By Zoë Wright

The women’s 2s had an exciting game ahead of them this weekend, facing a strong Saffron Walden side, away. After an impressive team win last week (that put us ahead of Walden by just 2 points) the girls were keen to put in another big performance.

Looking at Looking at their past results we anticipated a fast paced, end-to-end game (with walden having previously beaten top of the league Luton town 7-3!). The opening minutes proved our suspicions correct, with walden coming out of the blocks fast, putting 2 past us in the first 10 (oh dear) - both displays of excellent individual skill from their, quite frankly, rapid forwards.

However, two can play that game and we quickly realised that (with now absolutely nothing to lose) - the counter attack was very much on and we started to build some fire link up play, responding with some close chances - proof that there was still something to be had from this game.

We rode the pressure of Walden’s fierce attacking play, with goalkeeper sophie kiely making some big saves and keeping us in touch with the chance of clawing back a point (or 3?!).
Half time. Still 2-0. Our positive play had put Saffron Walden increasingly under the cosh, as we got the sense that we’re not quite out of this battle yet.

Growing from strength to strength, a quick break down the right falls to Emily Harley who carries strong and delivers a stunningly weighted ball across the top of the D - perfectly into the path of fast arriving Rosie ‘I’m going to do a goal today’ Bristow.

And that she did.

One touch and bang. Homegirl absolutely leathered it. Poor Saffron Walden goalkeeper had no chance.

2-1 and we we are SO back. With the oppo now losing their heads the minutes that followed were a blurr of nothing but their mistraps, sticktackles and all around panic as we pounced on their every mistake. With some incredible tackles from Kim kept us in the fight into the dying moments of the game.

A string of Loughts corners in the last 2 minutes had us on the brink of stealing a point - with a goal line scramble that defied physics by the ball not ending up against backboard, but somehow it was kept out.

The final whistle blew and Saffron Walden burst into huge celebration (as if they hadn’t been 2 goals up for almost the entire game lol - yet more evidence that they were absolutely bricking it against us - rightly so). Needless to say we look forward to playing them at home.