Ladies' 3s

 

Team Report 2007/2008 by Carol Fraser

We started the second half with a draw and a loss, which put the pressure on. We knew if we were going to maintain our promotion hopes we had a lot to do. But the team did an amazing job, rising to the challenge and winning all of the remaining five league games, including wins over the other promotion challengers, ESM and Preston Lodge.

Stats geek Captain Carol had worked out all possible permutations of the other team’s results and assured us we would be promoted on goal difference. But it was still an agonising delay waiting for East District to confirm that our season ending tally of 34 points from 10 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats did indeed place us second in the league behind Edinburgh University VI’s, narrowly pipping ESM to the second promotion spot.

We had less of a fairytale ending in the District Cup where Aberdeen Ladies outplayed us and we lost 6-1. But it was an enjoyable game and a great team effort.

Particular highlights of the second half of the season include:

  • The 3’s first ever win at Peffermill! 4-0 against Edinburgh University VII’s;
  • Katy Malpass’ first goal for the 3’s, followed by her second the following weekend;
  • A woman of the match winning performance from Cheetah of the 4’s against Boroughmuir;
  • Super Sam’s 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th goals of the season;
  • Lorna’s penalty flick against P Lodge to win promotion – just a little bit of pressure, but not a problem!

So after two seasons in Division Two, the 3’s are back in Division One. However, we’ll be going back without a few of our familiar faces. Past captains Katy Hawkins and Carol Fraser have both deserted to south of the border, while player of the season Katy Malpass is returning to her weedgie roots.

Nonetheless, we’re sure that the new Captain/Vice-Captain combo of CJ and Yvette will be a huge success and that the 3’s will continue their winning habits in Division One.

So it just remains to say a huge thanks to everyone that helped us get there:

  • Kerr, Darren and all the others who umpired for us;
  • Rach and the 4’s for making sure we always had a team;
  • Jen and the 2’s for inviting us to train with them;
  • Rhona for her expert advice;
  • Joanna, Michelle & Lizzie for putting on the pads;

And, of course, the team, whose commitment and desire to win is second to none.

Three’s – it’s been a pleasure!

Carol

First half of season


We may not have had quite the ‘on fire’ start of last year but the ladies’ 3s have still had a pretty darn great first half of the season – unbeaten since the first weekend, we have played nine, won five, drawn three and lost one. According to the East District website, this gives us 21 points. However, I fear their maths skills are slightly limited, or else in our division you now get two points for a draw?! Realistically, our 18 points is still enough to top the table, although the four teams below us could all go ahead if they win the games they have in hand.

Our standard of play has been a little up and down, a disappointing 1-0 loss to Inverleith at the start of the season was happily revenged with an 8-1 win just before the Christmas break, while a strong second half performance, which ensured a 6-1 win over Edinburgh University VII’s, was followed by a lacklustre draw against Ross High. Nonetheless, it’s been an impressive team effort, especially considering we lost so many of our regulars from last season to either the 2s or Australia!

However, losing them has made room for some very welcome new additions to the squad (Nikki, Lindsay, Sarah, Katy, Michelle, Katie & Maddy) who have all gelled well with the more familiar faces. Also impressive is our whopping 29 goals scored so far and, with only eight conceded, our goal difference of 21 is clearly the best in the division, and from past experience we know how important this could be come the end of the season. Sam Stewart is our star striker, with a fantastic eight goals from only six games. Also in the running for top goal scorer are Kirsty and Lorna, both with five. Sam and Lorna both notched up hat tricks in the last game before Christmas; a feat we hope they’ll repeat in the second half of the season – no pressure ladies!

All in all, 10 different players have all been on the score sheet – with CJ even managing to score one at the right end of the pitch this season! We’ve also had an array of ‘woman-of-the-match” winners, a different one each week until some sparkling forward play by Hannah Burns earned her two wins in two weeks.

In addition to our league wins, we also won our district cup match 3-2 against a physical Kelburne side. Thankfully, our first foray into the last 16 is at home, with Aberdeen Ladies having to travel to Tipperlinn.

A huge thanks as always to everyone who’s umpired for us; Kerr, Christopher, John, Katy, Jen, Sue and Helen’s sister! And, of course, to coach extraordinaire - Dickie.

So, all we need now is more of the same when it comes to commitment, desire to win and goal scoring. With a touch more consistency we’ll be back in Division One before we know it.