A very disappointing 0-5 loss against a side we beat 3-0 the first time around. Although the score-line was flattering to Thurrock, we certainly didn't play our best hockey.

We weren't helped by some frustrating umpire decisions at one end of the pitch and maybe we let these get to us more than we should have done. I'm not sure exactly why we weren't on good form. Maybe, thinking this was a game we could win (for a change),we tried to force the ball forward when the pass wasn't on, or when there weren't enough players forward, rather than keeping possession and working the ball forward constructively and accurately.

MoM was spread about quite widely, as usual, but Amy topped the count. A mention also for Dottie, who had a go at a forward, and made a decent stab of it, despite being repeatedly stick-hacked.

Generally, it wasn't that people didn't put in the effort, but it just wasn't our day.

What is to our credit though - in fact throughout the season - is that we maintain our supportive (to each other) approach, on and off the pitch, whether we win or lose.

Jane