12th February Match Reports

GMHA Team Match Report

REDDISH PLAY SOCKS OFF AGAINST SALFORD UNI 

After earning a draw very early in the season against a university side that had now had time to gel, Reddish knew this would be a tough game and would have to put the defeats earlier in the weekend behind them if they were to come away with a respectable score line. Salford recently played Newton, Reddish’s victors from the previous game, beating them 6-3; it was going to be tough for Reddish against the league leaders.

Reddish were straight out of the blocks and took the game to Salford who left gaps in the middle of the pitch. A few runs down the middle from Natalie Sutherland and bringing the ball up the right was Jenny Plant and Reddish got the ball into the Salford half but were stopped with a few crunching tackles. Yet Reddish now knew where the Salford weaknesses lay. Salford also as runs down the right side of the pitch and earned themselves a few short corners.

The Reddish defence held up well and Andrea made a number of key saves, keeping the scores sheet blank. Strong tackles on the right for Reddish by Hannah stopped the advancing Salford forwards and their fancy dribbling skills and working with Laura Woodhead managed to get the ball safely out of the Reddish half. Salford though continued to attack and one of their many shots on goals struck Kerry on the line (in the unmentionables!) and a flick was awarded as a goal had been prevented from scoring. Tension was evident as both teams stood on opposite sides of the pitch cheering on their team mate. Andrea saved!! Reddish were ecstatic with their keeper’s heroics and half time was soon upon them. As half time came (which seemed to take forever to happen) Reddish knew they were in a battle as they worked their socks off keeping the halftime score at nil-nil.

Half time was a lot happier than the game against Newton and each reddish player knew what they had to do. Keeping the scores level at half time made the younger players confident and it showed in the second half as they attacked down the middle as it worked so well in the first half. Yet Salford had other ideas and all they had on their mind was to attack also. They did this better that Reddish for a majority of the half and the defence was really put through their paces. Andrea pulled of more top class saves in the goal, using all the equipment – neck, stick, feet - you name it, she saved it! Last gasp tackles stopped Salford from scoring as well as top of the D tackles but the deadlock was finally broken with a drive into the bottom left hand corner and Salford took the lead. Score 1-0 Salford.

It was constant pressure then from Salford and Reddish really struggled to get the ball out of their own half. Tackles were flying in from all angles and the ball was kept out each time being pushed out to the side only for a Salford player to be right there and push it back into the Reddish D. The pressure finally got too much and Salford added a second with ten minutes to go. A scrappy goal into the bottom right hand corner made the score two-nil.

Reddish were heading for another defeat but still managed to attack as they always do and the never give up attitude takes over. Down the middle was the obvious place and a few short corners were achieved with the ball being pushed just wide on a couple of occasions. Laura Woodhead made some crunching tackles in the midfield as her arms always seemed to reach the ball and push it down the left where Jenny Plant went on her runs.

Reddish continued to attack even into the late stages of the game and were finally rewarded with a goal after a deflected shot was quickly pounced upon by Dunners who mugged the Salford keeper and scored a deserved Reddish goal at the narrowest of angles. This was a well deserved goal for Reddish, scoring with a minute to go and despite losing the game two-one; they fully deserved the goal and praise from the Salford umpire. They showed a high level of performance and just what they can do if they put their mind to the task and play like a team.

Rachel Dunley