Bridgnorth 1st XI 0 - 6 Old Silhillians

Bridgnorth 1st XI 0 (0) - (4) 6 Old Silhillians

Goalscorers: Emma Berry, Melissa Thurman, Virginia Bournot, Juliana Castillo, Laura McTernan, Liv Straw

Travelling to Bridgnorth on an unseasonably warm Saturday could have had hiccup written all over it, particularly with GK Izzy Shurmer being taken ill the night before the game, and a couple of other players missing from the squad that had won all its games to date.

However, with Jess Thandi stepping up (and recording two clean sheets in one day), the game actually went pretty much exactly the way the Sils would have liked. Early pressure did not lead to goals, but with the ball barely leaving the home team's half, it was only a matter of time before territory turned into a Sils lead.

The team played some superb hockey at times, with Flo Collins combining well with Eve Arias and Anya Hemming down the right, and Alex Townsend linking up with Melissa Thurman and Emma Berry down the left. Virginia Bournot, masterminding things in the centre of the pitch, ably supported by Hattie Evans and Laura McTernan in the deeper positions, meant Juli Castillo was able to get in some great positions in the attacking 23. It was through one of the attacking runs by Arias that the first goal came, in the end being turned home from close range by the serial poacher Emma Berry. The second and third goals soon followed, with Thurman scoring a similar goal to Berry, and Castillo deflecting a shot from Bournot past the keeper. By half-time it was 4-0, with Virginia also getting on the scoresheet.

The second half could have seen more with Claire Wright stepping into the back 4 to allow Townsend and Hemming to play higher up the pitch, but the number of goals from the first half could not be matched, and in fact only 2 more were scored, McTernan deftly flicking the ball behind her from a PC, and Liv Straw pulling down a cross from the right to then swivel and score. There was just enough time for Captain Evans to receive a green card for a poor recovering tackle, but another three points secured, and 4 wins from the first 4 games. The challenges will be tougher than this as the season goes on, but away at Bridgnorth is always a good place to leave with 3 points and a clean sheet.

Player of the Match went to Melissa Thurman for her goal, and her generally positive contributions both on and off the ball.