Ladies 2nd XI Vs Plym Valley

Whilst Exe II weren’t yet Under pressure in the league it was fair to say that this was a must win game.  Emma and Karen clearly think that I have nothing better to do with my Saturday afternoons.  I want to ride my bicycle, but instead they have said I should try to hide as many Queen songs in the report as possible... so don’t stop me now…

We set off from Exeter in biblical flood conditions and the drive down to Plymouth was treacherous; in fact it was a miracle that we made it as they closed the A38 soon afterwards. However once we arrived most of the game was played in conditions more suited to Barcelona!    Fi had earlier decided that listening to the Radio was gaga so we had some pumpin’ (or is that pumpkin?) tunes to get us going in the changing rooms. Despite this we started on the back foot with Plym Valley showing strength in attack. Then we found the breakthrough as our first attack was a kinda magic; a ball in from Karen, Fi worked well in the D and her shot rebounded to Charlotte who finished it well.

When ahead it’s fair to say that we want it all and the second goal came shortly afterwards.  This time Heather was in the D and her pass saw Charlotte slot home in a flash.   We were going headlong for the jugular, but Plym were a good outfit with some skilful players and we were thankful to Becky in goal and a goal-line clearance from Karen to maintain the 2-0 advantage. It’s a hard life, hockey, as Charlotte found out, with the reward for her brace of goals being an egg on her head from a collision.  Soon afterwards Plym gained a goal back from a penalty corner.

There was one vision at half time; win the game and it was a crazy little thing coz we did!!  Plym pushed really hard at times, but we had our own chances.  Heather received possession in her own half and she clearly wanted to break free as she took on the last two defenders and bore down on goal.  Her shot was saved and then Helena’s follow up led to a penalty corner, but it was not to be.

By the end most players looked like death on two legs, but we kept on battling.  The end felt like Bohemian rhapsody as we were rewarded for the valiant efforts.

Player of the match awards were:

Rosie, Becky, Fi then Helena (2), Heather (3) and Charlotte (5)… we are very grateful for you changing your plans at 9pm last night Charlotte!!!!

So there are a tenuous 17 tunes to find… have fun and tune-in in 2weeks for the results.