It was another blustery morning as the Divas faced off against Southwick. Having held the current top of the table Mile Oak 0-0 (and been unlucky not to win) the week before, the Divas were looking to go one better against a team which is always a closely fought contest.
The game would be played in two halves, and the Divas would kick off with the wind behind them. Whilst this often helps, there’s always the danger that through balls and longer balls will run on out of reach of our forwards, and this happened on the odd occasion. What was pleasing was the shape of the girls from the first whistle, particularly the backline. It seems our defenders are holding the line more naturally now, which is fantastic to see.
The Divas dominated large parts of possession I the first half and this was rewarded when Lexi spun onto a loose ball in the box and slotted past the opposition goalkeeper! 1-0 to the Divas at half-time with Holly hardly having a save to make. Some other notable highlights in the first half included a powerful run from Rose from one end of the pitch to the other brushing off anyone who got in her way, and a galivanting run from Isla, who really shone this week, down the right flank.
Into the second half and on came Aimee Mack and Lily for Lucy and Annie and Daisy in goal for Holly. The Divas would change their game plan slightly and look for balls into the channels knowing that the wind would hold the ball up. This proved the case when Diva of the Match Amy Kat slotted a pinpoint ball through the Southwick defence onto the running Nyah who coolly toe poked it past the goalkeeper! 2-0! More chances followed, and on another day it could’ve ended 3 or 4-0. A superb one touch sequence of passes around the box between Aimee, Nyah, and Lexi saw Aimee Mack unlucky not to get a goal. Southwick were also very unlucky not to get a goal towards the end as their battling forward line saw a shot go across the goal which the Divas eventually cleared. 2-0 the final result, and the coaches and parents could relax and breathe again!
There was no bad game by any of the Divas this week. They all looked so solid and battled from start to finish. It is so heartwarming to see how far they have come over the past 18 months. All the coaches are so chuffed for them. Amy Kat, who led the defence brilliantly, was Diva of the Match (a highlight being a meandering run out of defence into Southwick’s final third!). Special shout outs too to Isla who arguably had her best game so far, and to Annie who played in three different positions throughout the game and looked comfortable in each. She is quickly developing a football brain.
Well done girls. We are all so proud of you, and you should be really proud of yourselves too!
