A tight match decided by goals from England & GB International

With both sides playing a high pressing, high tempo, attacking game the opening quarter was played at a frenetic pace. Whilst both sides created openings but there were very few clear cut opportunities. However, it was the hosts that opened the scoring in the sixteenth minute from their first penalty corner when Great Britain international Emily Maguire's strike found the bottom corner. However, Buckingham's response was almost immediate. Inspirational Captain Zoe Shipperley's fine long ball found Sam Sandham who's pass saw Katrina Nicholson tap home just three minutes later, to level the scores.

The next ten minutes were battle for midfield supremacy. Player of the match Kitty Higgins was in outstanding form as Buckingham’s midfield went toe to toe against the home sides international line up. Despite a couple of penalty corner opportunities, Buckingham could not take the lead and it was Reading’s Great Britain and England starlet Alex Danson, playing her first game of the season, who broke the dead lock after a mazy dribble, to give the home side a slim 2-1 advantage going into the break.

Buckingham began the second half brightly but a couple of temporary suspensions gave Reading the momentum which they maintained for the opening period. Once restored back to their full compliment Buckingham fought their way back into the game as both sides enjoyed periods of pressure and created opportunities with neither side being able to capitalise.

With just six minutes to go Buckingham found themselves on the wrong end of a hotly contested decision that gifted reading their fifth and final penalty corner. Anna Searle saved the first shot and the initial rebound but it was Danson again who found the net at the third attempt, with a diving finish from close range. Though Buckingham pushed hard in the final five minutes and created a couple of opportunities there would be not consolation goal and the match ended 3-1.

This week the side make the long away trip to Canterbury who finished top of the table at the end of the last regular season but eventually finished runners up, having been beaten in the playoff final. It will be another really tough match against a quality outfit but the girls are already looking forward to the challenge of playing an evening game in front of a large Canterbury crowd.

ZaK Jones
“Saturday was another really pleasing performance. We were up against a good side who have a number of world class players but, we gave as good as we got and proved once again, that we are able to compete, not just survive at this level. On reflection, Reading probably edged the contest but we didn’t get the rub of the green and couple of key decisions didn’t go our way but that's just the way it goes sometimes. We just accept that and move on, and look forward to the next challenge which is Canterbury away."