| Team | Ladies 5 |
| Opponent | Stroud 2 |
| Date | November 2, 2024 |
| Result | Loss |
| Score | 2 – 8 |
Lansdown L5s vs Stroud L2s – 02/11/2024
It’s the end of half term and I think it’s safe to say half term hit us hard in L5s as, unbeknown to me at the time, a least half of the squad suffering with illness or lurgy of some sort with some not 100% sure they weren’t going to unleash their breakfast onto the pitch during the match. When you know that ahead of reading on or seeing any scoreline, our performance is actually quite impressive.
We had two half-time treats managers on duty today, although I’m not sure the deputy was as diligent as the senior manager, after I had to ask her to refrain a number of times from eating said half-time treats.
L5 started off nervously and hesitantly – much more than we had in previous games this season and we paid the price early on letting in not one but two goals in the first 7 minutes. This is not unfamiliar territory for us in L5s though as we often like to give opposition a head start.
It was the wake up call we needed as the ship, under Liz’s on pitch guidance as I was unable to play, steadied and we started to pass around a bit more and the play was a bit more even. Our defensive back line of Liz, Lottie, Miya and Anwyn with Livvy in goal were kept busy but kept Stroud at bay. We also looked more promising up the other end of the pitch with some lovely link up play between Abi, Amélie, Eva, Erin and the two Daisys, winning short corners and getting some shots off, even if they weren’t converted.
Unfortunately we were caught on the break on the back post with some well worked textbook play from a well drilled Stroud team right before half-time and we went into the half time break 4-0 down.
Some things to focus on from me in the half-time team talk before the team headed back out again. Another Stroud goal went in (I can’t really tell you much about it as I was faffing with the notebook rearranging the subbing plan), before Eva scored another screamer, diving reverse stick strike into a forward roll sending the ball into the backboard. Craig Revel-Horwood commented that it was FAB-U-LOUS and a good 6.4 for artistic merit on the forward roll, however improvement to be had on the dismount. ;P
We pushed on and continued to try and catch a break, Agens on the left-hand side was tenacious in “being annoying like Jules and Rich” sticking her stick in to get the ball off the opposition.
A couple more Stroud goals went in before, at which point we switched up the formation to try and give us some additional attacking options, which worked better. Eva sent another one home into the goal before Stroud scored their final goal.
Final score was 8-2 to Stroud but what did we learn…..?
· Not our best match, sometimes it’s just one of those days, but everyone gave their all until the very end.
· No-one vomited on the pitch and everyone made it out with the contents of their stomachs in tact.
· Turns out I am not as loud as you might think as Clemmie was so in the zone she didn’t hear me shouting when it was time to sub.
· We have some work to do, but let’s not forget the step up from Severn Division 3 to Severn Division 2 and we are able to hold our own, we just need lady luck to go our way a bit more now to start to turn that into points.
· We had a decent number of us back to teas which was amazing!!!!!! Keep it up L5s!
Player of the Match had nominations for Liz, Eva, Amélie, Abi & Livvy and the winner was Eva for that incredible goal.
Brian the Lion had nominations for Daisy C, Amélie, Agnes, Clemmie, Livvy, Eva, Liz & Abi (so you could arguably pop the whole team in there) and the winner was Livvy for some sterling work in goal (I will bring Brian to training for you Livvy).
Big thanks to David and Tim for umpiring and for our ever growing barmy army of L5 supporters for their encouragement and shouting from the sidelines. We’re going to chalk this week up to experience and come out fighting next week.