Excellent Teamwork results in Glorious 8 - 0 Win

After maintaining an unbeaten record in the first half of the season only complicated by our unfortunate default against Newbury and Thatcham early on, the 4s were determined to demonstrate that we really could hold our own against the very best in the division, and show Newbury and Thatcham what they had missed from the earlier fixture.

A great team benefitted from the surplus of players while the 1sts are still in their off-season, and welcomed back Jemima and Rotimi, plus Char English from the 3s. N&T were unforunately hit by illness and could only field 10 players. The push-back whistle blew, and your manager was still sorting out her subs list while the girls settled down, and was forced to look up by the umpire's whistle as a Newbury foot on the goal-line resulted in a short corner, and Char stepping across from her injection into a perfect scoring position to open our account after only 2 minutes of the match.

A positive goal-fest followed, as great positional play, early accurate passing and committed energy throughout the team kept the ball driving forwards throughout the first half. A second short corner was converted by Jemima after 11 minutes, Tash, returning from an injury which had kept her on the side-line for the whole first half of the season, scored from open play around the 25th minute, and Jemima claimed her second, again from open play, 5 minutes before half-time.

N&T were by no means a push-over. Their experience repeatedly showed when they did get possession, with confident crisp passing and rapid breaks towards our goal. They got into our D several times, but the defence, anchored by Rotimi, efficiently swept up and cleared every attack before too much of a goal-mouth tussle could develop, and Daisy only got a single touch on the ball during the first half. More often our midfield and defence pounced quickly on any N&T possession, with Lizz particularly swift and effective in retrieving the ball from N&T sticks and clearing it straight to a team-mate (the sideline described her skills as 'scary'!). All the midfield showed a new-found confidence in positioning themselves exactly where their team-mates could make a clear pass to them, and everyone kept their heads up and made the pass instead of the old habit of hanging onto the ball and driving into trouble. Tilly was fiercesome pushing forward from our 23, and Lauren's workrate was exceptional, switching from midfield to attack and back again.

The second half was as exciting as the first, the Tash claiming her second from open play after 10 minutes, Emily hustling the ball into the goal after a protracted goal-mouth tussle 4 minutes later and Jemima converting another short corner for her third goal just 3 minutes after that. The scoring was completed by a great long strike on goal by Charlotte Yates giving the 4s a final tally of 8 goals and a clean sheet at the back.

This was a real team effort, and 9 players got votes for Man of the Match. Jemima's unerring eye for the goal line earned her the award.