Sloths 4 - 1 Tulse Hill & Dulwich (A)
By Emily Hughes
The Sloths headed over to Dulwich for our final warm up game ahead our big finale next weekend. A warm up was very much needed, given that January called with its five degree grey and windy weather. Numbers had been up and down - mostly down - all week, but we pulled in a couple of ringers and scraped together a squad of 12.
We arrived in dribs and drabs, Courtney and Laura’s keenness more due to diary mismanagement. Not sure Val has the same excuse for barely making pushback.
Helen took the helm as usual Sloth captain Charlotte was off drinking herself into a slumber on the continent. She stepped up admirably, confidently persuading half the team to play out of position. The game started, well, as you’d expect from a snuggle of sloths, rather sluggishly. THD capitalised, and got an early goal. Not perturbed, we settled into our positions, introduced ourselves to those we’d never met before, and started linking our play much better. Bestie took control of the middle, and was distributing balls left right and centre. It wasn’t too long before I received a ball on the left, Val and Helen made great leads, drawing their defenders who left the circle open for me to strike and pull us level. We had a number of short corners and a lot of circle entries, but went into half time at 1-1.
Back on for the second half, and we continued our dominance. Laura and Ellie kept calm and composed at the back, keeping a close eye on their high forward, and closing down any attacks. Courtney didn’t allow anything down their left, and Val and Struthie stopped their attack on the right and initiated many of our breaks down the left. After a number of build ups, Jo ran her usual circles round the oppo down the right, and slipped the ball to me at the top of the D. Our forwards leads again led to the seas parting for a rarely seen non reverse stick shot from me, straight past the keeper’s right foot. 2-1 up and dominating play, confidences were running high. Perhaps a little too high for me, and a late tackle wasn’t taken to kindly by the umpire who reached straight into his pocket. Play restarted, THD keen to capitalise on being a player up. A panicked call to our subs bench, “why are two of you off?” (I think just to rub it in) and my reply got me an upgrade. Doh.
Our defence soaked up a few fast attacks, and kept their cool. I hope you appreciate the overload practice I gave you. Back to 11 on the pitch, and we were back in their D. Some great skill by Jess on the baseline, and she found Ruth on the p spot - where else - to hammer in our third. Not long after, Bestie played a great ball into space on the left, I hit across to the back post and Jess smashed the ball into the net! A last ditch attempt to come back at us with a short corner on the final whistle, but nothing gets past Annie that easily and the game finished 4-1.
POM Emily - work rate, goals, running, humour and commitment to tackles
DOD Emily - ‘humour’ and commitment to tackles…