Old Silhillians 1st XI 2 - 1 Wolverhampton & Tettenhall 1st XI

Old Silhillians 1st XI 2 (0) - (1) 1 Wolverhampton & Tettenhall 1st XI

Goalscorers: Frankie Levey & Lauren Hobday

After an enforced one week break, Sils were keen to get back into league action following their previous victory over Harborne.

The team welcomed back Georgina Dalby, who slotted into the team defence, whilst covering for Hattie Evans, who along with Maria Savage was arriving late, directly from a school match. Other than that, the side welcomed Lara Berardo for her first match of the season.

Knowing that they needed to win against the league's lowest ranked team, the side could not have had a worse start, with the visitors scoring with their first attack of the game, a smart turn and finish from the player who turned out to be their major goal threat, leaving Sils with a mountain to climb.

The home team did begin to improve though, and created several chances with Sophie Boyle in the middle of the pitch pulling the strings. Unfortunately, Sils were opting to attack down the left a little too much to truly threaten, plus the WAT's keeper was in good form (as is often the way with the bottom teams in the league). Ruth Dovey did manage to hit the post, but no other goals were scored by either side.

10 minutes before half-time, Anya Hemming had a ball crashed into her toe, and just on the stroke of half-time, she finally gave into the pain, and that was her match over.

This led to an enforced team change with Dalby stepping into the middle of the pitch alongside Boyle, and Sils set about getting the result they needed in the second half.

The work-rate increased, and the ball spent most of the second period in the visitors' half. With Ruth Dovey attacking strongly down the right, and Maria Savage and Lorna Brooks-Scott combining well down the left, if felt like a goal was coming. In the end, Captain Frankie Levey was the one to score the equaliser, a cross-shot from Dovey being latched onto, and whilst the keeper saved the initial deflection, Levey was onto the rebound and flicked him from close range.

The defence were working hard to stop any problems being caused by the direct running of the WATs centre-forward, and Ali Williams was called upon at times to make two or three important saves, but generally the back three were able to support the attacking purpose of the side, rather than just defend.

The winner came with about 12 minutes to go - a PC won by Dovey, and with Levey's "radar" off slightly, the option to pass the ball round the D was taken; a nice team moving meaning that after Savage had forced a save from the GK, Lauren Hobday was left with an open net to flick into.

The last 6 or 7 minutes were slightly nervy, but in the end, a deserved 3 points for the Sils Ladies, and back-to-back wins. Player of the Match went to Sophie Boyle for her industry and play-making in the middle of the pitch. Two important games next weekend could help the Sils move into a much more positive league position if results go their way.