Good workout as Sils narrowly loose out

A quick post Christmas friendly saw Sils hosting Bromsgrove 1’s from the Worcestershire league to clear out any cobwebs from the festivities. Bromsgrove were relegated from Midlands West the previous season and were seen to be a good gauge as to how far Sils had come.

Sils took over at lightning pace and within the first minute the fast flowing attack had scored with Millie forcing the ball home. Bromsgrove seemingly shocked by the fast pace looked to be stunned and took a while to adjust to the game but they gradually got there bearings and their main thrust was in counter attacks with the wide midfield players coming forward quickly to support the attacks.

The first half saw mainly Sils pressure with the odd foray by Bromsgrove although more clinical in front of goal and equalise mid way through the half as Jo padded the ball down from a fierce aerial strike the back spin evaded both her and LJ’s efforts as it squeezed over the line by the post. Within five minutes Bromsgrove took the lead as the defence was over powered by numbers and the ball was forced home. Ruth by now was finding plenty of time and room ion the middle and was carving her way through the defence seemingly at will and on a driving run at the end of the half unluckily hit the post with the keeper well beaten.

The second half followed the same pattern with Sils dominating the play but struggling to stop the swift counter attacks but with Tammy already taking a blow to the knee and hobbling around the D she was still on hand to deflect the ball into the net following another drive through the defence by Ruth. By now Ruth was making runs at will with the Bromsgrove midfield not having an answer to her power plays and the chances created weren’t being finished by the forwards until the ball came out to Lauren whose first time hit looped over the keeper to take a well deserved lead.

Bromsgrove were not out of the running though and the hard working defence of Lucy, LJ, Georgie, and Jo were having to work some what harder than they had hoped for helped out by the impressive EJ anchoring the middle. As Sils pressed for more goals that there play merited they were once again caught out as a log ball out of defence found a solitary forward unmarked on the edge of the D as Jo dashed out and blocked the initial attempt and then drove the forward wide additional attackers arrived before the onrush of defenders and an equaliser found the back of the net.

Bromsgrove were now buoyed by their unexpected goal but were forced back as Sils dominated the opposing half with good chances being created although today they weren’t being capitalised into goals with either shots going array or the keeper saving well. As time was ticking down a loose ball inside the Sils D was seized on by an attacker whose shot was inadvertently deflected into goal off Georgie’s stick wrong footing the defenders for an unfortunate loss.

All in all a good work out with 5 of the regular team missing and only a bare 11 but chances were created, fitness levels were good and fortunately not too many injuries to account for now for Blossomfields.

MoM: Lucy James who looked accomplished and calm at the back despite the panic around her.

DoD: Sorry Georgie Christmas is over so for wrong footing the defence and deflecting the ball into goal you claim this prestigious award for this week.