On a misty Autumn morning South Berks 3s travelled to Reading University (Luckily they had petrol!) to face Phoenix Ranelagh 2s in their 3rd league match of the new season. Historically always a well contested fixture, SB could not be complacent, with Abbie Waters in goal valiantly covering for her Mum, Kate, who was confined to bed with a nasty chest infection. A couple of others were suffering the effects of colds, and Libby Mound was not playing due to a knee injury.

After a tentative start, SB remained calm and kept PR s attackers at bay and gradually began to assert themselves at the PR end. Effective hassling by Emily Kennedy down the left and double teaming by Fi Lewis and Jane Theodolou began to yield results and put pressure on the PR defence. Bella Pio joined the attack with a solo run down the left rolling off the defender and slipping the ball to Eve Kelly whose shot just went wide. After 17 minutes of SB attacking pressure, Faye Rowley yielded a penalty corner -Fi Lewis played out to Jen Cruse -but the shot went wide! SB continued to pressurise the PR defence with their well organised press at 16s forcing PR to put the ball over the side-line and concede possession on several occasions.

Edie Harrison joined the fray, niggling away at her opposite number, forcing her into pushing the ball too far past Edie and onto Janes stick. She passed quickly to a waiting Ali Eatwell, who transferred the ball accurately out to the right wing to start another attack down the opposite side, with the PR defenders scrambling to get across to counter. Attacking pressure began to tell - Jen Cruse shot towards goal and Eve Kelly’s deflection looped over the cross-bar. SB gained a PC after a high save from the PR GK, who was having a solid game denying SB all their straight shots. She saved Ali Eatwell’s initial shot, but it hit a defender’s foot, allowing Ali a second try which the GK saved again, much to her team’s relief.

Just before half time PR mounted a dangerous quick break leaving all the SB players stranded in the attacking half except sweeper Mei Petch. Undaunted, Mei stepped up, made the crucial tackle and a collective sigh of relief rippled along the SB sideline!! 0-0 at Half time.

After the break PR came out hard and tried to catch SB napping, but the defence held firm and set up numerous forays into the PR circle:- Sandra Dodington’s shot got past the prone keeper but in the melee hit an SB foot. Combined play from Emily Kennedy, Eve Kelly and Dash Heaver led to SBs next shot hitting a PR foot – penalty corner - taken by Jen Cruse whose shot was turned away by the PR GK once again. PR counter-attacked and were awarded a PC after a tussle resulted in a couple of players ending up in a heap on the turf... SB held firm and the attack fizzled out.

Back to the other end, Eve Kelly crossed to the far post, where Emily Kennedy was just fractions away from netting. Bella Pio’s next shot caused a GK error and SB had another PC. The injection came to the top, was slipped left and Eve’s drag flick skimmed the right hand post. This was followed closely by another corner - Ali Eatwell sent the shot back to injector Dash Heaver, who was in the right place for a deflection on the left post, but the ball skimmed the line as it whizzed across the face of the goal and off the back line on the other side!

Mary King battled hard getting through feet, stick tackles and bodies with the ball still on her stick delivering into the circle. Edie Harrison slipped the ball to Sandra D, whose shot was again saved by the PR GK.

At this point the game turned a little and PR came back into the game making sustained attacks on the SB defence, last ditch clearances by Dash Heaver and Mary King helped to relieve the pressure but PR came back. Abbie Waters stayed calm and saved for a corner. SB lost composure and defending became frantic but still PR could not score. Another Penalty -Abbie W saved the shot and the rebound, keeping SB in the game. Jane Theodolou’s continued determination did not allow PR to get through to the circle and SB broke out and counter-attacked. Eve’s shot was saved again for a long corner and Sandra Doddington was on hand to pass across the GK, but no one could get on the end of it to net.

A frustrating game, but not without scoring chances. Some great passages of play and sustained attacks which a more clinical approach in front of goal would surely have delivered several goals. They will come! On to Sonning next week!