Right that's it, we're not playing Wirral Hawks again. No way. Girls team, Ladies team, even their Old Age Persons team, not again. That's nothing against the Hawks players who are a good set of girls, nor Tommy and Glen who look after them and who we have a lot of time for, it's just that we do not get any luck. Don't do the lottery on the days we play them.
Anyway, back to the game. Nice sunny Autumn morning with nice views down across Victoria Park to the Mersey. The girls decided to use a novel warming up method. Play on the children's playground. Why bother stretching and jogging when you can swing on the monkey bars?
The team lined up with the ever impressive Lucie in goal and captain for the day; Ellie (wearing baby sized boots) and Emma at the back; Lily, Rebecca and Kiera in the middle; with the Wiltshire Wonder Caitlin up front. Elia and Lauren took their turns to start as subs this week.
Lucie won the toss and decided to kick up the slope for the first half. The team had decided that that was the best course of action hoping that the Hawks would be tired in the second half. Last season we decided the opposite hoping that we could bag a hatful in the first half and defend the lead in the second (that plan lasted 10 minutes).
And so the game kicked off with our girls kicking up the hill and it was all fine for a while. The trouble was that we couldn't get out of our own half and when we got the ball to Caitlin the support wasn't there. The Hawks got a goal and then another and then another. We had some great chances though and we tried to play the ball forward. Lily made a brilliant run and was given the ball from the left but was unable to beat the 'keeper. Elia had a definite penalty appeal when she was brilliantly through on the 'keeper but was brought down. The ref apologised that he didn't see it.
5-0 at half time but the advice was to press like mad for 10 minutes and try to get a goal back. The second idea was for Emma and Ellie to swap boots with Emma now wearing the size 2s.
The plan worked and we were awarded a penalty in the first few minutes of the restart following great pressure. Kiera bravely stepped up to take it but unfortunately hit her shot at the keeper. Kiera's head went down after that but she is an inspiration to the team and should let that miss affect her.
Lucie was in fine form again diving bravely at the feet of strikers and making a string of fine saves. Emma too was defending brilliantly making some last ditch tackles and setting off attacke with some great long throws. Rebecca was playing well in her wide position, making players twice her size uncomfortable with her persistence to win the ball.
Later Caitlin's bullet shot hit the post from a long way out with the keeper completely beaten. Ellie Riste had a couple of great runs from the back right into the heart of the opponents box but couldn't make her shots count and Caitlin on another break screwed her shot wide. Lauren put in an improved performance for only her second ever game and her enthusisam is infectious.
So we have to look forward to next week when we welcome Birkenhead Ladies (noooo nooo not another Ladies team) to Waverton for a 9:30 ko.
The final outdoor training session is this Wednesday 5:30-6:30 at Waverton with Heather.
See you there!
MOM - Kiera
