Slazengers Ladies 3s had a home fixture in their penultimate game against a Pickering team with whom they were looking to repeat their success from earlier in the season, when they had been victors in a closely fought battle.

The game started well for Slazengers with the ball finding its way into the Pickering penalty area on a number of occasions. However Slazengers couldn’t find the finishing touch and were unable to capitalise on their early pressure. Pickering began to battle back, with quick fluid passes that eventual resulted in them taking a 0-1 lead. Slazengers made efforts to equalize, but it was not to be when the Pickering attack quickly pushed forward and secured their second goal.

The slazenger half-time team talk had the desired effect, and they came out beginning the second half much as they had the first. Pushing forward they forced a penalty corner within the first 10 minutes. The push out found the stick of Linda Stacey who powerfully struck the ball onto the stick of a Pickering defender, the ball deflected into the path of right winger Louise Beever who pulled one back for Slazengers with a sweep that lifted the ball high into the back of the net. Slazengers kept up the momentum, finding themselves in the Pickering penalty area on a number of further occasions, but yet again, were unable to find the backboard to even out the scoreline.

The 2 goal gap was eventually restored by Pickering. A 1-3 defeat for Slazengers in the end, but they should consider themselves unlucky, in what was overall, an evenly matched game. Player of the match went to forward Lauren Fealy.

Slazengers ladies 3s made the long journey to North Yorkshire to face a Pickering side in a rearranged Sunday fixture. Slazengers started the game the more positive of the two sides and their attacking start was rewarded with the first short corner of the game. In a well executed move the ball was pushed out and stick stopped at the top of the penalty area, with a little nudge it was placed into the path of the falling stick of defender Sarah Ritchey who, with a clean strike, scored her first goal for the club and put slazengers 1-0 up.

Slazengers followed it up with another well worked goal in free play 10 mimutes later, with a move that was finished off neatly by Karen Woodhead to put Slazengers 2 up.

The comfortable lead was short lived however, as Pickering upped their game to bring the score back level and take the 2-2 scoreline into the half time break.
Both teams started the second half with further end to end attacks which resulted in a further 5 goals being scored between the two teams.

The further goals for Slazengers came from Ellie Page, Louise Beever, and with centre forward Karen Woodhead scoring her second of the game. Despite Pickering pulling one back everytime Slazengers pulled ahead, time ran out for them when the final whistle blew and Slazengers took all 3 points with a well earned 5-4 victory.

After defeat in their first league game Slaz 3s were hungry for a win and came away from Pickering with an impressive 7-3 win. The ladies started strong with player of the match Frankie Tyrrell in her new central role holding and distributing well and pushing forward to take Slaz into the lead in the 5th minute. Pickering came back catching the Slaz defence off guard with a quick free self pass from just inside the 25 making it 1-1 after 10 minutes.

Three more Slaz goals followed in quick succession, with Slaz making the ball do the work to beat the opposition. Frankie again in the 12th, Becky Townsend on her debut found the net in the 17th and sub Ingrid Coughtrey made it 4-1 by beating the keeper with her first touch having been on the pitch for 30 seconds.

Pickering came back after half time composed and fighting, scoring 2 from perfect edge of the D strikes in the 47th and 54th. But Slaz remained strong and focused and showing great skill continued to move the ball round the tired Pickering players. 2 goals from Claire Dunstan and a second from Becky took the final score to 7-3 Slaz.

Slazenger travelled to Pickering for a tough encounter against strong 3rd place Pickering’s 1st team.

The horbury side’s younger side had some good posession and created several opportunities, however the strong Pickering team attacked multiple times, forcing some hard fought defending from the visitors.

Slaz struggled to penetrate the Pickering defence and were unable to capitalise on the opportunities they created.

At the other end, Pickering wore down the defence, finding the net 4 times.

Slazenger did have limited success, with Donna Wood netting 1 in response.

The visitors fought hard, but unfortunately the scoreline ended 4-1 to the home side.

In a fast paced, end to end thriller, it was the hosts Slazenger who came away with the win.

The whistle blew and Slazenger’s were on the offensive from the off. The ball was distributed out wide by Katie Brown to a waiting Jess Holland passing it to Gemma Whittam who took it into the D and had a shot on goal. A defensive mistake from the visitors gave Slaz the short corner. After a strong push out from Holland, the ball fell to Lisa Minchella who’s strike was unfortunate to miss.

However, the strong start gave Slaz the spirit they needed, leading to the first goal. A Pickering attack was halted through the work of Captain Julie Finch and Mandy Field at the back, feeding the ball through to winger Alex Gilbert. A cutting run set up Chelsea Armitage for the cross, allowing Holland sweep it into the back of the net.

Pickering stuck back almost immediately, but a great save from keeper Chloe Bates kept them at bay. However on their second attempt, Pickering were successful and secured the equaliser.

Slaz took the lead again through another well worked short corner. This time, Lisa Minchella burried the ball in the back of the net, to make up for the earlier mss; 2:1. However, this was cancelled out by an equaliser by Pickering minutes before half time.

The home side started the second half as they had the first, with some hard work by Hannah Field and Chelsea Armitage forcing a defensive mistake and winning another short corner. A slick routine layed the ball off to Armitage who fired the ball home, putting Slaz ahead again.

Their fourth was created from a single handed effort by Julie Bacon, setting up Gemma Whittam to pop it into the bottom right corner: 4-2.

Slaz thought they had put the game beyond doubt after Whittam securing the 5th. Field and Gilbert put in some superb tacking to win the ball and set up the waiting striker. Slazenger’s created more chances which came to no avail with Julie Bacon, Chelsea Armitage, Hannah Field and Becky Gummerson all narrowly missing the goal.

However, the game was far from over, with Pickering scoring two more within minutes. The clock was with Slaz, as the game ended, giving the home team the win. Player of the match was Alex Gilbert for playing superb on her debut for the Horbury side.