Ladies' 2XI vs Wimborne Wayfarers 1

The first league game of the season saw the ladies 2s travel to Wimborne - a pitch we have always played well at but have never got those elusive 3 points.

Prep for the game started well - Kate’s taping clinic open for business and busy, team photo posed for and taken, now to get cracking.

The team started strongly with immediate pressure on their pushback forcing them into some hasty passing and ultimately turnover to us. We then enjoyed a long spell of pressure in their half with some lovely passing of the ball, keeping composed while looking to attack into the D when the opportunities arose.

Opportunities came in the shape of a couple of short corners. The hot and sticky pitch were not ideal injecting conditions but a slightly dodgy one led to our first goal - Sue gathered the just about making it ball at the top, slipped it left to Kate, who slapped it to Brens on the near post, who made space from the keeper, turned and pushed hard into the goal. A very well deserved lead.

The game continued in our favour with the defence working well together to mop up any attacks, the midfield keeping close to win those 50:50s and spring up the pitch, and the forwards running those channels and playing some great balls into the D.

Our continued attacks thankfully were rewarded with goal 2, with Liz at right mid finding Jen on the right side of the D who played a lovely ball across goal to Brens in front of the keeper who’s first touch found its way under the keeper than stalled, but a dive over the keeper resulted in just about a strong enough poke to see the ball over the line (and a couple of grazed knees!). A well deserved 2-0 lead.

Then shortly before half time, against the run of play they had a break down the right and got a touch in the near post that resulted in a goal. 2-1 at half time.

A rousing team talk at half time, and we were determined not to leave without the three points this time. A scrappier second half still saw us with all the possession and majority of chances, including a ball that definitely crossed the goal line (even according to their players and coach) but was unseen by the umpire, hitting the post, many a goal mouth scramble and a cracking second strike from Sue at a short that deserved a goal. But most importantly, they didn’t score and the final whistle blew and we finally got the points at Wimborne!

It was a brilliant team performance and so many positives to take into the rest of the season.

Man of the match went to Emily Page for some really great work in midfield - tireless running, tracking back and some excellent attacking play down the left.