Mis-communication!

With late notifications of players not being able to play the 5ths travelled to the Armitage Centre a player short and a players dragged out of their sick beds to play full of coughs and colds!  On arrival the pitch booking was 1/2 hour different to the email both teams had received which turned out in the 5th teams favour as their umpire was at Reddish - mis-communication!

The game eventually got underway in very cold conditions after a stop watch was eventually found on a mobile - what did we do before we had mobile phones!  Although a player short Stockport started the stronger side and applied pressure straight from the first whistle.  Some individual skills from Natalie Sutherland was breaking through the Didsbury defence but just lacked a little linkage with the other forwards.  Leah Perkins worked hard on the left midfield pushing up supporting Justina Maddocks on the wing and speedily getting back to support the defence.  Julie Plant and Alison Turner were outstanding in defence given both were ill wrapped up intending to play back but found themselves being drawn further up the pitch and then getting back to defend - paying the price with a coughing fit or few minutes to get their breath back!

A save from Andrea Boulton in goal fired the ball beyond the 25 yard line finding Natalie Sutherland who drove the ball right up the pitch into the oppositions circle and fired a shot on target finding the back of the net - Stockport went 1-0 up.

Just before half time Didsbury passed the ball up the right wing and as Julie Plant went to play the ball clear a tackle sent the ball high over the goal keepers head into the goal giving Didsbury the equaliser with a little bit of luck.  Half time score 1-1.

Playing a player short caught up with the Stockport side and although the better side in the first half of the game some of the pace and momentum was lost in the second half of the game.  Didsbury on the other hand came out with determination and played a lot of balls down the centre of the pitch keeping Sally McRoberts and Natasha Getcheffsky busy closing down play and channelling wide.  Didsbury made a determined run and it paid off with a second goal.  This lifted their spirits and dampened Stockport's.  Natalie Sutherland received a blow to the hand taking the Stockport team down to 9 players but they raised to the challenge and fought hard to keep Didsbury at bay who secured a few short corners in quick succession.

Didsbury scored a third goal and although Stockport had their chances they were unable to find the back of the net so the game ended 3-1 to Didsbury.  Thank you to everyone who played given the short notice from being asked either Saturday night or Sunday morning to the game at 1.30pm. 

Player of the Match - Leah Perkins, well done!