‘3^rd in the League’

Sonning Ladies 4s Vs Abingdon

Soooo were back to the beginning….our first game of the season and coincidently our last meeting with Abingdon brought great hilarity, Matthews on her SHC debut taking out the keeper with her face, having only the 1 umpire who could only see half of the pitch – more an issue with sight then positioning truth be told and last but not least us winning 3-2!! So we were ready, ready to give Abingdon a hiding….we were on a roll….4 wins on the bounce and the possibility of being 3^rd in the league over the Christmas period. Thame needed to beat Aylesbury & we needed a win against Abingdon…..

Here’s how it goes….we lose the toss (as usual I should add) and Abingdon make some darting runs into our 25m area and create a number of goal scoring opportunities, in the words of the late Michael Jackson as easy as ABC,123! SL4s need a wake up call….and we got it 1-0 Abingdon.

Few minutes later 2-0 Abingdon….5minutes after that 3-0 Abingdon!!! Yeeaaahhh 3-0 down and have barely started!!! Not the plan!

Tempers start to fly, challenges get harder and SL4s keep their heads high – we know we are better than this….so we grit our teeth and play some tactical hockey, epic 1-2s, little dinks around the opposition and finally some lengthy runs on the wing coupled with point perfect passes and timed runs!!!

To be completely honest I can’t remember how I scored the 1^st goal but it definitely happened, Abingdon 3-1.

The 2^nd goal was much memorable, Pollard and Bennett start the elegant processes in working together on the right side of the pitch before a scrambled effort in the D, finally the ball drops to Pollard who strikes the ball & Swanborough comes in for the volley to score, Abingdon 3-2.

Game play is getting better & better, SL4s look ready to finish this game off, Abingdon not so spritely however have a great shot at goal which is saved by Woffers with a heroic leap and just like Kevin Costner in The Bodyguard dives as if her life depends on it – SSSSSSAAAAVVVEEEE!!!! Woffers is our champ!

SL4s return the favour, a short corner…slip to Bedford on the right…BAAAAAMMMM bottom left, Bedfords 1^st goal @ SHC!! Well done!!

Half time 3-3 – Ssssshhhh motivational words spoken

3-3 – we have to win!!! Defence play a superb game, Cowap & Whitlock acting like old school gladiators (the ones in the 90s on TV not roman style) smashing everyone who dare tread on their patch! Foster holding the middle and playing some great balls up to us girls up front…..& then it came….

Bennett reminding me of a 11yr old playing netball..nodding her head to ensure her team knew what she wanted them to do (& obviously the opposition fully understanding), MI5 she is not!!! Nonetheless Bennett plays the ball to Pollard, Pollard to Kingwood, Kingwood to Swanborough who is desperate for this winning goal…sweeps the ball past a defender, and almost perfectly across the keeper to the bottom left hand corner….4-3 SL4s!!!

3^rd in the league baby!!!! A glorious early Christmas pressie for all!!!

Well done girls & Merry Christmas, see you in 2012

xxx