Women's 4s 3 - 1 Wapping 2s (H)

'The Last Hurrah'

When you start in September the season always feels so long, but by the time you get to March, it’s gone in the blink of an eye. With absolutely nothing on the line for either team and us not quite willing to sing, “You’re going down, we’re yelling Timber” too loudly in the changing room next to Wapping, we did start the team talk with some DJ Carole tunes in our favourite changing room number 1. Conspiracy theory is that Emily got there at 8am to secure it.

Not only did we get changing room number 1, we also got pitch number 1. No idea what favour Emily pulled for that one… especially considering we were due to be offsite until very recently.

We’ve picked up a few new traditions in the second half of the season; one is backyard cricket for the warmup, the other one would be Tegan rolling up after… rolling in. The backyard cricket is arguably the one that has reaped greater results with three wins from three. Today was no exception with Surbiton starting strong, moving the ball around and I have no doubt we would have found the kind of flow that led to six goals last weekend had the umpires not had other ideas. You can call me bitter - I am - but the umpires were so influential in breaking down the flow of the game that it became fairly unenjoyable for both teams.

At some point the in the first half Carole had a shot on goal from a ‘find a friend angle’ which the keeper saved but only managed to clear it to Emily who slotted home her first goal with a reverse sweep (you shock me) from close range. Herbie then kept her pressure on the league’s Golden Stick by adding to her haul this season. She will be frustrated not to have further added to this whilst the goalkeeper was lounging around on the floor outside the goal but unfortunately those posts seem to have got wider for Herbie this season (conspiracy theory number 2) as once again she struck the upright. Two goals and two cards for us in an eventful first half.

Despite having plenty of pressure on the opposition’s D, including Maddie making her way in for a shot on goal, it was not until the opposition had clawed one back with a moment of weakness from us that we kicked back into action in the second half. A switch of ends and umpires meant that Emily could now get away with her two touch injection to the top for Carole to drag flick her way to an excellence celebration that once again tested the recovery of those ribs. I am sure Chandler is owed the first of next season - it’s a heated rivalry, which we are all here for. Final score 3-1 and a well deserved fourth place in a league where you certainly didn’t want to finish mid-table this season with four teams going down. 

With Player of the Match votes going to a wide number of people it showed the important contributions that people are making around the pitch in every game this season. It was not quite the sensational game we all hoped for in terms of showing how far we’ve come this season, but the social after the game showed the camaraderie that has been created by our two illustrious leaders. I have no doubt that the highlight of the day for the youth, and Emma Chandler, is that they absolutely whipped us (oldies and Carole), in a boat race - Sunny really struggled with that sparkling water! Player of the Match went to Emily for her tireless running and a top finish for the goal.

As for DOD, potentially Emily could’ve made it two from two by knocking one of the opposition’s towels into a pool of water in the showers, hanging it back up and running off as if it never happened, however apparently the umpire had had enough of me answering his questions in the dug out and sent Emily off on my behalf - that seemed to win it - I believe that was conspiracy theory number 3.