Old Loughts Ladies 2’s didn’t make it easy!

On a cold, dreary Saturday Old Loughts ladies 2nd team travelled to Hertford keen to make it 3 wins in 3 games.

A fast paced game from the off, we begun well passing the ball across the back line of Laura, Alisha and Dottie with confidence and speed. Hertford had a strong press and continually forced Old Loughts to transfer the ball from the right side with Dottie, back across the back line and out to Kim on the left. Kim made some beautiful runs up the left of the pitch linking well with Heather in the middle. Our first goal came from some brilliant, quick passing by the mids up to the forward line. Cerys provided a wonderful assist, taking it around the baseline, not before pinging it back across the D to Kayuki who was ready to pounce.

Georgia made some glorious runs up the right and into the middle just before the half, breaking through the Hertford defence many times. Kaz kept calling and running but we couldn’t find that second goal. Anna “the Dingz” Dingle showed everyone what a quality aerial looks like (not for the first time) and was a constant attacking threat for us whether she played left or right side. Rachel “I play all positions apart from in goal” Paddon worked tirelessly in the middle trying to ensure that Hertford did not break through the middle unchallenged. Both Rachel’s and Anna’s defensive work in the second half was excellent with them both having to mark players who had serious legs on them that could run run run!

Hertford were constantly threatening an equaliser and it came close when their forward went 1 on 1 with Emily who pushed her just wide enough, diving spectacularly on the floor (and not getting a touch on the ball!) for Alisha “no goals are going past me today!” Evans got back and defended the goal line. Shouts of “get up!” could be heard, so Emily bounced back quickly in case of a second attack!

We went into the break 1-0 up but, we had let our marking lapse some what and were making hard work of the 1-0 lead. Cue some half time Ozzie Lingo Bingo where he told us some important messages - “man mark, comms, comms is marking, have you got passion? Don’t leave your player and outcomes,” to name just a few.

We started the second half positively but were caught out when Hertford streamed forward in numbers into the D, Rachel cleared the initial shot into the lower leg of one of Hertford's forwards - expecting the whistle the Loughts defence were guilty of stopping, and an interesting umpiring call of playing "advantage" allowed the Hertford forward a free shot and an equaliser. Deflated, but not down Old Loughts continued to make attacks forward. Kayuki made some beautiful runs with Cress playing quick passes back and forth which lead to Georgia and Cerys being able to get into the opposition D for an outcome. We were awarded a (one of what felt like six in a row) short corner and Kaz injected precisely to Laura. Laura slipped to Cerys who made a cracking shot that their keeper saved. Georgia was ready to pounce, securing the ball with a quick pass to Kaz who smacked it home. 2-1. Game on!

Legs were getting tired; people (Georgia) were falling over; players were getting injured (Rachel) but that did not stop Old Loughts. When Rachel’s hand was injured she went off for Dottie. Dottie, our stand out man of the match, made so many fantastic carries forward. She ran with the ball, she passed the ball and she ensured we kept possession. We kept searching for that third goal which meant Hertford would break through quickly but Heather, Laura and Alisha were not having any of their players coming through unchallenged. Alisha and Georgia team tagged a Hertford player in our D with amazing jab tackles and comms to ensure the ball did not come through to Emily for a shot on goal.

Finally our moment came. After another quick bout of attacking short corners, Cerys scored in the 69th minute. Cress worked hard in our own 23, securing the ball and driving out for a fantastic pass to Kaz down the right. Kaz ran quicker than the speed of light it felt and lost her player. She beat two Hertford players to pass across the D to Cerys who was waiting to slap it in. A thoroughly deserved goal and win for Old Loughts.

Next week we take on Crostyx at home. Will Crostyx be able to continue their unbeaten start to the season or will newly 5th placed Okd Loughts be able to make it 4 wins in a row?