Reigate Priory Ladies 2s vs Byfleet Ramblers 1s by regular on-pitch reporter Jess Stewart

 
Reigate Priory Ladies 2s vs Byfleet Ramblers 1s
6-2 win for Reigate after a rather relaxed performance
 
Our penultimate match of the season and we were away to Byfleet at the salubrious St George’s School in Weybridge.  A lovely bright, chilly spring day greeted our team of 12 ¼ players; apparently Rache’s body was about ½ fit but the hangover reduced that by a further 50%.  We were all in high spirits, knowing that we had secured the title, and maybe a little too relaxed. Byfleet, of course, had nothing to lose and so would come at us with everything they had.  We still felt confident we could secure another win.
From the off we seemed a bit laboured and were lacking our normal focus. We had reverted to frustrated, sloppy hockey with lots of hitting and hoping and trying to pass through the oppo.  However, we did manage to work the ball up the pitch and kept the pressure on them.  By half time the scoreline read Reigate 3 – Byfleet 0.  We were making heavy weather of the game and Byfleet seemed to want it more.
Kaz gave us the usual talking-to at half time.  We were not doing ourselves justice and needed to up our game or risk Byfleet coming back into it. Word of the half was ‘THINK’!  Then Kaz took herself off for the rest of the game…
The second half was more assertive and we held possession well.  There were some lovely one-twos with Emma at centre mid using Bridget, Alex and Rache as halves and the front line.  Our attackers, Lucy, Rose, Hettie, Hannah and Ali K, were formidable and had the opposition running scared.  The defenders had a relatively quiet game but when the ball did get into our end, Kaz, Sian, Jess and Camilla all had to wake up quickly to keep them out.  We had so many attempts on goal but their goalie used her feet brilliantly to keep the score down. Nevertheless, the work of the mids and forwards earned us another couple of goals.
With five minutes to go, Camilla kicked a ball out high and into Jess’s leg (Ouch) for a short to be awarded.  We had kept all shorts out until this moment but they brought a new striker to the top of the D who gave it one almighty thwack that smashed into the backboard.  A good short by anyone’s standards, 5-1.  We took the ball from the push back and in about three passes had made it into their undefended D, Rose swiftly punished the goal keeper.  With one minute to go they tried exactly the same thing and, very upsettingly, it paid off with a ball that dribbled over the line (and a little bit of a strop from Jess).  The whistle went and that was it.  A 6-2 win but one that didn’t feel like we’d done ourselves proud.
Goals were as follows: Rose – 3, Lucy – 2, Ali K – 1. Making Rose the top scorer for the 2s this season with 11 league goals.  Next week is our final game and its the top of the league clash with Wayfarers!  We want to win!!
Many thanks to Calvin for umpiring and a few boys on the sideline for their support.