Saturday 15th October
Brooklands L1 v Gloucester.

Having secured three points on the road last weekend, the Brooklands Ladies 1s faced the elusive task of a win on home turf. With the Ladies 2s - who played in the preceding home slot - delivering a 5-1 walloping and securing their first three-pointer of the season, the pressure was on for the Ladies 1s to also bring hockey home.

It was another strong start to the game from Brooky, as the girls carried the conviction of the previous weekend’s victory into their gameplay, zipping the ball through the lines with confidence and composure.

Equally composed was their approach to out-of-possession play, forcing errors amongst the opposition and eventually picking up an errant Gloucester ball in the middle of the pitch: a brief carry from Fran Davies; an overlap from Watto; and a ball to El Capitano at top D, who did what she does best and delivered nothing but net. The build-up play was textbook and the finish top class. A+ so far for Brooky.

The first break loomed, but there was time enough for one more Brooklands attempt, with a short corner awarded on the blow of the quarter-time whistle. Gloucester’s PCD routine had been studied meticulously in the week’s build-up, so the girls knew what had to be done. A slick injection saw the ball reach left castle, ready to be slapped in with a Sophie Clough special, clattering the backboard. Minor elevation in the slap meant discussion regarding the legitimacy of the goal ensued, but by this point, Cloughy’s parents had already left the shelter of their car in celebration: the goal must stand.

And stand it did.

There were no further goals at either end of the pitch in quarters 2, 3 and 4, but out of respect for the spectators who had braved the wind and rain, Brooky created some drama by receiving not one, not two, but three cards. Perhaps not a strategy to be repeated, but at least it kept things interesting.

A physical game to the very end, Gloucester pressed hard and high in the final quarter, making life difficult for the home side, but cool, calm and collected(ish), Brooky maintained control to ultimately come out the victors.

Two wins on the bounce and back-to-back wins for the Ladies 1s and 2s creates great momentum for the girls to carry into next weekend’s break. Two weeks of preparation now begins before they face league new-comers Sutton Coldfield at home on 29th Oct.

Goals; 1x Millsy, 1x Cloughy
MOM; Watton
DOD; Fran Davies

All images courtesy of Andrew Mills.