Lessons learnt in narrow loss

LOUGHBOROUGH TOWN LADIES’ 3RD XI 1 OUNDLE LADIES’ 1ST XI 2 MIDLANDS WOMEN’S DIVISION 4 NENE / CHARNWOOD

DUE to lack of players at the start of the season, Town had to forfeit their first fixture to Oundle Ladies’ 1st XI. This meant they were going into the match unsure of what to expect from their opposition, but with Oundle only a place above them in the league table, it promised to be an exciting match.

The morning didn’t start as Town would have hoped, with three players pulling out of the game last minute, they were a depleted team down to only 11 players. Unfortunately for the Town 4th XI their game got cancelled shortly after arriving at the pitch, but this ended up being to Town 3rd XI gain as Molly Worthing, Zoe Stead, and Trishi Shah sped from Leicester to come help, arriving seconds before pushback.

Town started the game strong with some wellcoordinated passing up the pitch, but against the run of play, Oundle made an attacking brake. The defence managed to track back and put up a solid resistance. However, despite the whistle appearing to be blown for a presumed penalty corner before the ball had crossed the goal-line, Oundle was awarded the goal and went 1-0 up after two minutes.

Not long after, Oundle broke from their half again. Despite the best defensive efforts from Iris Broekhuijzen, Annabelle Page, Tara Vincent and Connie Rutterford; they managed to score a messy goal from close range and Town went into half-time 2-0 down.

Initially surprised by Oundle’s physicality, Town looked to pick themselves up in the second half. Town looked a re-energised side, winning penalty corner after penalty corner, but the oppositions defence held strong, until a deflection off a defender’s stick sent the ball to the back post where Vincent was waiting. She managed to slot the ball round the keeper, giving town their well-deserved and hard-fought goal.

Despite Town’s best efforts the game ended in a 2-1 loss. However, Town will take the lessons learned against Oundle into their two fixtures next weekend.