| Team | Ladies 5 |
| Opponent | Cirencester 3 |
| Date | February 8, 2025 |
| Result | Loss |
| Score | 1 – 3 |
L5s vs Cirencester L3s
And just like a London Bus….along comes another L5s match report from this resident traffic cone!
Today L5s were finally back home after what has felt like an absolute age since we last experienced the delights of Gill’s teas! Today playing Cirencester L3s.
L5s arrived early (well at least El Capitan did) to watch and support the M4s in their match. (And what a match that was too – can’t wait for that match report). 15 mins after our meet up time I was still a lonely L5s figure which saw my fitness tracker prompt me to “do some relaxation breathing.”
We had two main aims today….do not concede in the first ten minutes and enjoy ourselves whilst putting some of the things we’d done in training, into practice.
Short on defenders, this resident traffic cone once again stepped into the defensive D chanting “do not put the ball in the goal, you’re not an attacker today” as our only CB. I was joined by the now regular back line of Anwyn and Flo and Clemmie just in front as our defensive screen and Tigs in goal, competing with me for who could shout the loudest. VAR is once again required for that one.
L5s had a new line up leading the charge up front in the form of Shelley (who survived last week’s return), Seren and Molly with Gabby subbing in with fresh legs.
From the off L5s looked together and like we had some fight, grit and determination in us today. Cirencester were well drilled and experienced, but the midfield line up of Daisy, Abi, Kelz and Poppy took up the challenge.
Play was back and forth but pressure was being applied by L5s, running down those cannons and driving forwards.
Some lovely triangular passes in midfield up both wings and through the middle….Mission One : Achievement Unlocked! We were putting exactly what we’ve worked on in training into practice with great results!!!!!!
More than ten minutes came and went, at which point Tigs and I gave each other that knowing look…Mission Two : Achievement Unlocked! We’d gone through the first ten minutes and hadn’t conceded!
Now from this point onwards I have to say, I thought it’d all be a bonus, but even I wasn’t expecting what came throughout the rest of the game.
Starting to get the hang of some of this CB stuff, I made several “tackles” (I mean I put my stick in and won the ball so I’m counting them as that). Mission Three : Achievement Unlocked! This CF managed to tackle someone and almost looked like she knew what she was doing.
Cirencester kept coming back at us with some lovely passes and drives forward. At one point they sent a lovely ball into the D, only for it to bounce off the inside of the post and track along the line – cue slow motion matrix moment for the rest of us as Flo stepped up and reverse hit it off the line. Much deliberation but no goal. (Now as an aside L5s, that’s two weeks running you’ve given me a heart attack).
Finally Cirencester broke the deadlock late into the first half scoring one in open play. BUT…see my previous comment – NOT the first ten minutes.
L5s still looked dangerous in the D and through the hard work of Clemmie and Abi were running that ball up using the wings to get the ball in the Cirencester D. Almost on the strike of half time Clemmie turned the ball over on the edge of our 23 and ran it all the way down to the D. I watched in awe as the ball was crossed in and Gabby slotted it home in true textbook fashion! Mission Four : Achievement Unlocked!!! WE SCORED!!!!!!
Going to half time, muchos haribos were consumed (not as many as last week mind), a few things to work on and off we went again. Again we were under pressure but managed to keep the ball out and Cirencester at bay. Having got my stick to the ball and nudged it onto Kelz’s foot Cirencester had a short corner that they took straight strike and fair play hammered it home. Cracking short corner.
L5s though kept their heads up and we went again. Somewhere in the latter stages of the second half Cirencester scored again but L5s kept going, kept running and kept fighting.
Final whistle went and the end result was 3-1 to Cirencester….BUT….I could not be prouder of this team today. Everything that was asked of them, they delivered on and more.
“Success isn’t always measured in wins and points” – something a wise coach has said to me in recent weeks and it is completely right. The performance from this side today was absolutely brilliant!
Player of the Match received nominations for Clemmie, Tigs, Abi, Anwyn and Flo with Tigs squeaking ahead to take home glory!
Brian the Lion received nominations for Gabby, Flo, Myself (Traitors reference there ), Abi, Clemmie and Tigs. To avoid a three way tie we gave our assistant for the day Felix the casting vote so Abi took Brian home!!!
Massive thank you to our umpires Bill and Tom for putting up with me and the weather this afternoon. Big thanks as well to our Barmy Army of Supporters who are getting ever louder on the sidelines. In weather like that today it makes all the difference!!!!