New Year, New Oomph.

It was a bit of a dreich day as the Ladies 4s gathered for their first game of 2017, lamenting the mince pies, booze and other gluttonous behaviour that they had enjoyed over the festive period. Although the weather would get you down the mood was buoyant; Jodie ‘whip cracking’ Dunz was in her element taking on the role of coach/manager, a formation diagram carefully explained followed by a spot test of positions meant that the 4s were raring to go.

As we knew it would the game started at full pelt, the civil service held their positions well and were moving the ball around quickly and often at first touch. An early goal gave them confidence but the 4s refused to drop their heads, fighting back with some great linking play and cheeky runs up front by the two youngsters Cat and Elizabeth.

There was some frustration at the back about some of the calls being made by the umpires, but Tammy’s level head calmed the defence (i.e. Suze) down and allowed the flow of the game to improve. The 4s surged forward with plenty of possession deep in the blues half and it wasn’t long before our Man of the Match Julia was rewarded with not one goal but two!

As the weather worsened into freezing sleet the 4s fought on, keeping pressure on the blues and working hard to move the ball around them. A third goal followed, a shot by Aoife being deflected in by a defender, and now the blues were becoming irate. Watsonians kept their heads and defended well; Tammy’s desire to beat this team fuelled her tackles and helped her chase down their attack whenever they tried to break through.

A couple of chances with short corners missed, finally a straight strike by Suze was deflected into the back of the net to see the 4s settle into a comfortable lead of 4-1. The wind and sleet were slowing play down and a late goal by the civil service hinted horribly at a comeback, but thankfully they were out of time. Relief all round as by now we were soaked to the skin with completely numb hands…let’s hope the weather is kinder next weekend when we meet the 3s for what is sure to be an epic battle.

MoM: Julia
Thanks to Iain for umpiring.