Ladies 2s keep hold of the top spot with 9-2 win!

From Birthmatchday reporter Jess Stewart:

This week was the Ladies 2s’ first home game for a few weeks at the sandy St Bede’s pitch at the very sociable hour of 2pm.

We watched the Abbots before us, who won, and were glad of a good gang of supporters who stayed on the sideline. Poor old Ali K(ripple) arrived on her crutches after her nasty Xfactor/sofa injury last week… yes, she stood up from the sofa and all of the tendons in her foot exploded. She’s now out until at least January and we wish her a speedy recovery. Good news, was that she was able to run the subs and keep a tally of who had scored as they came thick and fast.

We wanted to make sure we went in hard and played our best hockey. Although Byfleet is not doing well in the league this year, they would have nothing to lose and would want to punish Reigate.

We started well and were 3-0 up after six minutes; Rachel, Freya and Lucy all scored from open play. However, this ultimately did us no favours as we took our foot off the gas and started playing down to their level. We let them get into the game as our structure became a bit loose as people got overexcited and goal hungry, and with our backs a bit exposed they managed to score a goal against the run of play. We got another one back with a well struck short from Kaz but it wasn’t long before they had a short awarded and a slightly unusual backline gave them space and time for a shot, which went in. We were starting to feel the pressure. Our front line took it up a gear, with Bridge, Freyja, Lucy and Hetti helping to support Rach and Rose, who managed to slot another two goals in before half time.

Going into the break we were 6-2 up and needed to up our game. Word of the half was focus! Also, a certain someone forgot to share the sweets!!

The second half was better, with the halfs of Emma, Harriet and Woolfy coming back to support defence. Ang had a stormer and made sure that she cut off their attacks, which inevitably came through the middle. Byfleet’s striker was closely marked so had few chances at a clean strike and the more organised backline with mids in support kept a clean sheet in the second half.

Lucy got another one and Freyja two; we should ask your Mum to come down to take photos more often Freyja! There were at least another three that hit the post and their goaly did well to keep a lot of shots on target out. We won 9-2, which is a great result but if we’d played our best game we wouldn’t have conceded and may have scored more.

As out pitch-side commentator, Ali K said that the team looked completely different to the one that played Surbiton and Cheam, with a lot of standing around and watching. If we want to hold on to our league position at the top we need to be more ruthless and play each game at 110%.

That’s the end of the first half of this season’s league and we hold onto the top with four points in hand and the best goal difference. Next week, we take on the only team to beat us so far this season… we’re at home and we need to bring our A-game girls!!!!

So, it was back to the club for teas and birthday cake for Harriet, Bridget and Jess (and Porter but he’s not a Ladies player)!