L5s vs Newent L3s – 01/02/2025
It’s been a little while since a(n) (in)famous match report from this resident traffic cone….so hold on to your hats.
Saturday saw L5s travel to Newent to play their L3s. Having had it drilled into every conversation throughout the week about bringing red socks to avoid a clash (literally every message started with the pre-cursor “RED SOCKS RED SOCKS RED SOCKS”, we embarked in the age old conservation of which is better when you forget your red socks – black socks or yellow socks.
Short on players, L5s hosted the return of a great in the form of Shelley returning from “retirement” to be in her words 0.25 of a player. Our lack of players meant that this traffic cone found herself playing CB (completely the opposite end of the pitch from what I’m used to) trying to remember the basics on how to tackle.
We set out with two clear aims – 1) put into practice some of the things we’d covered in training and 2) be focused form the beginning and try not to concede in the first 10 minutes (as is tradition). We succeeded to a degree with a sprinkling of glitter.
We started out slightly nervous against a well drilled Newent side, but started to put into practice some of the things we’d been working on, with some lovely use of the width, particularly down the left from Daisy, and getting the ball into the D. From the off Tigs in goal was, alongside Anwyn and Flo, giving this makeshift CB instructions. Safe to say with Tigs in goal and me in CB, it was a rather loud affair at the back. ;P Unfortunately Newent managed to sneak through and slot the ball into the back of the goal on the strike of about 10 minutes ish.
Having then settled into our usual rhythm of chasing the game, we started making some lovely play from the centre of the pitch where Clemmie, Abi and Molly held strong whilst Miya, Daisy and Phoebe used the width to try and create some space and run down the wing through for Erin, Lola and Shelley to try and slot the ball home. I dread to think what the heat map would look like for all of our midfielders as they ran their absolute socks off.
Play was back and forth with our defensive back line being called into action with Newent applying the pressure leading a heart stopping moment as the ball trundled along our goal line only to be hooked and kicked out by Tigs. (My fitness tracker indicated a spike in my stress levels at that point).
On the strike of half time, Shelley found herself having a little nap on the pitch, pre-empting the half time whistle after all the excitement just got too much. Despite the pressure from Newent, L5s went into the half time break at just the solitary goal down.
This week’s half time treats consisted of 5 bags of sweets – ALL of which disappeared which probably shows the L5s intent. Turns out you can have too many haribos at half time as that may have hampered us in the second half – 3 is clearly the magic number.
Coming out into the second half, Newent picked up the pace and pressure and exercised some really well drilled passing around us and scored a few times. One went in off my stick so in the style of a true forward I celebrated accordingly – I’m not fussed which goal I score in clearly.
Despite us conceding goals though L5s pressed on and maintained energy levels with their head’s up throughout. There was some lovely play up front as Lola took the ball and unleashed her inner lion to drive the ball around the Newent D but unfortunately it was stopped by their CB.
A few more goals went in unfortunately and we ultimately found ourselves 7-0 down at the end of the match, but that does not detract away from the play that was on display. Newent were well drilled, but I am one proud captain after watching everyone continue fighting until the very end. Each week we are learning and trying out new things to build upon our play.
Player of the Match and Brian the Lion nominations featured near enough everyone in the team with joint winners of POTM going to Abi and Clemmie (I think) and Tigs taking Brian home. Big shout out to Shelley for her first match back on the pitch after 12 years and massive thanks to our L5s Barny Army of supporters who week in, week out brave the weather to cheer us on and keep our spirits high.