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MATCH REPORT BY MIRIAM DIRNHUBER

RESULT | WIN 3-1 vs London Wayfarers

GOALS | Jess Hood, Annie Howells, Freya Matthews

Revenge is a dish best served cold, and on a chilly Saturday afternoon the Women’s 2s fought their way to victory against bitter opponents London Wayfarers. Unbeaten but for the second match of the season, when Wayfarers had overcome an unrefined Southgate side, we turned the tables in Round 2 on away turf and secured a solid 3-1 win.

The odds seemed against us: not only were Wayfarers our only conqueror, but they had trounced West Hampstead the week before and the lurgy had absented us of sturdy defender Sheff. The opposition had forced their way through before with impressive speed and reaction, capitalising on counterattacks and sprinting into the danger area before we had time to act. Once more they showed the same zeal and were putting pressure on us while we were finding our feet. They were turning the ball over, attacking from the baseline, and winning short corners, but this time nothing came to fruition because of our famously impenetrable defending.
It is a marvel that no cards were shown, given the jostling and aggression both we and they were showing. Southgate settled into a rhythm and were effectively outletting with balls pelted up the sideline by our half backs. There were shots on goal and short corners, but it was Jess Hood who was the hero with an astounding reverse hit into the corner of the backboard. We finally had the upper hand and it was Wayfarers’ turn to be on the back foot.
Southgate were far from complacent at half time, knowing full well that all it would take was one mistake for the oppo to snatch an equaliser. And indeed Wayfarers, regrettably for us, scored early in the second half with a well-timed hit across the circle for an easy deflection into an empty goal. We had lost our advantage but not our hope, though we came terrifyingly close to a loss in one penalty when ultimate MoM Jennie helpfully deflected a shot towards her own goal, which was by sheer luck impeded by the keeper.
The tension was rising and both sides were growing more determined and brazen. Annie came to our rescue and with not long to go forced one over the goalline. Wayfarers reacted poorly and began to lose their concentration with passes ending up all over the place. It was not too hard, then, for us to penetrate the circle once again and for Ella D to assist Freya who scored the third and final goal. With less than ten minutes left, the home side were frantic and desperate and failed to achieve a comeback.

This game was one of the most satisfying of the season as we can now boast that we have beaten every team in the league at least once. Our spot at the top still holds with Barnes continuing to nip at our heels. This Saturday has Southgate away at West Hampstead whom we only narrowly defeated the first time out thanks to a disallowed opposition goal. Southgate must maintain their momentum as each match will become increasingly vital and as teams become more determined to knock us down, but with far and away the best defending in the league, we can hope to recreate our successes of last autumn.

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