Match Report : Jo Price

Result : Southgate 5 – 3 West Herts 4

Our fifth game of the season took us away to Watford to face a new opposition and therefore an unknown quantity. This week our team had a blend of youth and experience and the welcome prospect of two subs – woo hoo! So there were some moments of apprehension when late in the week Lynn and Jo were both struggling with sore backs and Kim went down with COVID on Friday. This was not least because we were fielding six under-16 players who would not be eligible to defend at short corners. Happily we made it with 12 and were relieved to find that our opposition were also playing with a significant number of juniors.

With Kathy kindly offering to manage the sideline we started brightly. The mids and forwards were controlling all the play, passing well and pressing the opposition’s defence and ten minutes in Mon was able to tuck the ball neatly into the back of the net. 0-1 . To this point there had been little opportunity for Herts to set up an attack and it was against the run of play that a fumble in our defensive D led to an opportunity for them to level the score. 1-1.

Bhu had now moved on to the forward line and was well positioned on the left post to put away a good cross from the right. 1-2. We had the lion’s share of possession but their back line were proving tricky to beat and it was only with with great perseverance that Emily J was able to find her way through. 1-3.

The home side were not lying down and increasingly began to create some lift in their hit-outs in an attempt to beat our press. A few minutes before half-time they were able to cash in on a defensive error. 2-3.

The second half began similarly to the first but rather than blinding sunshine we were subjected to a sharp shower. There was a period of stalemate before Sally took her chance to drive across to the right and catch the defence unawares by rifling the ball from the top of the D for a well taken solo goal. 2-4.

With a little tiredness creeping in and some frustration at decisions not given our way Herts were able to make a few more sorties into our D and were again rewarded when a moment of defensive indecision allowed them to snaffle a third goal. 3-4. With great determination it was Emily J who restored our two goal lead when she kept her composure to hold the ball in front of goal and calmly place it out of the keeper’s reach. Final score Herts 3 Southgate 5.

Well done to the whole team for coming out with our second win of the season which currently takes us to 2nd in the table( although a few teams have games in hand) and rewarded with our first away tea of the season!

The vote for MVP was a close run affair but our winner for this week was Julie Matsuo🥇for some great defensive play! 👏