After heavy rain over night the Scorchers arrived at Stamford Bridge, to find the sun shining and a pitch that was definitely playable.
With a number of players away, visiting prospective secondary Schools, Ella at an important Tai Kwon Do event and Amelia enjoying birthday celebrations (Happy Birthday Amelia From All The Team!!!!) The Scorchers had on Friday night a team but no subs!, then it got worse, with Ebony (hat trick hero of the previous game) injured after an argument with a stapler!!!
So first challenge was find a keeper, and find a team!!, and didnt we do just that!!! Georgia in goal was AMAZING!!!! With the pressure on and 6 v 7 the Scorchers defended to the last, Georgia, saved shot after shot, long range, short range, off the line, with feet and hands!! It helped to have Beth and Charlotte in fine form in defence, getting the ball away from goal kicks and ensuring the Stamford Bridge attack was foiled time and time again. Emma was captain for the day and must have covered every blade of grass in an action packed performance. Alongside on the right Alice threw herself in to the game, got some great passes in, made some attacking runs, and worked hard to get back and tackle when required. With Amber alone up front chances were limited, but Amber was a real threat every time she got the ball and had our opponents scrambling back to defend. Half time came and the Scorchers were one down, after failing to clear the ball in a packed penalty area.
Ebony by now had persuaded Mum that she really was fit (and desperate) to play, so with bandage and borrowed boots she was on!!! evening up the numbers and putting the Scorchers in the driving seat with wave after wave of attacks. The girls were shattered but kept on going, but Stamford Bridge defended brilliantly, and we could not find a way through. A long clearance found their striker clear as she managed to find her way past Charlotte and Beth giving SB their second goal and the game. Scorchers rallied but there was no way back.
An exciting game and real credit to our girls who gave it a real go and stayed in the game until the final whistle.
The second game gave an opportunity to have a break for Alice and Ebony with our new players Naihm and Chloe taking to the field in attack and midfield respectively, with everyone else staying in position. This game was evenly balanced with Emma going close to hitting the net, and Chloe having a shot saved, but it wasnt to be our day in front of goal. Naihm, looked a real live wire and drove the attack forward. Not surprisingly at times the girls lost the team shape, but hey they were having a whale of a time!!! and came off the field with huge smiles. The team kept a clean sheet and Georgia, Charlotte and Beth, looked composed when defending. Alice came back on for the second half and Amber took a well deserved rest. Players of the day were Alice who just keeps getting better!! and of course Georgia who really was great in goal.
Rebecca and Mike were again really proud of the team, 4 games, 1 win, 1 defeat and 2 nil,nil draws is a fantastic start for a new team. Well done girls!!!!!
