We all gathered on a fresh, February, Sunday morning at a deserted Long Road.

Our squad today supported by some fabulously talented 2s players (including me, the author) who braved the DOMS as well as the potential LOM to give it a go against top of the league Ipswich.

We decided to start mind-games early with the opposition by not turning the lights on in the changing rooms. Supported later by Jenny seemingly being in two places at once (Carrie and Jenny playing on the same side for the first time in a long time!)

The aim of the game today: they're top but let's give it a go and see what we can do!

The game from start to finish was very intense, the level of skill clear from both sides. Throughout the first half Ipswich played well and managed to get a quite a few short corners, despite early efforts from our forward line getting close to the backboard!
Our defense kept those pesky Ipswich forwards at bay until toward the end of the first half, where Ipswich managed to convert a short corner: an unlucky deflection from the strike and a lucky volley meant Ipswich found the back of our net. 

Half time team talk was very positive! Only 35mins more, we said - let's do it!

And we did! After some fab passing around the defense and midfield, the play opened up when Katie passed to Maddy on the right who quickly shot the ball across the face of goal, which Juliette picked up, held and commited the keeper before getting goal-side and smacking the backboard; GOAL!

It gets better. Not long after, after another attempt by Ipswich on our goal (denied by the fab defense) South started the counter attack which had Emma receive the ball in midfield, had some space and time then seemingly decided against passing to Lizzie who was in a fab position - closely followed by her defender, but instead passed the ball through the mid, from right to left where Cait (me) had been running in to the D (I've been told since, I appeared out of nowhere) and managed to not miss my slap straight into the goal! 2:1 to us! 

And that's how the rest of the 2nd half stayed, until a rather unfortunate stick tackle in the D resulted in an Ipswich penalty flick, which they converted. However, given they are top of the table - to take 2 cheeky points away from them and give ourselves 1 with a draw felt like we had just won the league!

Overall excellent runs, passes, teamwork and positioning displayed by South today, and two goals for the 2s players we did ourselves proud.

LoM went to me, Cait for accidentally throwing my stick at a player (despite Juliette involved with yet another player ending up on the floor....that's 2 in 2 days).

PoM went (with a high majority) to Katie for some truly excellent play all round in midfield.

Great work team! 2 games in 2 days and we really gave it our all!