It started off gloriously and we settled in early doors - considering we've not played as a squad in 5 months, we were looking good!

Good leads from Em and Indi in the middle and some good action from all of the forwards was happening. Defending happened to, some runs on the wings, good leads and just some nice hockey really.

PoM Suzi freshly subbed on, picked up a ball high and found herself in the D, a lovely lifted ball secured our first goal and also Go Suz for your first club goal!

I think it was soon after this point the harvest dust cloud blew in. We also were very very warm (I'll mention here it was like 30 degrees, bright sun) and a tad tired and were very pleased for the half time whistle (and the fizzy sweets which were very nice thanks Suz).

Good team talk on it generally going well, make sure you take 2 off if you're tired etc. Steph had some intel on ex-students and warned us to watch those youthful girls on the break. Oh to be youthful again. It was also addressed that their goalkeeper was blooming good and we'd need to be savvy.

As we got back into position for the second half, some say I was hoodwinked, others say it was sourcery and others that I fancied a new one, but I had trotted back on with Anne-Marie's stick. I cursed at everyone looking at me like a lemon and hoped for more lemon-worthy activities that didn't include me.

We move - some nice hockey, good linking from Anna L and Lou up into the forward line.

Juliette went for goal, hitting keeps, but getting it in on the rebound. 2-0 was a nice place to be.

We were definitely still trying, but began to take a consistent hammering, the heat and first game back fitness combo hitting us all hard. Suz and Rhian made some great clearances, but we struggled to keep possession and it kept ping-ponging back at us. The youthful girls were also looking way to fresh for our liking - "why will they not tire!?"

They had a couple of short corner goals and I have to say one of them in particular was very impressive. Spent some time admiring that for a few minutes, too long on reflection but the break was nice.

We sat at 2-2 for some time, pleased for subs but not pleased for the sun. We continued to be very hot and now were looking a bit tired, which was impacting our game. Lydia admired our pink faces as we set up for another short of which we felt like we had a better handle on. Lydia also made some cracking saves, earning her some PoM votes 

I think it was like the last 10 mins or so it all went to poo - we were tired and maybe a bit unwell from the heat, that or from eating dust. I'm not fully going to blame it on fitness as we have some very fit girls in our squad, but it was a big factor in it sadly ending 4-2. 

A quick mention that the games after ours were played in quarters for drinks breaks - yep that will give you context of how rough we looked after the game.