Slazengers ladies 1’s travelled to a very cold Driffield this weekend. However team spirits were high after a good team performance the previous week.

Driffield made the better start and very quickly sneaked in two goals past the Slazengers keeper. In classic Slazengers style, it took the first ten minutes or so to warm up to match pace. Once the team had, we began to make it extremely difficult for the strong Driffield side. The forwards Helen Hough, Ellie Page and Jessica Rudge did a fantastic job of pressing their defence and forcing errors from the opposition. The second part of the first half solely consisted of Slazengers attacking in the Driffield half. Despite many shots from the forwards and even some attempts from Ailish Hendry, the ball did not want to go in the goal.

In the second half Slazengers did not give up, and the final 5-0 score line did not reflect the ladies performance. Driffield were a strong side but Slazengers more than held their own. Lily Miles had a good debut performance but man of the match went to Sue Hope who had a great game controlling the centre of the pitch.

Newly promoted Driffield travelled over to Slaz with an unbeaten record to date and an experienced team containing at least 4 North Masters players. However they came up against a Slaz side who were determined to come out with something for their absent Captain Kelly Whittam after her inspiring email read out in the changing rooms.

Slaz started well and though the early part of the game was very even, they put Driffield under constant pressure and forcing errors until a strike by Helen Hough was finished by Jessica Rudge to give the home team the lead. After this Slaz seemed to grow in confidence, defending capably, passing the ball around and keeping possession well, resulting in on form striker Jessica Rudge scoring a further two goals to make the half time lead 3-0.

It was pointed out to Slaz by Men’s Club Captain Paul Wiper during the half time team talk that although they were doing well they ‘hadn’t won yet’ and Slaz were mindful of this, setting out in the second half. Some excellent attacking play in midfield by youngsters Hannah Field and Olivia Dovernor enabled Slaz to score another 2 goals. The fourth again by Jessica Rudge and the last goal by newcomer Daisy Gee-Sanders who ‘helped the ball home’ much to the annoyance of the star striker who wanted 5 to her name! The fate of Driffield was sealed, despite the opposition getting a consolation goal they looked no match for the Slaz team
today.

A fantastic team performance with great work in all areas of the pitch and very difficult to single out any player for man of the match!

Next week sees the annual trip to Hull where Slaz will be hoping to maintain the great work rate and team spirit in the next game.

Slaz went in to the second game of the weekend knowing that they could make it mathematically impossible for Driffield to overtake them and make it more likely for their opponents to be relegated. However there was no room for sentiment and as we know from this league, being bottom of the table does not necessarily mean an easy game.

The first goal was not long in coming – the short corner conversion rate was improving and and injector Amy Smeaton scored her first goal for Slaz as Amanda Sowerby drew the defence and passed it back to the far post. Despite Driffield coming back strongly, with some good linking play from their North of England Masters players, Slaz scored from yet another short corner. This time Amanda Sowerby followed up to put the ball in the back of the net. Driffield showed that they were still in the game as they scored to narrow the deficit to 2-1.

The second half was a close fought affair with Driffield putting more pressure on Slaz until youngster Hannah Field calmly slotted the ball past the Driffield keeper (who had an excellent game, denying the Slaz forwards many opportunities). The final score was 3-1 to Slazenger and left them three points closer to safety.

Slaz were very happy to be re-united with the minibus for their trip to Driffield and hoped that they could soon erase last weeks’ disaster from their minds with a convincing win. However the day didn’t start very well due to a flat tyre and the team were delayed in setting off. Fortunately there were no further incidents on the trip apart from a slight scare for Chauffeur Mills (and potentially the rest of the passengers) on the bridge at Howden; but they arrived safely at Driffield.

The late arrival did not seem to disrupt them from their routine of starting strongly, the home team seemed to invite Slaz to attack their ‘D’ and didn’t seem to have any answers to the newly changed formation. Slaz put on lots of pressure and were quickly rewarded with their first goal, subsequently scoring a further two in an excellent first half. Goal scorers were Sarah ,with a brace from Captain Helen Hough (who had only that day been given a revised target to meet this season by Coach Woody). Slaz were playing some great hockey and went into the half time break at a comfortable 3-0.

The half time team talk encouraged Slaz to improve their goal difference and soon after the start of the second half a decent strike from Katie Browne found the back of the net. This was followed quite quickly by player of the match Helen Hough’s hat trick (which she swore was not poached from Amanda Sowerby but was ‘just making sure’). After her goal, the captain soon retreated to the bench to view how the team was playing and observed a further three goals being scored by Hannah Field, Katie Firth and Sarah Hobbs to bag Slaz a creditable 8-1 victory. Thanks go especially to GK Anna Vessey for all her vocal assistance, Hannah Field for her strong first team debut and finally to Driffield for providing the nicest teas in the League. Next week sees a home clash with newly promoted Leeds Ladies who to date are having a very successful season (and have already beaten Dragons).

After the 3-3 draw last week Slaz were looking for a win and repeat of their 4-1 success in the Driffield away fixture earlier this season. Unfortunately due to players being unavailable/injured Slaz only had 11 players from their normal squad and were forced to rely on the goodwill of the 3rd team for the subs bench. Katie, Alex and Hannah are to be congratulated for performing admirably given the step up in the level of hockey they had to face.
 
The home side again started strongly after some worldly wise words from the injured Amanda Sowerby (definitely not a sapper) and once again were the first on the scoresheet when a strong strike from Sarah Cooper was tipped in (allegedly) by Jessica Rudge.

Slaz continued to attack with a high amount of possession with some superb driving runs by Sarah Hobbs and Driffield’s attempts to attack were thwarted by the defence. Driffield were denied an equaliser as Heather Bates made an excellent save on the line. Slaz then went 2-0 up as Ailish Hendry fired an unstoppable shot from the edge of the D but allowed Driffield to come back and score before the half time break to bring it to 2-1.
 
The second half started strongly again but Driffield were determined to pull back their defecit and soon narrowed the gap to 2-2. A period of frantic end to end play saw Sarah Cooper put Slaz ahead with 10 minutes to go but unfortunately some minutes later Driffield were awarded a flick.  Goalie Eleanor Townend who was recently selected for England Masters Team, disappointed the opposition by going the right way to make the save. However when play continued, Driffied took advantage of some defensive confusion and levelled the scores once more. Despite Slaz sterling final efforts the game ended 3-3 but the plus side was that this is enough to take Slaz to 6th place in the table. Man of the match was jointly awarded to Claire Mills and Eleanor Townend.
 
Slaz now look forward to a double header against Roseberry and Newcastle and much welcome the return of Hayley Wood to the line up.