Ladies 2nd XI Vs Plym Valley

Exe II 4 – 0 Plym Valley

(with a prelude about the White Eagles game)

So last week was the drama of could we get 11 players who were able to stand on the pitch let alone run?  On Tuesday it was 7, by Thursday up to 13 and then we scraped 12 by the Saturday...  By the end of the game we were back down to 9!!

Karen managed to get a full traffic light of cards (green, yellow, red) fortunately, after consulting, the umpires amended the original decision of red and gave Sian a yellow instead.

Karen’s back was not good, Helena got hit on the arm and then the foot and had to be helped off the pitch (down to 10 and a half players), then Sian went over on her ankle and had to leave the game and Karen was having to be really careful (9 and a bit players!).

On the plus side we welcomed Rosie Barrett back into the fold and Kerry Thorne stepped up.  Without them we would have been in a great deal of trouble and they were duly rewarded with joint Player of the Match awards.  It was also brilliant to see two of the club’s emerging youngsters throw themselves into the match.  Evie Jones and Anya Kilburn-Thompson (from now on to be known as AK-T a la Britain’s heptathlete) ‘got stuck in’ and played admirably.  We hope to see even more of them both in the future.

As for the match…  A fairly even first half saw us have several chances, one being a Karen T shot cleared off the line, whilst Eagles took their one clear opportunity.  In the second half we had opportunities early on, but couldn’t convert and in the last ten minutes the experience and physicality saw Eagles seal the win.

And now to VICTORY…

All the clichés could come out now.  This was a real six-pointer with both teams near the bottom of the table.  A win for the visitors would see them level on points with Exe, whilst a win for Exe would leave us needing only 3points for safety.  There was also the small issue of an Exeter Chiefs game afterwards and we had no intention of ruining the mood of a social!  And so the theme was created…

It was a nervy start (they often seem to be with us), but once the passing got going Exe began to look quite good!  It took almost 20minutes for us to really get going and then there was a ten minute spell of perfection (nothing like a bit of hyperbole).  On a somewhat ‘sticky’ pitch we started to move the ball around with most success coming down the wings and when we got the ball to the young forwards they were hungry for success.  Having said that it was the ‘defensive’ over 40s who had to show them exactly how to do it.  The first PC saw Little Big Chief Bear That Roars pounce on the rebound to open the scoring.  Within three minutes a second PC saw Chief Red Card Cloud hit a superb strike to make it 2-0.

No time for complacency was the call and so we kept on the pressure.  Little Chief Running Hare’s pace was particularly destructive on the right and when Little Chief Sharp Fox that Pouts began the move deep in our own half Running Hare was able to drive 50yrds to set Little Chief Soaring Wind (hiccups) to make it three and show that the youngsters could actually find the net!

We welcomed an old new face to the squad in terms of Little Chief Strong Claw and she slotted in perfectly to the defensive unit alongside Little Chiefs Laughing Eagle and Standing Bear meaning that attacks from ‘pale face’ became less as the half wore on.

The second half began apace with ‘Pale Face’ needing to push forward.  Any nerves were finally settled ten minutes in when Big Chief Sitting Bull (having missed a sitter a few minutes earlier) was on hand to very coolly reverse stick flick past the keeper from 12yrds out!  (Over 40s 3 – 1 under 40s.)

The link up in midfield with the forwards was some of the best of this season with Little Chiefs Bright Elk, Shining Tree and Feathered Arrow all able to show their attacking prowess by offering support to the forward firepower.  Unfortunately we were unable to find any more goals, but were thankful to two other tribe members for the clean sheet.  Little Chief Broad Standing Eagle defended the goal admirably, whilst Rock with Rising Smoke was awarded the totem of Player of the Battle. (A mention in despatches to Chief Sitting Bull who also cleared one chance off the line.)

So one more win from the three remaining games will see us safe for the season and we now have the wind in our sails.  The trip to the Chiefs game was most entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable so thank-you to all who came.  We think that the end of season social is Saturday 18th April so if you can keep the date free it would be fantastic to see everyone there.  The next suggestion for a social was a train trip to the sea-side to visit Sian… if not this season then maybe early next??

Player of Battle votes:  Shining Tree, Red Card Cloud, Strong Claw, Running Hare (4) and Rock with Rising Smoke (5).  With several votes for the Exe II Tribe as a whole.

Thanks to all the supporters who cheered us on in the sun (despite the derogatory comments Katie Parr!!) and to the two peace-makers Jenny ‘Magnum’ Mitch and Teresa ‘Shot-gun’ Berridge.

Cast names:

Big Chief Sitting Bull – Emma Hulme

Little Big Chief Bear That Roars – Bridget Culver

Little Chiefs:

Broad Standing Eagle – Becky Rushworth

Red Card Cloud – Karen Tinley

Rock with Rising Smoke - Sian Williams

Laughing Eagle - Rosie Karakusevic

Standing Bear - Anna Karakusevic

Strong Claw - Rachel Cooke

Bright Elk - Megan Langley

Sharp Fox that Pouts - Mel Vaggers

Shining Tree - Fi Moran

Running Hare – Helena Nicholls

Feathered Arrow - Bridie Marlow

Soaring Wind - Heather Edworthy