Brooklands 3s v Wilmslow 3

Saturday 2pm and Brooklands 3rd XI faced the ladies in orange of Wilmslow 3rds. The fast-paced opening minutes saw a dangerous break from Wilmslow followed up with an impressive strike and Brooklands had been tango-ed (0-1). Inspired by Pam’s impression of Mel Gibson in Braveheart, Brooklands dug deep and wrestled back the momentum, hooking up some neat passes to open up the Wilmslow defence and put Emily and Fiona through to score (1-1). Fired up by some equally fighting talk from the Wilmslow captain, the ladies in orange came back. Things got scrappy and then Sophie intercepted a Wilmslow pass, sprinted down the wing and fired in from the edge of the D (2-1). Always dangerous on the break, Wilmslow were met by total commitment from Brooklands’ defence with great reactions and positioning from Hannah in goal, a ball brushing Holly’s hair and Pam throwing literally everything into keeping them out. Susan’s heavy artillery clearances sliced through the Wilmslow midfield with Brooklands’ mids and forwards (Ellie, Ellie, Emily, Sanjana, Lucy, Katherine, Sophie and Fiona) running their legs off to create chances. Wilmslow’s goalie made an impressive set of reaction saves to thwart excellent efforts from Emily, Fiona and Susan.
Play in the second half swung from end to end with both sides creating chances. A set of neat Wilmslow passes punched a hole through the Brooklands’ defensive wall and Hannah was left with no chance (2-2). Wilmslow pressed for a winner but Brooklands stayed solid with Ruth taking a painful one for the team to keep them out. Brooklands broke several times, deploying the cunning tactic of calling to multiple Ellies to keep Wilmslow confused, but a Brooklands’ winner proved elusive. Next time!