A tale of two halves 

A few of us turned up early to cheer on the wonderful L4s and continued to get ready while we watched. Once we’d done a few stretches, talked about what we were going to do well today it was time to get on the pitch…only 10 minutes to warm up - eeeek! 
This wasn’t our usual intensity of a warm up so when we started we were a bit lackluster. Some confusion was had as our oppo were in red and blue calling themselves City…?! No thanks, been there and done that last week. 
Due to not having our heads in the game at the start, Peterborough capitalised during a short corner and it was 1-0!
There was some great opportunities and we were working hard but things just weren’t connecting. 

At half time with a big “we got this” chat from our captains and coach Paul (thanks for coming) we felt rearing to go. Utilise the space, work as a unit, retain the ball, run at angles, get in front of your defenders, and mark Peterborough’s very good player out in the middle. 

2nd half was a very different tale…

Our press was better, we were filling the gaps between the lines, working together as a unit, pre-scanning and looking for that early pass. 
Jess decided that taking out one player was not enough, and the next one came flying past (in fairness, no contact was made on this one, but the first trip was an accidental, but very bad hook…whoops), earning her LOM  magic, skill, stormtrooper or kamikaze…? I’ll let you decide! 

Our first goal came, from a brilliant press, putting the oppo under realise pressure, squeezing them into the D, first by Jess then by Hannah, who took the ball off the defender on the baseline, rolled out, passed it to Jess on the p-spot, who took a breath, looked up and flicked it into the goal, 1-1!
Our next goal came very shortly after, after some great work by the whole team, Soph did the “slowest sweep of her life” (her words) into the back of the net, 2-1! 

The next part of this half is where we showed we were a team that knows how to win! 
Great composure was seen by our amazing defence: 
- Rhi schooing the ball away, 
- Jenny stepping in front and getting rid,
- Anna passing down the line, 
- Hayley with her silky skills,
- Nics doing her amazing sneaky tackles.
Massive mention goes to Selene on her debut for the 2s who not only played the game before, but also was a force to be reckoned with - 1v1s no problem for our young Selene, not just one but two! Well deserved POM - you go girl!

Our mids were working beautifully as a unit, keeping Peterborough’s good player at bay (a few times making her dribble sideways): 
- Lucy running all over the place, posting up and offering
- Rebecca marking out that player and making some great passes up the pitch,  
- Soph retaining the ball, showing huge confidence in every way throughout
- Caitlin distributing that ball left right and centre. 

Our forwards controlled the press, ran those lines and were in the right places: 
- Hannah was putting some great pressure everywhere on the pitch
- Maddy offering to help her team mates, stepping in front and blocked the oppos next option pass (you got the 2 short liked you said Madz!) 
- Juliette made some beautiful runs, dribbling strong through about 5 players and making some lovely passes into the D
- Jess was holding their defence in the 23, making some lovely tackles, passes into space and continued pressure. 

This was a well fought game and a deserved win! When we have a great warm up and play as a unit we are unstoppable! It was lovely to see us come into our own in the 2nd half and completely control the game! Thanks to those who stayed to support and Paul who came to watch providing us with tactical insight. 
Celebrations to be had all round tonight at the social AND a special birthday mention to our wonderful Lucy for tomorrow - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 

I heard Juliette lemon drizzle cake was very yummy, despite this being in the oven when she left for the game - thank you to her parents for rescuing and bringing it to us!