Ladies 1st XI Vs Trent Vale 1

It was an autumn morning

Old Euan’s work was starting,

And in a High School goalmouth

By him sported on the site,

South Notts Ladies all in white

‘Twas a famous victory

A fine clear morning, with a chilly breeze, newly promoted South Notts Ladies came up against successful Trent Vale Ladies, always a challenging opponent.  Stern but fair. Captain Eleanor Wallace set us off with a rousing thumbs up. We trotted out full of hope, absolutely determined to follow up last week’s success v Southwell Brincliffe.

Euan had interesting discussions from time to time  with a Trent Vale umpire during  lulls in activity. Euan was asked how it was, with the players we have, South Notts had just been relegated down to this division. “On the contrary, we were newly promoted”. Wow came the response, South Notts must have “slaughtered” the opposition last season. Well, just a bit!

We were reviewing our South Notts forward line of Becky (Comet) Humphris, Lucy (Strike Force) Lloyd, Evie (Shooting Star) Bates, Ruby (Rocket) Ryan and Rachael (the Arrow) Grupping. The Team work and Team-understanding on display between them at that moment (and indeed through the match), was outstanding.

Speed of movement was much admired also.  Trent Vale are by no means slow, but particularly outstanding in our outstanding forward line were Lucy and Ruby.

Then we were watching the South Notts midfield of Caroline (the Incomparable) Brackenbury, Emma (Speedy Gonzales) Roberts, and Fiona (the Greyhound) Sweetman. Their speed and anticipation were formidable, creating opportunities out of nowhere, up in attack, tracking back in defence, on the move and giving Trent Vale a very difficult time, all the time.

Defenders Liz (the Fleet-Footed) Foster and Eleanor (Rock of Gibraltar) Wallace provided ever-watchful, doughty, and stern defence. Plus keeping an eye open for opportunities to pass forward into spaces where we were unmarked.  Taking advantage and shrewdly opening up gaps. Not being pushed off the ball.

Much admired by the spectators was the formidable Elizabeth (they shall not pass) Turner in goal. She seemed to create a StarTrek-style force-field along her goal line, to bar off completely the often spectacular strikes at goal by an ever-pressing and ever-insistent, highly competent Trent Vale.

No subs available this week so we just had to run our socks off. And we did. Everyone played out of their skins and it was obvious that the strength of our Team as a whole was and is much greater than the sum of our separate parts.

We ended up with Becky scoring 2 (one from a penalty corner, one from open play), Evie (one from a far post by lurking in open play) and Ruby (one from a pre-planned penalty corner tactic variation)

The significant score 4-0 did not reflect the closeness of the play and the fact that for much of the game the result was definitely not a foregone conclusion. The Team played brilliantly. Well done.