (no defensive subs in the second half accounting for a consistent defensive line-up in this half, Becky having been commandeered to reinforce our sickly midfield) making yet another goal line save.

In a game we all felt we did ample running in, we did not relent harrying for further opportunities for goals but were denied numerous times by an experienced Kettering defence, who were dangerous on the break back keeping us all nervous to the end. The game finished 2-0 to South (+1 green & 1 yellow), 3 points secured in a challenging “6-pointer” of a game. Top of the table spot secure for another week!

In a season where we hope we are aiming for promotion, the defence gets little mention, with the focus on who got the final touches up the other end… Saturday’s game demonstrated the value they provide in denying a goal hungry opposition much opportunity in our dee. Though, word to the wise, seeking recognition for such contributions is ill-advised… as Ginny discovered. Her general defensive efforts and her goal line saves earning her POM, however, the repetition she reminded us of them (along with the car-park incident) also earning her 7 LOM votes and the double crown… Hannah earning 5 votes for padlock-gate, Claudia & Emily S’s cards 2 apiece. POM wise, after Ellie’s 4; Kea earnt 2; Shree, Mia, Emily B & Emily S each getting one.

For some glimpses of the action try here and here - Thanks Josh. We look forward to hopefully playing a rather closer cross-town Derby vs City 6’s next Saturday.