Sils back on track

With Lucy James coming into the backline to make her first team debut Jess took the opportunity to re-jig the side to see if results could be improved. EJ was promoted to anchor the midfield and Jess went up front to lead the line in an attempt to show the miss-firing forwards how it was done. Sils had most of the early play with Ruth taking every opportunity to push forward with her new accomplice holding the area. But whilst players were adjusting to their new roles a slight hesitancy in the defence allowed Sutton to capitalise on an attack and shoot high into the net taking the lead. Sils were making all the play and Sutton had a simple game plan send two forwards up high and wide and leave them there, as Sils advance and momentarily forgot them any smash out of defence was latched onto by these raiders who bore down on goal with only the pace of Emma Fell and Lucy Connors saving the day on several occasions. With the introduction of Tammy midway through the half her first impact brought a tap in following good work from EJ who was relishing her new role. Sils were in the ascendency and shots and short corners were causing all sorts of frenzied defending in the Sutton defence and Sils were now playing much better with Lucy J having an accomplished game in defence with crisp accurate passing and a calm head steadied the others around her.

The second half continued in the same manner with the Sutton much the busier of the two with Jo trying to keep warm in the artic conditions. Sils kept the attacks coming with Jess holding the ball up and bringing the other forwards into the game with chances coming to Priya and Frankie but both were closed down quickly be the keeper from close in.

LJ with space on the left advanced into the D unopposed and unleashed a shot into the far corner to embellish her debut but the lead didn’t last long as Sils were caught once again on the break with 2 bearing down on goal and despite the sprint back by the defenders Sutton managed to squeeze an equaliser in. Not despondent the assault on the Sutton goal continued and eventually Ruth went off on a winding run leaving opposition players in her wake trading passes with EJ who continued the good work and slipped the ball to Jess who made no mistake to regain the lead.

The Sutton keeper continued to work overtime in keeping the Sils forwards at bay as their pace and fitness levels was telling as defenders struggled to keep up with them but Sils couldn’t relax and despite the warning were still getting caught on the break with the pace of Ruth also adding to the charge back on several occasions to help Jo out and hold the lead. Sutton continued to threaten and following a short corner in the latter stages a combination of Ruth and Jo managed to thwart the danger but Emma Fell’s pace a t the back was required on several more occasions as Sutton broke through the defence.

All in all a much better performance from previous weeks and the jig saw is almost complete with LJ having an accomplished debut and EJ anchoring the middle well with Jess taking the opportunity up front to score.

MoM: EJ who had a major influence on the team in her new role by anchoring the middle, linking well with Ruth, blocking numerous runs as well as making crucial tackles and also finding time to advance forward and help setup the winning goal.

DoD: Just when everything was going well once again EJ manages to be awarded for this accolade as well for managing to get hit in the…….. well best we leave it there for now.