Result: Won 5-3
Scorers: A Farrar x3, K Cooper, S Mitchell
The ladies’ vets team had their first match of the season, a friendly against St Ives from Cambridge as both teams have a ‘by’ in the 1st round of the national cup.
New faces in all parts of the field, Sue Mitchell up front, Sarah Burns, Nicky Thompson and Karen Gibson in defence and new captain this year Lou Acton. In the absence of Chris Cunningham and Marie Kirkham, Sarah Eager a youngster was also called up to help the newbies settle into the action.
The greens took the lead early with a nice passage of play from midfield to Farrar who hit the ball sweetly and beat the keeper with power. The opposition then had a spell of possession and pressured the defence, creating confusion and scoring an equaliser. Fires in thee green’s bellies meant pretty much from the restart, Cooper drove from the midfield to receive a well timed pass and slotted the ball away to regain the lead.
More pressure from the opposition, utilising their extra midfield player well, they pressured the keeper before slotting the equaliser in on the far post after some frantic defending. St Ives scored again with a well taken penalty corner slipped past the defence and into the net. They took the lead for the first time.
Half time talk from Captain Acton, a few technical discussions and renewed fire in the second half meant Chelmsford came out fighting.
Solid passing around the defence, good passing through midfield and upfront could have meant a handful of goals, but the ball kept going just wide and not hitting the sticks of the runners on the post, and the keeper made some great saves.
Persistence paid off and the two games over the weekend started to show for many players. Fresh legged Cooper (no game Saturday) and ‘just keeps running’ Wilkinson started to dominate the midfield, with Fulcher pushing from defence, St Ives were no match and Mitchell scored a wonderfully taken goal on her debut, Farrar then took advantage of the tired defence to slot away her 2nd and 3rd goals.
A lovely afternoon of hockey in the sunshine with friendly opposition. Players of the match Emma Fulcher and Karen Cooper.
On to the cup matches we go.