On a brisk Saturday morning, our team gathered for what promised to be a challenging clash against St Neots Women’s 2. However, nerves set in almost immediately, as we arrived with only four players at meet time, a situation that left us more than a little anxious. Where were the others? As the minutes ticked by, the blame fell squarely on that fickle invention—the sat nav—which, in all its wisdom, had apparently decided to lead our teammates on a scenic route to the wrong side of the college.

Despite the shaky start, and with only ten players on the field (where was Meg?!), we kicked off the match. The pitch was far from ideal; hard and sandy, it made ball control a bit tricky. St Neots Women’s 2 had just been relegated from Division 2NW, and we knew they were going to be a tough side. Understandably, the nerves were still there as we faced a team looking to reclaim their former glory.

However, it didn’t take long for us to find our rhythm. From the back, we played beautifully, stringing together lovely 1-2-1s and passing triangles. Our screens—Becky and Avi—worked diligently to control the midfield, distributing the ball smartly and supporting both ends of the pitch. Our midfielders, Meg and Bex, made impressive runs, using speed and precision to push the ball forward at every opportunity.

Our defensive line, made up of El, Ellie, and Faye, was a solid wall. St Neots were strong, but our defence worked fluidly, covering each other wherever needed, and shutting down attack after attack. We faced multiple short corners, but in true Ladies 4s style, we defended every single one flawlessly, as if we didn’t need any more practice in that department.

The second half saw the first real breakthrough of the game—and it was a stroke of luck on our part. St Neots had the pushback, but in a bizarre twist, their centre forward aimed a pass to a player in the back line… only for no one to be there. We seized the moment, pouncing on the ball and winning a long corner. From there, Meg, who had by this point finally joined us, made her way into the D. With a perfect reverse stick shot, she sent the ball flying into the back of the net. It was a cracking goal that lifted our spirits and put us 1-0 up.

But St Neots wasn’t going to let us off that easily. They responded soon after, capitalising on a scrappy moment in our D. The ball bounced around in a scuffle, and despite our best efforts, it slipped through to even the score at 1-1. There was nothing Zehra could do about that one.

Speaking of Zehra, her performance was nothing short of spectacular. Save after save, she kept us in the game, thwarting St Neots at every turn. Special recognition must go to her lightning-quick reflex stick save that was headed straight for the top bins. Thanks to her incredible efforts, she was rightfully awarded the man of the match, and it’s safe to say she single-handedly kept the score down to a draw.

On the flip side, Kendra earned herself the lemon of the match for receiving her first green card—awarded for none other than laughing at the umpire’s decision. Naughty, naughty! Still, it was all in good fun, and the team shared a laugh over it after the final whistle.

We had plenty of standout performances across the pitch. Faye’s defending was nothing short of heroic, earning her man of the match votes for her brilliant work at the back. Avi also received votes for her impressive debut with the Ladies 4s, showing great composure and adding strength to our midfield play.

The game ended 1-1, but it was a match full of positive moments. We worked fluidly as a unit, covering each other seamlessly wherever needed. The defence held strong, the midfield made rapid breaks, and our forwards kept the pressure on St Neots throughout. It was a solid team effort that everyone could be proud of, especially considering the shaky start and the calibre of the opposition.

A special mention goes to our coach Nev, whose support and wise words from the sideline kept us motivated and focused throughout the match. We are extremely thankful for his guidance, which undoubtedly played a part in our strong performance.

All in all, despite a few bumps in the road (or rather, some misadventures with the sat nav), we came together as a team and played our hearts out. It was a well-earned draw, and we left the pitch feeling upbeat, confident, and ready for the next challenge!