Sils taught a lesson at University

After making the trip to the big city to play the high flying students from University of Birmingham Sils were faced with a frosty water based pitch that was more like concrete, as a consequence the ball was lightening quick and a more than erratic bounce but Sils started brightly, not giving the ball away, making inroads into their opponents half and making most of the early running forcing the first short corner of the game although were unable to convert into a goal threat. Unfortunately this seemed to kick start Birmingham who started to wake up to the fact that there was actually a game on and they were soon into their steam roller game plan with swathes of attacking options becoming available to them as Sils were finding it difficult to cope. Despite at times good attacking play by half time Sils found themselves 0:4 down with a mountain to climb either to stop the avalanche or to get some respectability from the score line.

Determined not to get completely annihilated Sils took to the pitch with a much more positive action and with much of the early frost now leaving the pitch was freeing up much better and allowing a more flowing game to unfold. With the goal shy forwards still not hitting the mark it was the turn of the youngsters to show the way and within 10 minutes of the re-start Tamara Majevadia slotted home from close range to increase her tally as Sils current leading goal scorer and shortly later Amie Stainton scored her first for the 1’s, the fight back was on. At this point Sils were more than matching their high scoring opponents and causing them problems whenever they got wide and finding the soft underbelly of what is primarily a goal machine.

Self-belief and confidence was starting to flow back into the side and they were starting to play like they had in recent weeks. Birmingham did counter the onrush and managed to claw a further two goals back although the final goal in the last few minutes was rather fortunate catching even the scorer by surprise as the ball skewed off her stick in completely the wrong direction to the one she was aiming for.

All in all disappointing compared to how Sils can play when they are on song but a lot of the goals conceded come down to simple errors of not chasing back when the play breaks down and not closing down opponents quickly enough when in the D. Birmingham also displayed a more clinical approach in front of goal and were quick to look for deflections from short corners which did lead to two of the goals. However, nothing unsurmountable and can be dealt with in training drills but Sils shouldn’t be down heartened with the transformation taking place and with the imminent return of the commanding presence of Becky Bakewell due back shortly it can only get better.

MoM: Tamara Majevadia, growing in confidence and another goal to her tally.