Clash of the Titans

Dani Kilsby-Steele

After only half a match the week before (due to Newmarket 3s arriving without a keeper) we were raring to go this week…oh, no wait, with wintry weather and the threat of snow I think we might have been secretly hoping for a cheeky lie in. But the game was on so we set off to Culford School - for the full history tour/local knowledge, hit up Louisa!

We arrived to a nice looking pitch to be told that the ladies play on the 'old pitch' - we know our place… Finally we found the 'ladies' pitch to a surprising sight…Bury had two goalies!! (I would like to suggest that they may have stolen one from our previous opponents…just saying).

After a speedy warm up we took off with first push back and some good linking passes to start. However, Bury overturned the ball and we switched on our defensive mode, with the backs standing solid and the mids working hard to offer support. At right back, Ellie sprinted off after a stray ball into a sliding fall into the pitch fence - unfalteringly she returned to the pitch to send the ball pinging up the right to the new super duo of Cath and Hazel who worked seamlessly together to deliver to ball into the D. The forwards, with Kate taking up a new role on the front line, leapt into action and Bury's goalie had her first taste of South action. Unfortunately, we couldn't sneak it past her and Bury retaliated. However Serin, in her new sweeper role, cleared the lines delivering the ball back to Louisa and Emma for them to have a go up the left. Again, we found the D and Bury's defence had to work hard to clear our attempts. The two teams were toe-to-toe throughout the first half and the half time whistle left us proudly sitting even with score line standing at nil-all.

The half time talk reflected on how well we were putting Dave's training tips to use - breaking up the players on the hit outs and hassling the Bury players throughout - and we were keen to get back on and show Bury just how much we have improved this year. The second half kicked off with Bury weaving their way round us only to find Meg and Hannah at the back ready to deflect away their attempts on goal. We began to find our strength and with some great team play we fed the ball back up the pitch. Bury finally cracked under the immense South pressure and conceded a short. A brilliant execution by South gave Lauren the opportunity to swipe the ball into the back of the net - we gleefully celebrated our well-earned goal and headed back to reset with our heads held high. We were one up to Bury!! #winning

As you can imagine, Bury weren't too chuffed and most of their team came to join us in our half. Dani and Janette were offering plenty (too much) vocal encouragement from the side line, trying to coax another goal out of our sticks. Cath, totally chilled at how things were going, decided to have a little break to tie up her shoe laces. Kate, not expecting Cath to be on her knees, sent her a cracking pass. We screamed on the side line and Cath looked up just in time to leap up, receive the pass and to send it on its way. Oh, I forgot to mention, Bury made a goalie switch at half time - such a luxury to have an abundance of goalies. Could they not loan one to Newmarket? (…really need to get over the abandonment drama!)

We held possession well throughout the second half and Meg made some cracking traps and runs to keep the ball pinging back out of our defensive half. There was more action in the D (Bury's goalie(s) must have been in shock to have so much to do!) and Hazel deserved a goal for her relentless attacks throughout, but today wasn't the day. Kate made a number of fiery runs, outsmarting her opposing player with skills to burn. Bury gritted their teeth and began to break down our play and pushing through us (quite physically) snuck the ball down the left. A slightly ill-timed challenge in the 23 earned them a short and we held our breath. Somehow they pinged it round us and it cracked into the backboard, bringing the score to one all.

We didn't give up and we almost found another goal but alas the final whistle blew and the match finished in an admirable draw. Everyone played their hearts out and there is no doubt we have come along way since we first took on Bury at the beginning of the season!

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68
Kate Burton
Player of the Match

Awesome skills and cracking runs.

Cath Anthony
Lemon of the Match

Chilled break tying shoe laces whilst on the pitch.