Home at Wilberforce Road against Uni IIIs.  Hopeful that the students had been out on the town the night before, we faced early disappointment as they ran at us with pace and skill; the well educated were clearly well drilled too.  But the South defense stood strong, working together to break down the Uni game and with some great low tackles from Anne-Marie and balls out down the left wing as well as some stunning work from captain Suzi, picking-off the ball and sending it out into space. 

The first goal was ours…  Charlotte, drove the ball down the left wing with those silky slick skills, sent a cross-ball to Lilly in the D, who found the back of the net. 

The ball went end to end for a bit, the Uni girls driving forward and linking up well, but the second goal was ours. It came from a short corner. Lilly took charge. Charlotte received, slipped to Indie who found Lilly on the centrespot and she found the net again. 

South held strong until half-time. Our focus for the second period was a deep half press, ‘let them play wide’ Tim told us. It felt strange but at moments worked well, forcing mistakes from the Uni girls and giving our defense a break from their attack. The second half was more Uni than South and eventually they found the net with a nifty  deflection and then again  later from a well worked short corner routine.  The Uni girls were buzzed, they thought they had the game in their sights but South defended short corner after short corner, Lydia kept saving, Hannah and Luisa kept making those crucial tackles and Emma, Suzi, Louisa and Anne-Marie kept picking up those loose balls and sending them out. We drove forward at times, but struggled to get into our attacking D. It was a defensive effort all round with the game ending 2-2 for a hard won and crucial point towards our campaign to retain our place in the league. 

POM votes went to Charlotte for her assist, to Suzi, Luisa, Emma, Anne-Marie and Lydia for their defensive prowess but POM of the day was the mighty Lilly-lil.

LOM votes went one to Suzi for her stick hooking skills, a combined 7 to Emma and Rhi for taking each other out (prime LOM material if you ask me) and a further 7 to me for starting the game with Emily’s stick and not realizing it until first touch. I won’t lie it was a confusing moment as I looked down and it wasn't my old faithful in my hand. I did for a brief moment wonder if I could slip it silently back, LOM of the season is perilously close and I was already on the radar with a message about a dead hungry bird delaying my arrival and confusing everyone into wondering how many pre-match bowls of cornflakes seniors need.

Incidentally, it was meant to read - dead bird, hungry dog...