Ladies 2nd/3rdXI 8-0 Long Buckby

Goals: Emily Kilner (3), Caz McCabe (2), Natalia Raca, Emily Wilkins, Clare Noble

On a warmish Moulton Saturday ladies 2’s gathered themselves together to try to remember what Saturday hockey is all about.  It seemed to take a few by surprise but eventually all were playing the same game and a great match was had by all.  I had originally taken notes at timed intervals, but by the second half I had reverted to taking pics and forgot about the minute by minute match report, so please excuse the lack of detail in the second half. 

Within the first half Saints worked the ball well around the pitch using the good mix of youth and experience to make the play all go our way.  Unfortunately long Buckby arrived a player short so we had to give them a saint’s lady for ten minute intervals, just to balance the teams.  This didn’t seem to affect any of the saints players too much as they all seemed to be able to swap into “left forward” quite well (even Steph!!)

Some great pieces of play were seen from little Emily “Duracell” Kilner who worked well with Caz “tiger Woods” McCabe up front to score some excellent goals, Emily scored 2 and Caz scored 2 (even though Caz missed the following:  1 pushed wide, 1 open goal, 1 chip into the keeper hands and maybe 2 more tapped wide)  Others who shone in the first half were Emily Wilkins who also scored 1 despite having to play for the opposition and never being passed the ball, Clare Noble who only fell once but was the first of the vets to feel an ache or pain (probably due to wearing roller-skates for trainers) and a fantastic break out of defence from Catherine Best to Courtney “Thorpedo” Thorpe but unfortunately that was one of the missed goals. The first half ended 4-0.

After an inspired team talk from coach Jonno, the girls once again gelled into action and looked like they wanted to win from the get go.  The ball was well worked from defence through Steph “swing and miss” Brennan and Nicky “sorry” Milford through the midfield to Emily Kilner again to score what can only be described as a sweeeeeet goal just in the first few minutes of the second half.  Due to a slight lapse in concentration Clare “landmine” Noble won a penalty corner, but as she was doing her ten minutes for the opposition, this was the only real test Claire “Spiderkeeper” Leech had the whole match.  The opposition were dispatched with ease and saints broke through the midfield to score another goal through Natalia “chicken” Raca.  Not to be outdone by her namesake, Emily Wilkins then scored another beautiful goal to make it 7-0 and to finish off and show that experience pays, Clare Noble then “reverse stick shovelled” (quote Jonno) our 8thgoal of the match. 

Todays’ match was brought to you by the colour white and the flapjacks of Emma Brennan.

When all said and done a good first performance with players showing plenty of promise for the new season.  Let’s see how next week goes against the Ladies 1’s.  Well done ladies!!