Progress halted as Sils falter

This weeks foray was to Uni Warwick for a re-arranged game but one that was fraught with problems with 8 of the regular squad taking a well earned rest after a few weeks back at school facing a side that regularly plays two competitive games a week and trains most days as well.

But Sils had the ball fist and tore off into the Warwick backline in time honoured fashion but unfortunately their attack was quickly shut down. With Warwick having the ball they quickly moved it upfield and managed to force a short corner after Jo was forced to dive to her right and turn the ball away which was injected at pace and quickly slipped around 3 players eradicating the normal sturdy defence and skilfully manoeuvred home to take an early lead. Although a set back Sils kept up the attacks although the pace of the warwick side was causing problems as they pressed in numbers and for once the normal composure was starting to fray. The Warwick goalkeeper was being worked but the second ball was left wanting and further shots flew past the far post evading the Sils attack force. But just as it looked as though Sils were going to get back into the game yet another Warwick attack was launched down the wing to the backline the defence was swayed to the oncoming danger and a fast running midfield player was on hand to dispatch the ball home taking the lead away. If this was not enough two minutes late a flick was awarded following an unfair judgement of a goal bound shot being impeded by a foot although disputed this was left to stand. As the flck took place Jo in goal normally has a high success rate of saving these but stood no chance with this one although having gone the right way and in time the shot was dispatched at height and pace leaving a big hill to climb in the second half.

After a rallying call at half time by coach Jess the team took to the pitch to try and claw some respectability back to the score line and with the hard working midfield working overtime things were starting to happen as warwick were pressed back onto their 25 and eventually the pressure told with Libby Shepherd reacting quickest to a loose ball and fired home. But this didn’t last and as Sils pressed tired legs were starting to slow and with only one substitute available options were limited and warwick once again started to press harder with attacks once again reigning in.

The umpire decisions, that were dubious at times, were compounded a few minutes later as the combative Ruth Dovey was carded for over zealous tackling, hard to believe in the circumstances with Warwick giving as good as they got but every advantage had to be provided in case a slip up occurred.

Jo was by far the busiest of the keepers and in one quick salvo was required to kick clear then pull a shot out of the air to clear once again and then as the ball came back in again she was on hand once again to dispatch it to safety but this by no means a one man show with Issy Thomas, Claire Robinson and Livvy Timins all at full stretch to repel the quick attacks that faced them.

The pressure eventually told and Warwick scored a further two goals through quick breakaways that over powered the defence to take the eventual tally to 1:5 and out of reach of Sils but the girls didn’t give up and tired legs continued to power them on to ensure Warwick couldn’t relax but unfortunately the attacks couldn’t quite prove effective enough to increase the goal tally.

With Tammy tearing off on another surging run the umpires called time before the score could be reduced. But hopefully happier times lie ahead.