These girls can…………

A re-arranged league game held on a school night, what could possibly go wrong as Chairman Steve brought his high flying Leamington team for the return encounter having won easily earlier in the season. However, as the night unfolded Leamington quickly realised that this was nowhere near the same team they had encountered the last time they met.

Sils had managed to gather pretty much the whole first team squad together for this encounter and were up for the challenge following Saturday’s win. The game started at a frenetic pace with Leamington being given little time to settle in to their normal measured passing game of stroking it around the back line looking for openings. Sils were once again hunting in packs with the Dalby sisters causing havoc down the left hand side with their electrifying interchanges and twisting bodies leaving the Leamington midfield chasing shadows. There was no let up for them further up the pitch either as both Molly and Lauren on either wing were showing great pace as they ran down the defenders pressuring them into mistakes as well as feeding the hungry forwards looking for any snippet on goal. The game was centred around the middle with Leamington being dangerous on the break with Jo called on to dispatch the ball on several attempts.

The first short corner didn’t materialise until five minutes before half time which was defended well by the marshalled Sils defence with Sils gaining one of their own right on half time.

As the half time whistle blew there was a chance of a quick respite as the girls were asked for greater effort in the second period, to continue the pace and intensity, and to remember to continue to defend. Well the message certainly had an effect as within two minutes of the restart Leamington had broken through the backline Jo saved the first attack coming in but this was quickly followed up by a second attacker to slot the ball home to provide Leamington with the lead. Sils recovered and carried on playing as they had in the first half with Molly covering well wherever she could but within ten minutes a slip and hesitancy in the defence allowed Leamington to nip in and extend their lead from close in.

Normally heads go down and it is all over but not anymore as the girls carried on their attacks in the only way they know how, a full on assault. Annabel went flying down the right hand side on yet another nitro fuelled sprint and pulled the ball back to Amy who smashed the ball towards the far post where Tammy had arrived just in the nick of time to deflect it past the static keeper, the fightback was on. Chances were now starting to emerge and as one of Tammy’s shot went hurtling past the keeper Fleur narrowly missed out on the equaliser. Leamington were still dangerous on the break and the defence needed to b vigilant but by now Jess was playing in a slightly higher role and was orchestrating many of the attacks. Sils were soon awarded a hit for an infringement close in and the ball was slipped to Jess who unopposed stepped into the D and creamed it with perfect timing, flashing through the goalie before Leamington knew what had happened, game on.

The pace of the game saw no let up in pace with Leamington trading goal threats and concentration couldn’t drop without getting punished. Sils were called on to defend a frantic short corner as the ball was moved around the D with bodies flying everywhere in an attempt to keep it out with Kate to the rescue as the ball was steered off the line. But with time ticking on Sils gained another short corner which was injected at pace and found the stick of the reliable Ruth who had sufficient time to thunder it into the bottom corner for a well deserved lead. The team were estatic and kept going to the end still creating chances but by now Leamington were so frustrated they were actually screaming at each other although this didn’t seem to worry Sils as they were still flying around at pace as the substitutions were continued to role on and off. Right on the final whistle Sils were awarded another short corner and with the game won the lead could not be extended any further and so ended a dramatic night at the Heath.

An emphatic win against a strong, well drilled team. All of the squad had a apart to play and they can all take pride in what they have achieved it seems a long time ago when they were getting hammered in the first game of the season, so much has been learnt since then. Just hope the homework didn’t suffer too much this night.

MoM: Jess Jecketts for holding the middle together and when called upon pushed up in the second half orchestrated many of the attacks and thundered in her goal with perfect timing launching the comeback.

DoD: Well when you turn up late, wonder around in your work clothes for ages because you haven’t bothered to get changed and then fall over on the Astro because you still have your dolly shoes on there can only be one winner and for the second match running the honour falls to Amy Stainton, bless.