Trojans 0 Buckingham 4

On Saturday Buckingham travelled to fourth placed Trojans for the penultimate league match before the Christmas break. With captain Kitty Higgins struggling with illness and unsure if she would be able to play vice Captain Alex Naughalty took over at the helm. Higgins's illness plus the fact that a number of players were delayed due to an accident on the motorway meant that the omens did not look particularly good as the squad numbered only twelve at the start of the match. However, Buckingham flew out of the blocks. They played with incredible tempo in attack and intensity on defence and nearly scored in the opening minute. But it was not long before the visitors were 1-0 up. Alex Naughalty smashing and unstoppable penalty corner strike past the home goal keeper inside four minutes, to give Buckingham the lead. Just two minutes later it was 2-0 when a fine passing move and fantastic upright back hand cross from Abbie Brant resulted in Katrina Nicholson calmly slotting home. Buckingham were now rampant and the home side were struggling to live with Buckingham's pace and slick passing. Despite creating a number of other chances, it was not until the fourteenth minute that Buckingham extended their lead further. This time it was Lottie Porter who was the sharpest to react to a penalty corner rebound to make it 3-0. Buckingham continued to dominate and the home side finally got a foothold in the game in the final few minutes of half. However, Buckingham’s penalty corner defence stood firm from a number of re awards to see the visitors safely into half time 3-0 up.
Buckingham started the second half brightly again but this time Trojans were far more aware of the danger. The home side defended and competed much better and it took Buckingham until the fifty third minute to break the second half deadlock. Despite her illness, the superb Kitty Higgins stole the ball in midfield and fed pacy England Junior Alice Rolfe. She carried into the D and in turn found Brant who finished spectacularly on the volley to take the score to 4-0. This seemed to break the home sides resistance and with player of the match Naughalty and Katrina Nicholson outstanding in midfield Buckingham carved out a number of fantastic opportunities and penalty corners in the last fifteen minutes. However, a combination of fine goal keeping, near misses and last ditch defending prevented any further scoring. Despite being slightly frustrated by the fact they could not add to their tally in the final quarter, it was a fine result and a hugely impressive performance against another top four team.