It was a warm summers morning in the midst of autumn. The ladies 1st team descended to the battle field, closely followed by Hannah’s size 9s. The warm up was fierce and fast. Folkestone started the game with a fire in their belly, quickly winning a penalty corner. It was close, but alas, no goal! Maidstone ramped up the pressure and caught us on the back foot! With some slick defence and clinical passing between Jo and Erin, they managed to shepherd the ball up the field. A flurry of shots on target enabling Chrissy to sneak the first goal past the keeper. Back to the start. Maidstone start strong again, whizzing the ball round the back lines, trying to find away through our formidable front line. Maidstone make a break, putting pressure on Helen, shot after shot. But access was denied. A good clearance from Erin out to Steph, adding pace to the game, slipping the ball down the line to Becky, pinning her ears back, she stepped up a gear and sifted through the defence, lifting the ball to Chrissy who found Liv tending to the space in the d, passed it on where Liv spaghettied her way around the defence, crossing back in front of the goal to find Chrissy once more, swoosh… another goal! Some now thick and fast play, coach Nicki chipping away at the defence directing the ball to Em Hamlyn… making easy work of the defence and showing her silky smooth skills, Hammy bedazzles her way through the d, lifting the ball at pace, but off target to meet the Stick of the hat trick hungry Chrissy! The half is closing in…. But one more before we rest our weary souls. With tenacity, we attack once more. Jiving through Maidstone, like a billiards table, Liv skidaddles herself into the D, tapping and a sliding, left right left right (looks up, that goal hanger is there - she can’t have another) Bosh… back of the net.
Half time descends on us, some words of wisdom from Nikki and Ali… it could feel like half an hour or an hour they said…. It was cursed. Energy escaping from us. Short corner after short corner. Finally they scored… just the one. Hannah becomes the first to be wounded, but fear not, she remains in one piece.
Digging deep in tank, Ops step up a gear one more. The squishy footed Helen defends the goal from a peppering of shots. We had three short corners, but luck was not on our side. Meg wriggles her way into the d sneaking beneath the defence, diving to the floor as she shoots and scores The longest hour drew close…. Could they get one more! Becky Wyatt once more with her trademark “down the right wing” across to Ash, back to Jo, back to Meg deflected off the keeper, chipped in by Chrissy … not before an accidental knock to the shin (which was unknown to be illegal). Ops retire with a 6-1 victory.