11th February Match Reports

GMHA Team Match Report

NEWTON PROVIDE STRONG TEST FOR REDDISH

After driving all the way to Hyde, only to be told to drive all the way back to Reddish’s spiritual home at the Vale and after coming straight off the pitch into a head on battle against an experienced Newton side, it was always going to be difficult to get straight into the swing of the game.

This was evident when Newton scored in the third minute as Reddish looked out of sorts and let a tame goal past their defence. Yet Reddish worked their way into the game and stopped the onslaught of Newton attacks. Careful play down the middle of the pitch to push to ball out wide enabled the Reddish wing players to try and attack the Newton defence but unfortunately to no avail. Newton appeared to strong and their deadly accurate hits from defence found their way to their forward players and the second goal followed midway through the first half.

However once Reddish discovered that the strong hits were how to stop Newton attacking, players literally put their bodies on the line to stop them getting through! Newton earned themselves a free hit deep into the Reddish half and used their strong hit to put it into the Reddish circle but who was there to stop it…the legend that is Mags! But not in a conventional way, the ball rebounded up off her stick into her face! Glass was everywhere and the sound made each player shudder but she’s a tough competitor and managed to walk off with a fantastic shiner, perfect for a Saturday night out!

The game restarted and Reddish managed to hold on to the second half without conceding another goal. This was in a first half that was rife with stoppages for injuries, Dunners did a Superman and decided to rip some skin off a cut (much to the umpires taste) and tackles began to fly in from both teams, with the tiredness of the earlier game began to creep into Reddish legs. Two nil at half time was a fair reflection on the half and Reddish managed to hold off the Newton flurry off attacks.

Reddish came out stronger in the second half and managed to put on some of their own pressure, earning two short corners at the start of the half, pushing the ball just wide each time and were unfortunate not to get a goal back. The second half seemed to pass quickly and Newton got their third goal of the game with a penalty flick after a Newton attacker was brought down in the circle. It was second time lucky for the Newton scorer as the first flick was saved but due to the Reddish keeper moving too early had to be taken again. This time the taker was lucky as the ball trickled underneath Sarah.

Despite trying to pass their way through the Newton defence, Reddish's tired legs got the better of them and Newton counter attacked and scored two goals in quick succession with six and three minutes remaining in the game. The score line did not reflect the game and reddish certainly didn’t deserve to concede five goals without a reply. After such a strong play the previous week Reddish can count themselves unlucky to have played a game straight after another and may have faired better with a rest in between. They should put this behind them and concentrate on their remaining games. Final score 5-0 to Newton.

Rachel Dunley