Ladies 1s 0- Waltham Forest 0

Ladies 1s played Waltham Forest on Saturday, back on home turf. The team was the same as last week apart from Anna Guida back in the starting line up but unfortunately Bev Simmons got “Bev’d” at training. For those who don’t know what this expression means, lets just say that in the past, Bev has been known to break a few bones during training sessions with her hard hit!!! Hopefully she has a speedy recovery to return to the team next week! We were pleased to have Marianna appear in the squad again this week and had the pleasure of Izzy Wiltshire play for the team.

It has become a recurring start to the games with the forward line putting pressure on the opposition for the first part of the game and getting Brentwood off to a strong start. It wasn’t long before Lizzie Tyler starting to turnover balls from Waltham Forest along with Lauren El-Shafie, Lily Wiltshire and Lauren Blackburn. But akin to previous matches, the opposition soon got back in to the match and piled the pressure on the Brentwood defence. Lorna Parsons was a rock in goal, making a succession of saves in the first half and spurred the defence; Zoe Hall, Haylee Adams and Natalie Gilder, to keep a clean sheet this week. Brentwood still created chances in the first half and managed to win penalty corners, which they unfortunately could not convert.

Forest probably had more chances in the first half but Brentwood dominated the majority of the second half. Emily Walker, Shirley Osmotherly- Hull, Beth James and Anna Guida worked tirelessly in the midfield and were able to push forward to assist the attackers. Waltham Forest tried to catch Brentwood on the break a few times but the defence were solid as ever and the Ladies were determined to ensure no penalty corners were converted by the opposition. On the other hand, unfortunately, none of Brentwood’s chances could be converted but that did not stop the entire team trying until the final whistle of the game.

The game may have ended 0-0 but was a “brilliant match to watch” quoted the spectators and the umpires.

Man of the Match went to Lauren El-Shafie who created some brilliant attacking play and always looked to score for her team. Votes also went to Adams, Tyler, Osmotherly-Hull, Walker and Hall.

Dick of the day went to the Lily Wiltshire for thinking that the pitch was slippery due to the “slugs that were everywhere”. Also notable fines for Gilder, hitting Guida and the oppo with the ball, Guida managed to hit herself with the ball (it’s a skill), Adams for nearly scoring an oggy (all good as Parsons had it covered) and Walker for stropping on the pitch (she really didn’t want to lose!!!)