The penultimate away day of the season for Brooklands Ladies 1s saw the girls travel down to Leicester who, sitting in the top half of the table, are always formidable opponents. Yet, despite an onslaught of frustrating almost-results during the past few weeks, the outlook remained positive, with the girls hopeful they may be able to turn their poor fortune around.

And turn it around they did.

The opening moments of the game were characteristic of the momentary lapses in concentration that have cost Brooky heavily in the latter half of the season – a small segment of clumsy play and Leicester had the ball in the back of the net within seconds of the first whistle.

However, where in earlier matches this might have defined the rest of the game, Brooklands swallowed the error, even more determined to tighten up the performance for the remaining 69 minutes.

The rest of the first quarter saw Brooklands dominate possession, the back three making easy work of Leicester’s press and the midfield fizzing the ball across the field, building momentum for a serious attack. First team new-comer Penny Townsend wreaked havoc upon the Leicester defence, alongside Hattie Snell, who forced numerous fouls from the opposition in an attempt to keep up with their charges down the line. 

This energy was carried into the second quarter, where a number of Brooky short corners were won but not converted into goals, until finally, a textbook period of play throughout the layers of the pitch cumulated with Kelly Baxter on the ball, right where the opposition wouldn’t want her – in front of goal, absolutely rocketing it past the keeper. Brooky were back level at halftime.

The girls awaited a rousing speech from Coach Joe and El Capitano at the half time talk and as the second half unfolded, it was clear from the opposition sideline that frustrations were mounting.

The effort of the Brooky forwards in the press cannot be understated, with Leicester resorting to smacking it down (and off) the pitch in an attempt to eject the ball from their own 25. And while a number of strong Leicester attacks did make it as far as the Brooky D, the attempts were neatly tidied away by the Brooklands defence, who reversed the pressure and sent the ball back down the other end, in the safe possession of the Brooky midfield.

Eventually, one such counter-attack would find the ball at the end of Evie James’ stick, whose composure in the circle sent the ball sailing over the Leicester keeper and past two of the Leicester defence: the ball hit the net and the Brooky girls went wild. 2-1 up with just a quarter to go.

Focus became the word of the afternoon and while Leicester upped the ante in their press, tackles and circle-entry efforts, they just couldn’t quite match Brooky’s determination to take three points home. The girls offered up some final tense entertainment for the travelling fans by giving away a number of defensive penalty corners in the closing moments of the game, but finally, the sweet sound of the whistle; three points on the table; and the notion that the great escape might just be on.