Early on Saturday morning, the L4s gathered at Long Road to face St Ives. After a close game against (now) league toppers City last week, we were ready to put as much pressure as possible on another top tier team. 

It was a slightly chaotic start to the warm-up due in part to several hangovers and missed alarms. However, the biggest distraction was the huge worm population that had decided to move off the grass onto the Long Road astro. This prompted much discussion, including Bex's LOM-worthy question, "Do worms live in the ground?" (Answer: Yes Bex, of course they do)

St Ives started strong, pressing high and winning a short corner in the first 10 minutes which they tidily converted it into a goal! It continued as a very defensive half, with great direction from centre back Rosie, lots of running and tracking back from Julie and Nic, and great diving saves from Lydia. However, St Ives seemed to have an unlimited source of energy and managed to score again before half time.

A copious amount of Haribo was consumed in the break to give us some much needed energy, and shock ourselves into gear. It seemed to work! We had a much better second half, with a much higher work rate - running onto passes and creating some great chances from our forwards and inners. This increased pressure on the opposition, tiring them out and leading to an incredible strike into goal from Bex at the top of the D - it was 3-1!!

We kept the pressure on, winning a few more shorts and keeping the ball at the right end of the pitch but unfortunately no more goals were forthcoming. But holding St Ives to 1-1 in the second half felt like a huge achievement, considering how hard the first half was and how tired we all were!

Bec received a very well-deserved POM for her incredible goal and excellent all round play, with noms split between Shree, Rosie, and Polly (for her spectacular return to hockey after a break)

LOM also went to Bex for her worm queries, but with an honorable mention to St Ives for accidentally inputting the score to GMS as a 3-1 win for us.