Just over a year to the day, Starlands played Warwick and lost to a last minute goal 1-0.
This year, Starlands were up for revenge.
It was a lovely sunny autumn day and Starlands managed to get 11 players to turn out v Warwick Angels.
Earlier in the week, I thought we were going to have to conceded..with Samantha visiting The Queen at Buckingham Palace and The Twins off on a Music retreat with school.
However, I managed to persuade a few to play and welcomed back Sinead..Our rock in defence.She was an ample replacement for Laurice - lookinglike she had been playing with Chloe for years!
It was only minutes into the game when we should have scored first...the shot from Rosie or Amber being well taken by the goalkeeper.
True to form, Starlands switched off for a minute or two at a cross and found themselves 1-0 down.
The second, was ridiculous!...but a valuable lesson to be learnt. A fallen Angel went down in the box following a challenge from Sinead. The Warwick girls were happy to play on, yet all of our girls went into St.John Ambulance,Mother Theresa and The Red Cross all at once! whilst we stopped and asked after the girls welfare - Angels buried the ball into the net. As the Referee blew for a goal - the picture on our girls faces was priceless...Even the Referee told them to play to the whistle!!!
The third was the usual failure to clear the ball in the defence.
3-0 down at the break was not catastrophic..we now had the sun behind us and the wind.We should have had at least two goals that went begging, but at least we were creating the chances! Grace was having her best game to date - working the ball up the flanks linking in with Amber and Rosie - who were showing great understanding and pace.
Kiera and Alex were getting stuck in -and Alex was determined not to let her winger get the better of her. Whenever she was beaten, Hafsah was covering!
Ruby, was playing in midfield - and in the second half was showing some nice touches.One thing she is not frightened of is to ask a question!...as The Referee will certainly corroborate!
Amber went off briefly - to rectify a jewellery problem.
Warwick went 4-0 up before our luck seemed to change...withing 10 minuted we had scored 3 goals!!!!!....YES....3 goals!...you heard it right!
The first was a splendid through ball from Sinead to Hafsah, who battle on from the half way line, stumbing and shooting and then following up the initial save to bundle the ball over the line..terrific determination! and The Captains effort seemed to galvanise the team.
Now, finally the girls knew they could do it!...hafsah this time put through by Grace who was playing some lovely touches.Again, Kiera,Jade and RUby backing up in midfield. The defence of Alex,Chloe and Sinead were playing brilliantly - covering behind and playing the ball out of defence too!
It would be rude not to comment on Warwicks last effort - a rocket of a goal from outside the box! Excellent effort!
We cannot forget our Brick Wall and last line of defence Holly. Now, I have been trying to get her to dive...today I am proud to announce SHE DID! and survived!
If she keeps this up...She will have another fantastic season.She pulled off a string of one to ones and without her Dad shouting...came off her line! Well done.
Back to the game, Amber got the third goal - yet another well taken goal. Both Amber and Hafsah could have got hat tricks.
Great effort girls...Proud of you all - and I predict WE WILL WIN when Warwick come to our place.
I also predict we WILL get a WIN before they visit!.....It's coming!!!!!!!! It's clear for ALL to see :)
