Ever improving 4th team!

Oh won’t I miss having to write these match reports each week ….. OK no I won’t but I will miss playing with a fantastic and for ever improving 4th team!

What a season we have had and although we didn’t win our last fixture we gave spectators and end to end match which could have gone either way against a strong Manchester University side and secured a vital point and overall 3rd place in the league table.

Jax Pheiffer started off with a powerful solo run resulting in an early goal which fired the University team into action and it wasn’t long until they pulled one back despite tight defending from Bernadette Pheiffer who played her first full game and Helen Taylor who has looked after that left back area consistently well for most of the season and endured my shouting from the goal!

The centre of the pitch was strong with Beth Sangster as sweeper, Jax Pheiffer centre half, Christina Bates and Nat Sutherland up front and a lot of play was fed up the middle but on occasions players just holding onto the ball a tad too long allowing the University to intercept play. The players did however inter-change position well to support one an other and to cover the ever attacking Uni forwards.

Susan Elcock stepped in last minute and played out of her normal defensive position as left wing and if I was giving the POM award it would have gone to either Susan or Rachel Owens (Right Half). Both gave 110% throughout a fast moving and hard game and were instrumental in many of the Stockport attacks on the University defence.

The University found the Stockport goal again just before half time from a penalty corner slip shot and the 4ths were down but not out. The second half proved an even harder game and drew on all the energy of the Stockport team who just had enough players plus Lisa Malpas who was just being introduced back into the game following a long and serious illness. Although on the pitch for two ten minute slots Lisa created some fine opportunities up the right wing linking well with Rachel Owens and Nat Sutherland, as did Fiona Holland who shared the right wing position with her.

Christina Bates persistence with playing the target position up front paid off with a goal bringing the score equal, although there were some very ambitious balls hit up field to her that I’m not sure an Olympic 100 metre sprinter would have been able to get too J

As the Uni team were not playing a traditional format it was difficult to man mark but Hannah Meadwell along with the rest of the defence read the play well and pulled out of position to help cover the mid. But there was a little bit of confusion in defence which resulted in a cross in from the Uni finding a player on the post again taking them in front.

Advantage resulted in a goal but it was disallowed as the visiting umpire just blew her whistle as the goal was scored and Stockport were unable to convert the resulting penalty corner. Undeterred play built up again from Helen Taylor deep in defence to Rachel Owens in mid finding Jax Pheiffer who didn’t disappoint and slotted in another goal making the final score 3-3.

I just have to mention what must be one of the statements of the season ... “I liked that team because they talked posh” ……. So let’s hope Beth Sangster gets selected for our ‘posh’ team next season – won’t matter if they win, just as long as they speak nicely :)

Throughout the season we have had a fantastic 4th team spirit, fantastic results and a fantastic high number of injuries :( but despite the injuries players have been versatile in playing various positions and never complained (well not to my face anyway lol) which has made my job as captain a lot easier. I have been very fortunate to have had a great vice captain, Jax and on occasions I don’t know what I would have done without her. It has been really nice that players have come down and supported the team even when injured and I think that has made a big difference in our game, so thank you to everyone who has done that.

I hope injuries mend in time for Summer League which you all enjoy and I look forward to next season with whatever team you play in as you will all be a credit to that team. Thanks for your support throughout the season, players and parents alike xx