Old Silhillians 1st XI 1 - 0 Bloxwich 1st XI

Old Silhillians 1st XI 1 (0) - (0) 0 Bloxwich 1st XI

Goalscorer: Sophie Boyle

The Sils, off the back of only one loss since November (in fact, other than the Birmingham University match, the last time the Sils lost was the away trip to Bloxwich), the Sils Ladies had moved up to fourth in the table. Knowing that, if they won today, they could definitely leap-frog today's opponents, the Copt Heath side entered this match with almost a full strength side, displaying a great mix of experience and youth. With seven players aged 19 or under, this side has been developing all season, and with every team beating every other team (with the exception of league winners Bromsgrove, who have only lost to Sils and Harborne), this young side has been moving up the table steadily over the last few weeks.

Today was always going to be a different challenge though - Bloxwich are a physically strong side, and the one thing that the Sils do lack a little is physicality. However, from the start today, every body raised their game, and at the times when the team worked for each other and got their attacking press in place quickly, they were able to stop their visitors from playing, and created some great attacking opportunities. Whilst Sils looked stronger in the first 10 minutes, Bloxwich had the first real chance, Ali Williams making a sublime save to stop an excellent deflection from the elusive Bloxwich forward who had sneaked in at the far post. This was not the first time Ali was called into action, but she dealt with every half-chance from the visitors with outstanding confidence and skill - alongside assured performances from Jess Cox and Claire Wright showing why the side has the second best defence in the league, and has only conceded 3 goals in the last 6 matches.

Whilst Sils were never truly comfortable at all times, they definitely had better attacking opportunities, and the Bloxwich keeper made a number of good saves in the first half, meaning the score at half-time was 0-0.

The second half continued in a similar vein - Bloxwich looking dangerous, but not creating more than a couple of chances, Sils having more of the ball and the visiting keeper making several good saves, and there was a moment where the ball somehow did not go in after another good attack down the right from Sils - but the Bloxwich keeper and defence kept out a close range effort from both Priya Majevadia and Noreen Afshan.

The all important goal did come though, and from an avenue that was perhaps a little unexpected. With Ruth Dovey, Frankie Levey and Noreen Afshan having already had efforts from the top at a PC, Sophie Boyle stepped up and smashed home a straight strike to give Sils the deserved lead.

Both sides had further half-chances, but Bloxwich's "robust" defensive display, and Sils non-stop running meant neither side really had a clear opportunity after the goal had been scored, and the game closed out with another narrow victory for the Sils. With results going their way, the ladies also jumped above Birmingham University and moved into second. An unbelievable turn around from the start of the season, but well deserved for all the hard work that everyone has put in. This division is still insanely tight, with 2 points separating 4 places and still all to play for, but with this win, and other results in the National League working in Sils favour, this win does guarantee they will be playing in this division next season. Player of the Match was won by a landslide by Sophie Boyle - adding her goal to yet another stellar performance in the middle of the pitch.

The ongoing development towards next season never stops; though the highest finish for this Sils Ladies side in the last 30 years of league hockey is definitely something to celebrate! Well done to everyone involved.