Report: 09-10-2010 – Ladies 2nd’s (2) vs. (1) Halifax 3rds

Buoyant after the last two weeks wins, Slazengers were in a good frame of mind for this game. Halifax attacked from the start and forced the Slazengers midfield and defence to work hard at keeping them out of their defensive 25 yard line. Slazengers quickly regained their composure and began to make some excellent passes and moves through the field, with Jessica Rudge and Laura Teasdale making some good runs. Slazengers then had Halifax under pressure but seemed unable to score as they kept firing the ball at the keeper rather than round her until Lydia Luxford eventually opened the scoring from a penalty corner. This was followed by another goal in open play by Jessica Rudge, before Halifax pulled one back leaving the score 2 – 1 to Slazengers.

After some positional changes at half time, Slazengers started the second half determined to score more goals. Nerys Rollinson and Sue Hope were working well together in midfield and fed some fantastic crosses into the Halifax D where Laura Teasdale scored in open play. Laura Teasdale followed this with another goal from a deflection during a penalty corner. Halifax then scored from a defensive break with a difficult to save goal in the bottom left corner. Slazengers then repositioned the centre defender Lydia Luxford to high centre forward were she proceeded to cause difficulties for the Halifax defence for the rest of the game creating numerous chances and some fantastic slips across goal which were narrowly missed by Natasha Wiper and Becky Stafford. Lydia Luxford then scored Slazengers final goal of the day bringing the score to 5 – 2. There were some excellent all round performances with Karen Bates filling in at left back, the ever reliable Helen Ramshaw at right back, Frankie Tyrell and Heather Bates in mid-field and some sterling saves by Lisa Chappell.

Well done again to the umpires for keeping the game flowing and to Halifax for making it such an enjoyable game. Next week Slazengers have a 12.00 game, home against Sheffield University Bankers.