Ladies 2nd XI Vs Plymouth Marjon

Exe II v the weather, early start, umpiring decision, luck and Plymouth Marjon II.

Please forgive this week’s write-up subtitled (to be said in a Robin Williams stylee) ‘Goood Mor-ning Vaaaaggers’ in respect of Mel’s antics.

Service personnel are trained to be disciplined, organised, used to early mornings, punctual.  A 07:40 meet/leave was therefore right up Mel’s street…  7:42 a text “3mins”, 7:48 still no sign, 7:53 five attempts to close the boot, 7:54 gets into driver’s seat thinking my 5door Civic was only 3 doors (she couldn’t see the handles).  Her excuse?  She was out for a meal the night before and ‘it’s a killer when your wine gets automatically topped up’.

As the ‘sensible car’ (a quote from Captain Em!!) we had been charged with looking at the starting line ups, possible switches etc.  Mel’s first comment; “I think that we should change the system.”  20mins then explaining roles, assigning players to positions for the 4 out of 12 players in the car (bearing in mind we are running 15mins late and Marjon’s changing rooms and pitch are not too close to one another).  It seemed sensible though.  We trust Mel.  And then the curve ball comment: “I think that I’m showing signs of Alzheimer’s.  I say to Mat (her fiancée) “I look at you sometimes and I don’t know who you are.” “

We get to the pitch to find no changing rooms open; so 25mins to get changed, explain the system and warm-up (warm up???? you’re having a laugh in those arctic conditions).

We then played some hockey, complete with a dubious disallowed goal, stoppage for an injury (therefore finishing the first half 3mins early) an ambulance arriving and finishing in a blizzard. We lost.

And then, the journey home… Satnav warned of an accident on the A38 so Mel suggests to head via Tavistock.  Heavy traffic out of the city, slow drivers, winding roads… then the snow.  Fi turns into an excited 5yr old.  I’m sure that she even squealed in excitement at a village next to a prison!  We hear tales from Mel of wedding hell – it was as if we were listening to ‘Don’t Tell the Bride’… honeymoon planning disasters, the Bridezillas that she has seen, the ‘supportive’ bridesmaids that she will be dealing with, rip off venues...  But there was at least snow.

As for the game?  The new system worked well in the first half.  We had a goal from a Fi penalty corner disallowed for being too high – we would like a DRS on it!  Helena had two good opportunities, whilst Becky was quiet in goal.  Marjons adapted their play in the second half and put us under more pressure resulting in their one shot on target going in.  Man of the match votes showed the team effort with seven different players being acknowledged.  Rosie, Meg, Karen, Mel with one, Fi with two and then the new centre back pairing of Sian and Anna with three each.  We are going for our first home win of the season v Tavistock next week… bring it on girlies.