Saturday 6th November vs Stourport.
Following several weeks of disappointing results, Brooklands Ladies prepared for an important home fixture against fourth in the table, Stourport.
It was a competitive start, with Brooklands continuing to employ a zonal press that offered limited opportunities to the opposition. That is until Stourport decided to switch from hockey to golf, driving the ball past the faces of the home side, to be picked up and finished by one of their forwards left loitering in the Brooky D.
1-0 down as they entered the second quarter, Brooky lost their composure, displaying a few minutes of lapsed concentration that ultimately cost them the game.
Stourport’s rather fortunate first goal was followed by a more convincing penalty corner conversion, which would be repeated only minutes later, to put the opposition 3 goals ahead.
In this instance, disaster came in fours, not threes, as Lottie Boreham momentarily forgot which side she was playing for and passed the ball straight to the opposition’s centre midfield. A few sharp passes and the ball was in the back of the Brooky net once more and it was 4-0 as they entered the half time break.
Facing some hard truths in the team talk, the girls entered the second half knowing they had a serious job to do. Coming out hard and fast, the increase in intensity was instantaneous.
Putting increasing pressure on Stourport, who now lacked any tangible attacking options, Brooky managed to win their first short corner of the game. Out to Annie Mills at the second castle, Millsy dragged through for the deflection in front of the left post. Bouncing off multiple Brooky sticks, it was Ella Hampson who would secure the goal and initiate the Brooky comeback.
Maintaining better organisation than they had demonstrated all game, a second Brooky corner was won shortly after. Another injection to top D that was initially denied by the keeper, Hampson was once again able to get stick to ball and send it across goal where Boreham was ready and waiting to slot it over the line.
Momentum continued to build throughout the second half and despite further goal-scoring opportunities via additional penalty corners and tenacious attacking work from Millsy, a draw was not to be.
4-2 is a frustrating result which has left the squad intensely disappointed, but Brooky face another hard week where they must reset, regroup and refocus, turning attentions to Gloucester at home next Saturday. Get down at 11:45 to support the girls in their penultimate game before Christmas.