On a cold and damp day, two squads from our women’s section travelled to Northampton today to play Northampton Falcons Women. One team was our League team who were getting in some practice ahead of next weeks League fixtures and the other team, managed by Steph were mainly social players with the exception of Hannah, Mandy and Pyl. Becky was also in the squad and played for 25 minutes for the first time since having a knee operation last May. Most of the others in Steph’s team were playing against another club and in a competitive match for the first time.
The teams played three matches each.
Our League team won their first match 1-0 with a well taken goal from debutant Sharon.
The second game ended all square 1-1 with a goal from skipper Elaine.
The final match finished with a 4-0 triumph for our ladies with Sharon netting another 2, a nice finish from Luca and a stunning unstoppable goal from Zoe from the tightest of angles.
It took the first two games to get a good rhythm into the passing and movement but it all came together in the last match and in truth the score could have been doubled with the chances we manufactured.
Steph’s team battled hard in their three matches and were competitive throughout but were on the wrong end of the spoils, going down 0-2, 1-2 and 0-1 in their three matches. In the second game our girls were leading with a goal from skipper Hannah until the final 2 minutes of the game when Falcons equalised and got the winner with the very last kick of the game. Cruel luck, but considering the lack of match experience in her squad, it was a magnificent effort by all concerned and I know they enjoyed themselves.
Thanks to Bruce, Helen, Pauline and young Ollie who turned out to support the teams, very much appreciated by everyone. Plus a nice drink in the local pub afterwards
Report by Alwyn Day