Our final league game

One more to go

On a beautiful sunny Saturday, the Ladies 2s travelled to league winners Loughborough. We knew a win for us or a loss by Boots would guarantee a 4th spot and therefore promotion. After the first game against the students resulted in a 8-0 loss, we knew it would be tough but not necessarily impossible. We went out with high hopes and some determination to come away with at least a point. Loughborough were determined to show they were the definite league winners and wanted to bounce back from a loss against Stourport last week. From the first minute, they put on the pressure. We couldn't really get out of our half and Loughborough clearly wanted an early goal. Through solid defending and goalkeeping, Loughborough were stopped from scoring, which seemed to frustrate them. Halfway through the first half, we found ourselves up the pitch and in their 23. An awful stick tackle resulted in a short corner for us. We didn't hesitate and took a 1-0 lead. As later discussed at the ladies dinner, it was like disturbing a hornets' nest and we were in trouble straight after scoring the goal. Loughborough didn't hesitate to pick up the pace and get back into attack mode. Another short corner found itself in the goal this time and we were looking at 1-1 at nearly half time. This would be a good result for us, if it stayed as such. Unfortunately, Loughborough smelled blood. They found themselves with another short corner and another goal from it, making it 2-1. Despite the looming halftime break, they didn't take their foot of the gas whereas we started to look a bit tired. Letting players go and not stepping to the ball enough resulted in a 2v1 against Jo C and Loughborough went into the break with a 3-1 lead.

Still, we felt confident. A couple more times in their half and we could get another goal or two, which was our second half strategy. Was it meant to be? Not today. We were also determined to not let them put 8 past us this time, which we did manage to do.

Loughborough carried on how they started and put pressure on our goal again. What seemed like a never-ending stream of short corners and chances on goal came our way but they only managed to score 3 more. We didn't really found our way up the pitch anymore and couldn't test their keeper like they had ours. The 6-1 result did flatter them as we didn't play terribly. They will do well in the Mids Prem next year, being as effective in front of goal as they are. Deserved league winners, but poor hosts after the match.

After our game, we found out Boots managed to beat Matlock 1-0, meaning we have to go into a playoff match on Saturday 13th April against Leicester 2s at Stourport, a morning game. It would be great to have people come along to watch as we can try and make our way into the Mids Prem ourselves, where we could then have revenge on Loughborough next season. We are still in this promotion battle, it just takes one more game. We can't wait to take on this battle! The dazzling mighty pink zebras are in it to win it!