Vixens Ease Past Tulse Hill & Dulwich

Ladies O35s 6 – 0 Tulse Hill and Dulwich O35s 

POM: Helen Waugh, aka ‘The Flamingo’ 

DOD: Jane ‘Let’s all do the Conga’ Willis 

When it feels like EH have looked at your social schedule and placed games consistently the day afterwards there needs to be a very active WhatsApp group the following day! (Roll on Southgate away after the Cocktail Party!) Many contributions were required to fill in the gaps in a match that more or less passed me by. I was focused on just trying to wake up and get my stick on a ball that seemed to be nutmegging me constantly. 

In a first half that was fairly uneventful (eh Sian?!) it was down to Taryn and her impressively white shoes to break the deadlock with a well-placed ‘pass’ into the goal.

Fuelled by wine gums, the half time team talk focused mainly on increasing the ball pace (not that much Sian) and asking me to be a little less hungover! I would to think that it was me following instructions that saw us go from a modest 1-0 to 6-0 by the final whistle.

Early into the second half Sian followed up on a rebound and unleashed a backhand that had Taryn diving behind the goalie for cover! It’s fine though, it missed everyone! The next goal is stuff of legend; Helen picked up the ball just outside our defending 23 and drove down the centre of the pitch and whilst THD continued to back away she finished with a rocket of a shot into the bottom corner. Helen then once again got her name on the score sheet with a tap in at the end of some frantic circle ping pong.

Meanwhile, the defence wanted to ensure everyone felt included and forced Annie into some superb one on one saves. Number five was old school hockey at its best; a good old whack into the circle (Sorry Wendy) from just outside the 23 and a deft touch from Jess to deflect it past the keeper. Number six saw some lovely build up play on the left followed by a pass towards goal that was neatly finished through her legs by Charlotte. 

Towards the end of the game when substitutions were being decided via ‘rock, paper, scissors’ the defence were increasingly called into action with some strong passing hockey from THD. However, they closed down their players quickly to ensure that THD’s shots went reassuringly past the far post to bag us a clean sheet.   

What better way to finish a very enjoyable match than the promise of a Sunday roast. The opposition had kindly booked a lovely pub up the road for some post-match food and drinks, an event that may have to become a new Vixens’ tradition! A thoroughly enjoyable start to the newly formed Masters London League!