With Captain Morgan on international duties, multiple injuries, illness and assorted life events we were reduced to just the bare 11 to go up against H&MH who fielded a squad of 14. On a bright note it was lovely to welcome Linda McCormack to the team for her first AAs match. Newly selected Welsh international Claire ‘Barbie’ Brant stepped into the role of Captain and owing to a bum injury – so to speak – played at the back with strict instructions that everyone else had to do all the running. With the fab team of Lesley and Dave officiating and with Gill and Hilary (Hils) Hull encouraging on the side we set out to strut our stuff on pitch.

H&MH started brightly but we soon found our stride with a lovely pass from Bobby Bowen to Linda, Linda down the right line to be picked up expertly by Nicky. Nicky raced forward to square it to Jackie in the D who released a cracking shot, that was unfortunately well saved by the keeper. Immediately after a hard pass from Carmen into the D caught a foot and gave us a short corner. A fine strike from Jackie was a tad high and a 16 awarded. H&MH struck back with an attack of their own. A SC won and a fine strike saw us concede a goal. 0-1 down.

Undeterred we resumed play, Bod showed off her skill-set with a lovely little lift over the opposition stick. A skill she would successfully demonstrate throughout the game and shortly after a long corner was won. The game swung both ways and Oli delivered some penetrating long balls up the field including into our attacking D. As we flagged a little H&MH got the upper hand with numerous attacks. Claire cleared a short corner of the left post and soon after cleared a more central shot. Hayley was in the thick of it saving numerous attempts. One shot on goal hit the post to be soon cleared away by a strong kick.

We regrouped at half time, had a chat and gathered our strength to go again. The difference in squad size began to tell and Carmen and Lenny worked their socks of in Midfield trying to keep us in it. Andy and Nicky kept tearing down the wings and everyone kept going right to the end. Long, strong balls from Oli, Carmen, and Lenny, helped create chances with Jackie guiding the forward three in developing attacking play. H&MH gained a free hit and worked the ball into the D, Shot, goal. 0-2. Heads held high we continued with our task, Jackie took a quick sid line ball. Travelled 5, sent the ball into Andy, who got a lovely touch on it to send it goal wards! GOAL. 1-2. The opposition complained and tried to call for a 16, claiming, I assume, that there wasn’t a touch in the D. However it was clear and obvious to us on the Side and Dave the umpire so the goal stood! Celebrate those goals ladies! The game now felt more tense. Could we equalise? We certainly tried but H&MH won a SC in the last 5 minutes and with a very nicely worked zig zag slotted it home. 1-3. With only the dying minutes of the game remaining H&MH got lucky and snuck a final goal in, leaving them with a rather flattering final score. 1-4 loss but a fine goal by Andrea and a solid, if tiring, team performance from all.

We missed you Lynne! Plus all our other team mates. Fingers crossed for next game. Check your diaries - 15.2.2026!

Team: Claire Brant (Captain), Hayley Lyon, Oil Staples, Louise Bowen, Nicky Davis, Lenny Petrakova, Jackie Parsons, Carmen Coerzee, Sue ‘Bod’ Lane, Linda McCormack, Andrea Macdonald, Team Manager: Gillian Clegg. Spectator extraordinaire: Hils Officials: Dave Brant, Lesley Mitchell.

PoM : Lenny 5-5 votes, Oli 3.5, Hayley 1, Andrea 1 & Claire 1