The day started positively, it was sunny, we had great spectators and despite having a few losses recently, we were quietly happy that we had played and beaten Wisbech away this season and have an excellent record against them in all previous encounters. We knew that victory would put any discussion of possible relegation to bed, but a loss would make us a little dependant on other score lines. They also had the same dilemma as us, which made this a bit of a crunch match. 

We should have had a little warning shot about intentions, when they tried to push an infringement point on us “for not letting them have access to the pitch a full hour before the match started”….that is quite some warm up, the Wisbech 3s definitely don’t need that long to warm up surely (bearing in mind they gave us 8mins at the reverse fixture in December)! 

The Wisbech 3s definitely don’t need that long to warm up, but surprisingly we didn’t see many familiar faces from the previous fixture, arriving at the pitch. 

Upon some sleuthing, it turns out 3 totally new players played for the 3s this game, in their final match. Some might say it’s very brave to take a punt on new players in such a crucial last game….unless they are not new at all. These 3 players turned out to be rather handy. 

Play got under way and we put pressure on them immediately. Tilly and Nicole as screens got the ball up the wings to Fi, and Nicky, Elodie and Hattie quickly piled on the pressure in the attacking 22. We held this up for the first 5 mins and then Wisbech (having now learnt each other names), started to up their game! 

They came back at us and started to test our defence a little and a breakthrough by “Jane” was made from the top D. 1-0 down but not dampened. 

Our defence of Vicki, Elly, Amelia and Sammy worked tirelessly to fend off the “Wizzers” and succeeded for another 10 minutes until a second one trickled in. 2-0 down. 

All of the defence took great offence to this goal and stamped out any further chances the “Wizzers” tried to create. Selene was saving reverse tomahawks to the top goal corners left, right and centre like the power house she is…..yes you read rightly a reverse Tomahawk, which is not commonly seen in div 4NW, especially not on target (sleuthing revealed this player used to play for their 1s but appears not to have played this season - maybe she is returning from a hiatus at England hockey or something). 

We ended the half 2-0 down and a little dejected at the clearly different team that had turned up today compared to our previous encounters. 

Half time brought sweets and a LOM nom for Fi, as she ate the last of the sweets and then casually just handed Nicky the empty packet as rubbish!!

Fuelled by a little formation change and the sweets, we bounced into the second half and we immediately started well and built pressure again, with Molly tackling and distributed everything, Amy making excellent runs and Nicky and Hattie offering options at the front everywhere. Nicole and Tilly were  intercepting everything and Hayley and Fi worked tirelessly in mid to keep the ball with ourselves. 

We held them off again until the 48th minute when (let’s call her hiatus girl), finally flicked one past the defence and then a 4th sadly followed a few minutes later with a good old “Jane” (who was actually lovely), popping up again to get a sad deflection from Elly’s stick into the goal. Jane claimed it but really it was Elly’s - the best of her career so far she admits, if only it was in our attacking goal instead (LOM nom 2). 

That was it, enough was enough and we saw red (I mean the Wizzers were covered in it). Molly distributed a beautiful pass to Amy, who ran it up the wing, crossed to Nicky on the P spot and she absolutely smashed it home! GOAL!!!! 

One brings two and 5mins later Amy again did another beautiful run up the wing, with an attempted shot, which was saved but into the waiting arms of Hattie who absolutely sunk it into the back of the net!! GOAL!!! 

We then carried on pushing until the end (sadly during a break the Wizzers popped one more in, whatever), but we never gave up til the bitter end.

It was difficult to pick a POM as the whole team played so well, but Tilly absolutely smashed it by being everywhere, intercepting everything and generally just being an absolute stellar hockey player and really nice too. She also very kindly complimented “hiatus girl” and asked her how long she had played for the 3s, cue nervous laughing and “haha ermmmmm”! 

LOM went to Fi for “using Nicky as a human dustbin”, clearly taking too many tips from her 2y old about adults main roles being general rubbish collectors, it’s been suggested she gets out with adults more! 

As a parting comment from a great world leader (Chat GPT): 

In a world full of shortcuts, it's tempting to take the easy way out. Victory by deception may seem like an easy win, but it is hollow and fleeting. True champions, rise through effort, integrity, and honour. It’s the battles we fight with honesty and heart that shape us into true champions! 

And that we are, as thanks to Haverhills 2 goals against Spalding, we didn’t get into a relegation battle! 

So long Wizzers and see you next season, when we will be victorious again!!