BROOKLANDS LADIES 3S -v- MACCLESFIELD 2s

BROOKLANDS LADIES 3S -v- MACCLESFIELD 2s

Saturday 14th November 2015 11.45am pushback.

On a cold wet and windy day Brooklands played host to Macclesfield 2s.
With a full team and 4 subs (including the welcome return of Cat and Maz to the team) Brooklands were ready for the match and to get a win.

Brooklands started strongly and within minutes the pressure paid off with 2 consecutive short corners and the Ducks were unlucky not to score. Brooklands continued to play well with some excellent passing and play down the pitch. Macclesfield had a lucky break through with one of their young fast players down the wing but Luci was straight out of the goal and dealt with the shot easily. Brooklands respond with pressure and are awarded their 3rd short corner but it's not the case of 3rd time lucky as the goal continued to elude the Ducks.

Macclesfield respond to the barrage of pressure on their goal with another fast break and have a quick shot on goal and their opportunity and lucky break pays off with a goal on target and Macclesfield were 1 nil up to the dismay of the Ducks and the supporters. After all the pressure and possession the Ducks didn't deserve to be 1 nil down.

Brooklands are awarded yet another short corner but again that goal continued to elude them. Macclesfield respond with some pressure on the Brooklands defence and are awarded a short corner but great defending by the Ducks and Luci deprived them of their 2nd goal.

The frustration is felt on and off the pitch that so many chances, so many short corners and no goal for the reward of all that pressure and great play. Great play by Katie Cuttle in midfield with Cat and Maz , with a lovely through ball to Becky Latham who has a shot on goal which is well defended by the Macclesfield goalie. Brooklands kept fighting for the goal with Cat on the subs bench urging pressure. The half time whistle came too quickly with Macclesfield 1 nil up and the frustrated Ducks convened in the dug out with Pam. As Pam said there had been some "damn good hockey" played and the Ducks were very much "unlucky" not to be winning.

The Ducks went back on the pitch and started strongly and fighting for
that equaliser. Macclesfield came out equally strongly with pressure
on the Brooklands defence and scary times as Brooklands in their haste to get the ball out nearly put the ball in their own net. Macclesfield are awarded 2 consecutive short corners and great defending by the Defence means that Macclesfield are denied their second goal. Amy Patterson gets the ball away and down the pitch and there is a sigh of relief.

Pam keeps the pressure on and shows the Ducks how to defend and executes a firm body slam on the Macclesfield forward. As a Macclesfield player received treatment for a deflected ball to her head, Pam regrouped the Ducks. The Ducks fought on, with great end to end play, some great passing and pressure particularly in the midfield. Pam's plea for pressure has clearly been heard by the Ducks.

Brooklands are awarded yet another short corner which was well defended by the Macclesfield goalie followed immediately by another short for the Ducks but still no goal. The frustration can be felt on and off the pitch. Becky has a shot on goal but still no goal....Tense times as the Ducks fought on for their equaliser.

There was further pressure on the Brooklands goal and Pam lamented a "wasted" shot followed by further misery as Macclesfield have yet another lucky break, shoot and score. Coach Laura, the Ducks and the supporters can't believe they were 2 goals down despite all the short corners, the pressure on goal, and the excellent play and pressure by the team. Macclesfield had capitalised on their few opportunities and the result had been those 2 goals.

The Ducks regained their fighting spirit in the pouring rain and the continued pressure and great play paid off...with 3 minutes to go Cat had a shot on goal and scored! Great play and passing from Katie and Cat had resulted in that goal...

With less than 2 minutes to go the Ducks fought on to get that equaliser but the final whistle blew.

The Ducks were denied the equaliser they deserved to get and denied the win they should have had.

The despondent and wet Ducks convened for teas (and Amy Patterson's early birthday cake).

DOD - nominations for Pam (at least 1 for the burned bottom incident!!), but DOD went to Becky Latham for missing a sitter of a goal...sorry Becky!

MOM - Nominations for Cat, Katie, Amy, Ellie C, Hatch, Pam, & Luci....but the winner was Cat! A winning return for Cat.

The Ducks will regroup and head off to Deeside in search of their win after 2 tough disappointing matches....

Heads up Ducks...winning ways will return....