In a thrilling encounter, Southgate Ladies 1s fell to a 4-2 defeat against a strong Barnes side, despite a spirited comeback in the third quarter that showcased moments of brilliance from the away team. The match began with Barnes coming out of the blocks quickly, putting Southgate slightly under pressure. Their high press and quick transitions caught Southgate off guard, and by the end of the first quarter, the home team found themselves 2-0 up. Despite the early setback, Southgate refused to be rattled. In the second quarter, Emma Postings stepped up with a commanding display at the heart of the defence. Her composure under pressure and ability to break up Barnes’ attacks was extremely commendable.

The third quarter saw a remarkable shift in momentum as Southgate found their rhythm, driven by the tireless work of Charlotte Kelly in midfield. Southgate scored a wonderful goal. Buoyed by the goal, Southgate continued to press forward, and just minutes later, they were level. As the teams entered the final quarter, the match was finely poised, with both sides pushing for a winner. However, it was Barnes who struck next, regaining the lead. Barnes secured the win with a fourth goal in the final minutes of the last quarter, even after a sustained period of pressure from Southgate. Southgate pushed forward in search of another goal, but couldn’t quite put the ball in the net.

Though the result was not what Southgate had hoped for, each one of the girls put on a great display of hockey. While Southgate were ultimately undone by Barnes’ late resurgence, their fightback in the third quarter showed the team’s resilience and quality, and they will no doubt take positives from this performance as they look to bounce back in their next fixture.