A flicker of light emerges……..

Sils were up against a very athletic and confident Birmingham University team who were scoring a huge amount of goals along the way but not to be out played Sils took to the field in a confident mood from the off and were playing some good hockey sweeping the play across the pitch trying to find some inroads through the well organised Birmingham team setup. Birmingham had a very fast and fluid forward line that broke at pace and was well supported but Sils were keeping this at bay with a high work rate and co-ordinated back line working well together. Joanne Brett in goal was once again busy from the off making several saves including a brilliant one on one that she dived full length to divert past the far post. Birmingham were kept at bay until midway through the first half when yet another flying counter attack resulted in the ball being smashed across the D for a goal to be converted from close in through the supporting forwards. Not to be down heartened the girls rallied and Samantha Cooper was off again on her mesmerising runs which sliced through the Birmingham team although difficulty was found in slipping the ball to her supporting team mates. The young midfield pairing of Georgina Jones and Georgina Dalby were working hard in support and their tenacity was reaping dividends as 50/50 balls were being won and causing Birmingham some problems although difficulty was found in penetrating the last 25. But once play broke down Birmingham countered extremely quickly and in numbers and were soon knocking on the door of the defence again even though Brett was making save after save and kicking strongly to space there were times when the defensive unit of Becky Bakewell, Kate Huntington, and Sophie Price all contributed brilliantly in making goal line clearances Price in particular swotting an aerial out to the side line.

The second half saw Birmingham come more into the match and despite valiant efforts by the defensive unit three more goals were added to take the final tally to five. Although it looks as though there are problems with defence in truth this is the strong point of the team and provides a great base from which to build on. Yes goals are shipped late in the game but this is more to do with the constant concentration and physical exertions required in stopping attacks only for the ball to keep coming back onto the backline.

The young attack force are learning well and never gave up against a side that trains regularly throughout the week and although some of the moves didn’t come off it wasn’t for the lack of effort and pressing. Nothing that can‘t be resolved in due course. There were glimpses of progress and once the forwards can constantly run into the channels and space that is being created then the games will turn to Sils favour.

MoM: Joanne Brett who once again produced a series of miraculous saves.

DoD: Georgina Jones is back and true to form excels at this award so what is a “team shirt” Georgie!!