Ladies 3rd XI Vs Buxton 1

DERBY 3RDS 2 -- BUXTON 1STS 1

Obviously today we found our ideal conditions, as we paddled freezing round our pitch. With our lowest average team age for ages, youth told as we notched up a well earned win. It was always going to be a hard game as Buxton play a similar fashion to ourselves, with big hitters, skill, accuracy and speed!!! (well they have.) Seriously, once we started passing to players in blue, this was a good performance. Alex and Ella found so much space wide, that we attacked there many times, while Skully gave us the stability and drive we normally lack in midfield. Sadly Buxton scored first when Heather found herself marking 2 players and they squeezed the ball in on the near post.

Half time, with sour jelly babies, and a serious team talk. (personally would have preferred a whisky.) We had had most of the play first half while they created the better chances. Now we turned effort into results. The first goal came from a penalty corner. Jan injected,Tracey passed it back to Skully who buried it. An even contest followed, though for once it wasn't all in our defence, but enough to make Rach look brilliant, as usual. Jackie put in a goal saving tackle and Heather GK made several good saves. Towards the end Odders and I were willing the ball to stay down the other end and settle for a well earned draw, but no. Another penalty corner. Jan out, Heather passed right to Tracey who lifted it neatly to deflect in off a defender's stick. A crazy, uncontrolled 5 minutes followed from which most of us were happy to hear the final whistle. (If only to get in out of the rain!)

Thanks to Ali and Biff for umpiring a somewhat tetchy contest, and to Mum, Dad and husband brave enough to stand on the sideline, in the deluge.

MOM votes. Theresa 1, Rach (what do you have to do to win?) 2, but won easily by Ella (what it must be to be young, fast and skillful) with 7 votes.

Val