Ladies 1s 2- St Albans 3

Ladies’ 1s travelled away to St. Albans at the weekend to face the current top of the league. Brentwood were after a revenge results having been beat at home, knowing that it was a tight game that they could have won some points from.

The team started the game very sprightly and caught St. Albans a little bit unaware in the first 10 minutes, perhaps they thought they were in for an easy game but it certainly was not going to be the case. Lauren El-Shafie (nee Simmons) returned to the line-up (having some time away from hockey to do an ironman none the less!) and the team welcomed back Marianna Alexandrou for another game. Team were sadly missing Lisa Payne and Anna Guida this week and of course our inspiring captain, Fran Hayden-Sims who was key statistician on the side-line. Upfront featured rotations between Bev Simmons, Lauren Blackburn and Lizzie Tyler who pressured the St Albans defence tirelessly, forcing errors from the home team. Albans soon turned it back on and pressured the Brentwood defence resulting in a penalty corner, which they managed to convert to take the lead. They pressured some more but Natalie Gilder, Haylee Adams and Zoe Hall were solid in defence and with keeper, Lorna Parsons, making an excellent penalty flick save to keep the Ladies’ hopes alive. Spurred on by this, Brentwood sprung back and with some excellent passing through their midfield between Beth James, Emily Walker and Lily Wiltshire caused Brentwood to maintain possession. Shirley Osmotherly- Hull helped create the first chance via some lovely 1-2 passing with Tyler who equalised for the away team before the half time whistle.

The Ladies’ were keen to get back on to the pitch, having gained some momentum back in the match. St Albans’ pressured Brentwood again with a few break away chances and created another succession of penalty corners, they managed to convert another goal. Brentwood fought back once more with the forward line pressing once again, Tyler won the ball in their quarter and after some passes in and around the dee, the ball fell for James who calmly flicked it in to the back of the net for another equaliser. The game continued to be played end to end with both teams fighting for the winning goal. Unfortunately, for Brentwood, this came all a bit too late in the game for St Albans who converted another corner with minutes to go in the match. Despite still pushing and not giving up to the very end, Brentwood’s efforts were sadly in vain.

Opposition and umpires were all very complimentary of the teams after the game, saying that the result could have gone either way and it was the toughest match that they have had all season, proving that the Ladies ‘probably deserved at least a point from the match and should very much be competing at the top of this league. Plenty of positives to take in to next week’s match at home against Waltham Forest.

Man of the Match went to Tyler for her constant pressure on the St. Albans defence and helping the team defend from the front line. Votes also went to Walker, Osmotherly-Hull, El-Shafie, Simmons and Gilder

Notable fines went to Hayden-Sims for her skills sticking tape on the back of shirts, both her and Walker are struggling with the “Bev/Beth” conundrum on the pitch (is it really that hard?) Osmotherly-Hull had a rather dramatic fall during the match and coach, Pilch, apparently “peed her pants” when we scored!