L2s travelled to Ashby looking for revenge, after allowing a commanding lead to slip in the home game. The signs weren’t good when first we couldn’t find the changing rooms and then Lisa’s new match winning etch-a-sketch didn’t work, but once on the pitch, it was clear L2 were up for the challenge.

A strong start saw L2 carry the game to Ashby and we were rewarded with a well worked goal after good link play from a quickly taken 16 saw Caitlin, Jasper and Beth combine to take the lead.

The capacity crowd went wild. To be fair they would have done anything to keep warm!

The remainder of the first half was fiercely contested with neither side giving the other any time on the ball and both having chances to score and L2 thought they had extended the lead at a penalty corner only for Gabby’s deflected strike to be ruled out for being struck just outside of the D. Harsh!

By half time, L2 still held the lead and Lisa had finally read her etch-a-sketch instructions and got it to work (but too late to save her from another DoD award!). What a difference it made!

L2 dominated the start of the 2nd half with their combination of youth and experience too much for a good Ashby side to handle and, after a period of sustained pressure with several penalty corners, we converted through BFH’s follow up from a good save by the Ashby keeper.

L2’s supporters had seen too many leads squandered to relax with a 2-0 lead, but even they could not see Ashby finding a way back as L2’s defence soaked up everything Ashby threw at them and, even when breached, the indomitable Ira kept them at bay.

Then, out of nothing, Ashby broke and, after a goal line scramble, the ball somehow ended up in the back of the net. Game on!

However, no team can relax when faced with a forward with the pace and determination of Beth. A long clearance should have been easily dealt with just inside the Ashby half but the sweeper panicked under pressure and left Beth one on one with the keeper.

The crowd held their breath, but an excellent low save denied Beth her second goal…….for a few seconds. She coolly collected the loose ball and flicked it past the despairing defenders from just inside the D to break Ashby hearts.

Cue pandemonium on the sidelines and among the travelling support. A well deserved and hard fought win to take it into the half term break.