Match Reports - 13th Feb

Sun, 14 Feb 2010

Mixed D v Cushags

In the absence of the Captain due to his leisure commitments in Portugal, Sarah “I’ll come out of retirement just for you” Clague set about organising the team for what promised to be a bruising encounter against a strong Cushags line up.

We started with 8 outfield players and a keeper; the Captain was quick to deploy Little Chris Killey in the sweeper role in front of a back three comprising the aforementioned Clague, the dangerously effective Shauna Kennaugh, and the not so nimble (due to his 93 year old knee) Mike Flowers. Midfield was anchored by the reliable and ageing eighties throwbacks Graham Shimmin and his sidekick, the slightly more reliable Mark Osborn, complimented by the youth and vigour of Alice Henderson and Oli Lockley. The captain was jet lagged and sat out the first 15 minutes and let his charges step into the breach and face off what we expected to be an assault from all sides.

By half time, thanks to some awesome goal keeping, defending, and athleticism we were only 1-0 down. Then moments later, just when Cushags thought they had the makings of a depleted Valkyrs team, young Lockley started his run. Past one, through another, he hopped, skipped, and danced around two more.  The decisive pass into a crowded D found his Captain who coolly rounded the keeper and stroked the ball into the bottom corner with his reverse stick.

The second half was tense, and very close at times. Karren Reid was sensational in goal all afternoon but made some fabulous saves late on to keep us in the match.  Report by Tim Groves