Ladies 2nd XI Vs Exeter University

All Hail Hat-trick Hero Heather

A 9am meet?! A heavy frost?! Would the game be on?!  Darned right it would and what oh what a start to 2015…

59seconds on the watch and the Helena/Heather partnership worked magic with the latter scoring from the hen’s cross.  Captain Emma’s supportive response… “We’ve scored too early.  I don’t think we will hold on!”  For 10 minutes Exe were in complete control with H and H linking up well up front and being provided with plenty of ball from the likes of Glitterqueen Fi, Army Girl Mel, Captain Em and Loudmouth Bridge.

Exeter Uni began to pick up the pace and came more into the game.  Sal even had to collect the ball off the back line a few times. 18 mins in and their first real concerted pressure saw a close range effort sneak in to level the scores. Despite the setback Exe were determined.  Tackles flew in left, right and centre from all over the pitch.  Anna, Sian, Becky M and Karen were the proverbial brick wall and Sal was again left to collect the ball off the back line to keep herself occupied.

1-1 didn’t suit Exe’s frame of mind as Meg and Fi H got in on the act and we decided to let Heather have a bit more fun.  A through ball from loudmouth left her one-on-one with the keeper and rather than keeping it simple she contrived to fiddle it onto her reverse stick and then score… kids eh??!  Everyone was playing their socks off (not that with a near frozen pitch anyone really wanted to be sockless… it was cold enough at the start for Glitterqueen to consider whether to were gloves or not!).

The second half saw the Uni press higher and harder.  They played good possession hockey, but due to excellent work rate from the entire Exe team they still failed to register a shot at Sal, who continued to run off the back line to get the ball.

The Uni’s desire for an equaliser left them exposed at the back.  H, H and Meg created several opportunities; Heather one-on-one again, but she decided to keep the game interesting by kicking the ball- tut.  So, 5 minutes left, probably time to finish it.  This time when set free hiccup created a well-deserved hat-trick.  This meant that man of the match was a bit of a formality, however notable mentions in despatches for Helena and Glitterqueen.

This hockey malarkey seems easy all of a sudden… Although my muscles may say different tomorrow.  And that’s how BCs it.