| Team | Ladies 5 |
| Opponent | Gloucester City 4 |
| Date | March 8, 2025 |
| Result | Loss |
| Score | 2 – 5 |
L5s vs Gloucester L4s – 08/03/2025
On International Women’s Day, it only seems fitting that this resident traffic cone took to the pitch with the phenomenal group of women in L5s!
Fresh off the back of a brilliant performance last week in the sunshine, this weekend it was positively summer – the sun cream was out and everything.
L5s had a chaotic warm up to say the least, meaning several of us had barely touched a ball before we got going, but we set out with the same two aims as last week – enjoy playing our hockey and put into practice what we’ve been learning in training, with the small stretching objective of try not to concede in the first ten minutes. Joined this week by two legends, L5s stepped onto the pitch having given the loudest roar of the day…..even by my standards it was loud.
Structure was good to start with and despite an early goal of two for Gloucester (one of which I knew nothing about until it sailed past me whilst I proceeded to block Tigs’ view), L5s were looking strong and up for the fight ahead. The defensive line of myself, Anwyn and Lottie, with Tigs in goal held off pressure from the well drilled Gloucester forwards, passing the ball out and linking up with the midfield line up of Clemmie, Abi, Daisy, Miya and Flo. (Big shout out and well done to Flo in her first match for L5s – making it look like she’d been playing with the L5s family for years). Our first short corner saw me “break early” and sent to the half way line – let’s face it at my age running 1, I need that head start to have half a chance?
Our midfield worked tirelessly to get the ball up the pitch to the forward line of Seren, Becca, Kelz and Erin to pressurise the Gloucester defence. After a prolonged period of short corner wins for L5s, Becca converted getting L5s on the scoresheet for multiple weeks running. Cue one almighty screaming cheer from me at the back who could only just about see that it’d gone in (may need to get my eyes tested).
Half time came and went with our newly appointed Half Time Treat Manager Luke springing into action handing round sweets and oranges galore. Few things to work on and off we went again. Gloucester came out strong and put pressure on early whilst L5s were still thinking about all those oranges, scoring another goal before we again settled into the game.
There was some lovely play, some crunching tackles, some genius passes and runs by L5s in the second half, we got in the D and when we did we often came out with the upgrade. This is massive for L5s! We were taking the shot and hungry for that goal. More and more short corners ensued before worked the ball and got it in the back of the net – now unlike the first goal this one got a muted celebration from this resident traffic cone – NOT because it wasn’t a good goal, but because I was talking and I missed it. (Sorry Seren).
Gloucester continued to pile the pressure on and had a lovely mid-air goal that there was no stopping, but L5s continued right until the end. L5s kept pushing on and fighting to get the ball up the pitch and press for another goal.
Final score was 5-2 to Gloucester, so again another scoreline that really doesn’t reflect the performance we put in, BUT this group of women (most of whom are of an age where I’m old enough to be their mum) are nothing short of inspirational, and on International Women’s Day, it feels only fitting to say that. Some have only started playing league hockey this season, the rest only started last season – to put in the performances that they are each week, to show the drive and determination week in, week out to keep going in this league and to encourage their team mates to do the same is nothing short of brilliant.
Big thanks to Toby and Tom for umpiring and to the every growing and ever vocal (seriously I love it) barmy army of L5s supporters on the sidelines for cheering us on. At least this week it was good weather for it. I’d also like to give a big shout out to my helpers each week who take the nominations for POTM and Brian the Lion, so thank you to Pseudo-Vice Captain Abi (she didn’t ask to be vice captain but has naturally fallen into that role as our actual Vice Captain is MIA due to work commitments) and Daisy – who also both had infectious giggles during the warm up.
Player of the Match saw nominations for Seren, Flo, Miya, Tigs and Anwyn with Seren taking home the glory.
Brian the Lion saw nominations for Tigs, Flo, myself (how very Traitors), Abi and Miya with the team taking pity on me and sending me home with Brian. Luke has promised to give him a change of scenery though this week as we all know I’ll only forget him next week.
What was lovely today, having spent the entire day at Casa Del Brockworth was seeing so many of the Lansdown teams come together, cheer one another on and enjoy some cracking hockey!!!! It’s days like today that really show why this is such an awesome club! #hockeyfamily