Strong Warwick side triumph

This was always going to be a difficult against a high flying Warwick side who had much improved since the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

Sils started brightly and initially enjoyed an even amount of play but Warwick were soon into their stride forcing a number of short corners with a number of variations which Ruth Dovey running number one managed to successfully close down. By now Warwick were flowing well pressing in numbers and operating with a strong defence and attacking in waves bypassing much of their midfield. Sils were pressed back into their own half with the defence having their hands full against the hard running attack formations and again found difficulty making headway against a well organised visitor defence. The pressure started to tell and the short corners conceded started to mount up and on 25 minutes from yet another short corner the first goal was conceded following a number of deflections and passes within the D with Sils unable to clear. The second goal quickly followed three minutes later with a well worked play and close shot evading goalkeeper Joanne Brett’s full length dive.

Captain Kat Berns issued a rallying call and in response Rebecca Leaning picked up a seemingly unfair green card for a period of over passionate play. Sils didn’t let the goals get the better of them and responded well but a shot from outside the D on 30 minutes took a deflection which ended up in the back of the net and a seemingly uphill struggle faced them as half time approached.

At 3:0 down the half time chat involved a change of tactics and this seemed to rejuvenate the team with a more positive attitude.

As the second half started SIls managed to lose the ball within ten seconds and were again guilty of lack of tight marking bringing unnecessary pressure onto themselves and a lack of determined pressing allowed Warwick to play the ball out of seemingly impossible situations. Five minutes into the second half a sustained Warwick attack ended in the ball being unfairly stopped on the line and a penalty flick was awarded. Goalkeeper Joanne Brett dived the right way narrowly missing out on the save. Still finding difficulty in getting past the Warwick back line Lou Hirons was pushed up front to add pace to the attack but even this tactic failed to return any rewards.
On the left hand side Georgina Jones was causing problems with the few attacks Sils made but eventually faded after getting bounced one too many times by the larger defensive cover in front of her. On the other side of the pitch Emily Green was orchestrating her stick wizardry and offered a glimmer of hope but although getting in to good positions was often faced with a wall of opponents to try and breach.

Warwick were probably the strongest opponents faced this year and were more determined on the ball, pressed hard and attacked in numbers although the second half was a better response from Sils it doesn’t get any easier as league leaders Uttoxeter visit next week.

MoM - Emily Green for another outstanding game covering vast swathes of the pitch, causing the Warwick defence problems and creating a number of chances.

DoD – Amy Perrow (second week running). Now Amy missed a game earlier in the season as she took and passed her trampolining instructors exam, well done Amy. So demonstrating her new skill to her pupils guess who messed up and injured her knee!!