South Herts 2s v Luton 3s

28th March 2009

Following a late start due to a nasty injury in the preceding game, South Herts were raring for their final game of the season. Winning first push back, South Herts had a wobbly start against a multicoloured Luton team who failed to take into consideration a kit clash, struggling to keep possession.

The first 20 minutes was a quite evenly matched game with Luton pressing South Herts' defence with some strong attacks and often overrunning the South Herts defense due to dodgy man marking. However, Karen Lawson kept the defense strong at the back and a confident performance from Gronia Morley in Goal kept Luton at bay. Herts, however, were determined to turn the game around and following a few promising attacks Chris Field got the rebound to get South Herts' first goal of the game.

With confidence growing, so too was the accuracy of passing and team play with some lovely work through the middle by old faces in Kerry McCann and Michelle Niblett. This worked well with Shelley Farmer and Claire Pollit allowed forwards Esther Strous and Sarah Withers several futile opportunities on Luton keeper. For a while, it seemed luck was against South Herts but following a short corner injected by Chris to defender Karen slipping it left to a waiting Esther who calmly found the back board to take Herts 2-0 up going into half time.

Going into the second half South Herts were confident in their own performance and worked hard to keep their lead playing some strong passing hockey, coupling this with tighter man marking and good communication South Herts completely dominated the game. Rebecca Partridge worked hard to keep Luton's strongest threat, a very talented centre forward, at bay. Thus, allowing South Herts ample freedom to force the game into Luton's half for the majority of the game.

Spending more and more time in Luton's D, Alison Dale and Claire Pollitt pushed forward to back up the attack which meant Luton struggled to get out of their own 25.

Juniors Beth and Rebecca, following a season of training in the youth section, newly coming up into the South Herts put in strong performances, well beyond their young age and experience were extremely unlucky to score on several occasions and will do well next season.

South Herts were extremely unlucky not to score any further goals in the second half and it was not for the want of trying that’s for certain, but alas it was not to be.

It was a lovely, well tempered game to end the season on and an excellent performance by the whole team, a thoroughly deserved win.

Goalscorers: Chris Field and Esther Strous