Edinburgh Uni 7s - Sundays are not for hockey

The girls gathered at a sunny Peffermill on Sunday past and were delighted to learn that we were playing on the ‘good pitch’. Standing chatting in the sunshine and with the benefit of the stand and clubhouse acting as a wind-break, conditions were almost Spring-like. Walking across to the dug-out on the far side of the pitch revealed, sadly, that it was anything but and the wind was bitingly cold. Warm-up done and team-talk completed, we lined up for what we knew would be a tough game.

From the off, our girls were clearly fired up and for the first ten minutes or so we were most definitely the more likely team to score. A couple of chances came and went from short corners. Would they come back to haunt us? Not more than ten minutes later we had our answer, as some slick passing up to the edge of the D and a neat through ball saw Emma come racing out of her goal to block the initial shot, only for it to fall agonisingly to another Uni attacker who dispatched the ball into the goal. 1-0 to Uni.

Substitutions were made and play ranged back and forward, but Uni were marginally more in the ascendancy and went two up with almost a carbon-copy (Google it, kids) of the first goal. 2-0 to Uni.

The midfield and defence held firm until the half time whistle blew and we were still very much in touch, but knew that we had to somehow switch it up as we were being given the run-around at the back by Uni’s attackers. Mel calmly dissected the first half performance and asked for 110% in the second half. (Nope, maths was never my strong point either).

Minutes later, the roof fell in and we found ourselves three goals down, courtesy of a sweet strike from a short corner.

Knowing that we were now PROPERLY up against it seemed to calm everybody down and we played some lovely hockey. Kate F was immense in midfield, playing almost on her knees to cut our passes and tackling aggressively. A through ball found Julia deep in the D and a neat turn and shot saw the ball smack the backboard, much to the delight of the players, the dugout and the assembled supporters in the stand. 3-1 to Uni.

Was this the start of the fightback? That’d be a no, as ten minutes later we fell a further goal behind. 4-1 to Uni. Clearly, our strong start and lots of running/chasing had taken it out of the girls.

Jen took a blow to the head when trying to intercept a ball and had to be taken off for ice to be applied.

Not long after and it was a weary team who walked back to the dug-out at the final whistle. We’d played well and given our all, but had just come up a little short on the day.

Bring on the next game!!!

Congrats to Lucy Trotter, who was awarded Player of the Match.
Thank you to Stephen Colliston for umpiring