It was a lovely day for a game of hockey! 

The scoreline truly reflects how good Bedford were, with the majority of their players used to prem-level hockey. They were just quality and really nice! But the Goldies played with next level guts and underdog fight. Despite the onslaught we kept it below 10 and I'll come to the highlight later.

Jess got us all to the right place and the right time, and Hayley had a piece of paper and white board- line up, strategy, check. Caroline put us through our paces for a warm up. Ellie had to retrieve her stick from the other car - an unfortunate LOM-able event- but made it for the minute silence (we should all remember how lucky we are to be pratting about with hockey sticks on a Sunday)

It says it all that Luisa (Goldies debutant and CB extraordinaire) was voted POM - they could not score off penalty corners because she was there to intercept almost every time (Bedford were well impressed). So many attacks thwarted. Here is the point to mention all of the defence who were just epic - Julie intercepting, Ellie block tackling and Anne putting her face on the line (I hope you're ok?!). Absolute heroes. 

Another debut, another star. Kim - she even arrived with shoes - was everywhere. Solid tackling, distributing, just somehow tempering the relentless attacks. And always positive. Love that!

Midfield were run ragged, Caroline, Fi, George, Hayley, Jess. Liles and Louisa just running and running - as we got the ball only to be tackled by 3 players, but still stringing a nice few passes together. An injury to our top runner Liles in the first half, meant some tired legs out there. Hayley and Louisa took a 'break' up front only to realise that's also hard work!

3-0 at halftime. Team talk - we knew it was going to be an uphill battle, but we were determined to give our best showing. We'd had enough breaks and even a few shorts that gave us the confidence we could get a goal back. So we had our mission. 

Yes they scored 6 more. But then .... Bedford on their 65th attack of the game, 2 minutes to go... Kim goes in to tackle and wins the ball in the middle. Hayley (up front 'resting') reluctantly asks for the ball to the left. Gets it. Sees Emily running off the shoulder of the centre back to the right and conjures a last push to get it halfway down the pitch. Emily picks it up just before the 23, runs into the D, draws the keeper, audaciously dribbles round her- surely she's narrowed the angle too much - but no! If someone is going to find the net from the baseline it's Emily! Cue celebrations like we've won the cup! Kim's on the floor!

Seriously proud of everyone today - onwards to the Plate!