The South Ladies 1s met Rutland for the second week in a row in their penultimate league match of the season. As last week, the Rutland team were well drilled with strong stick skills and a determination. This led to a somewhat flustered first ten minutes during which the South defenders had to work hard. However, before long South regained their composure and it paid off well when sharp passing from all in midfield and landed Alice with the ball in the centre of the D which she duly hammered home. Shortly after, sustained pressure was rewarded with a short corner and a lovely move sent the ball to Liles on the right then back to the penalty spot for Hayley to fire past the keeper. Rutland kept coming back strong but good marking, hard work from the midfield, and (yet again) a heroic swoop onto a threatening ball by Julie, meant they couldn't convert any of their chances. South were guilty of keeping to the centre and right of the field during the first half. Towards the end, however, Caroline provided a persuasive argument to use the left when she dribbled the ball into the D, around several defenders, past the keeper then calmly slotted it into goal.

In the second half South maintained strong pressure on the opposition D and held the midfield more strongly. Goals were slow coming, despite some lovely crosses (persistently whizzing millimetres from players heading towards the left post) and other unconverted opportunities. Liles and Hayley continued their short corner masterclass with a matching goal to that scored in the first half and Tash finished the match with a stylish goal which once again was the product of quick reflexes and accurate passing around the circle.

Another excellent result from the Ladies 1s who continue on course to promotion. All credit goes to Rutland for putting up a strong fight and giving the defence lots of work to do. There were well deserved player of the match nominations for Caroline, AI, Julie, Kathryn and Georgie but Hayley was the well deserved recipient of the award for her combined sweeping and goal scoring game.