A top of the table clash between Romsey and Andover delivered a high quality contest between 2 well-matched teams.
Romsey started the stronger with short corners in the 6th and 10th minute, the second of which saw their keeper keep the score level with a fine double save. 2 minutes later with Romsey attacking from the back- Anna passing to Elsie who passed to Grace. Ava running off the ball drew a defender away opening up a space for Grace to go through and score. Going 1-0 down only served to waken Andover who came charging back and a short corner 3 minutes later was injected to their star player who smashed a goal in from the edge of the D. Short corners were obviously going to be dangerous but at the next one just 3 minutes later Elsie came charging out and shut down the shot at goal. On their 3 rd short corner Andover moved the ball around the D and after a deflection off a brave Sophie, Andover found themselves 2-1 up after a 22 frantic minutes. There then followed a more attritional 10 minutes with plenty of strong tackles by Megan and Rosie, but the end of the second half produced a strong contender for Goal of the Season. Ava charged down the left hand side at lightening speed all the way to the byline where upon she stopped the ball, turned and beat the keeper at the far post. Probably the best goal ever scored by anyone from her family….. 2-2 at half time.
10 minutes into the second half and Camilla hit a brilliant pass from the left hand side of the pitch all the way over to Elsie on the right. Elsie passed to an off-balance Grace who regained her balance before striking with a reverse stick to see us go 3-2 up. 5 minutes later and another break from the back allowed Ava to once again charge down the left and into the D, passing to Grace who put us 4-2 up. With 10 mins still to go and Andover’s star striker finally managed to rid herself of a very determined Caitlin to dribble all the way from the half way line and score a fine solo goal. 4-3 and the nerves set in. With only 12 players and tired legs setting in, Grace had a fine solo effort of her own to again restore the 2 goal cushion but still there could be no relaxing. Fine tackles by Phoebe and Maya and a brilliant moment by Imogen taking the ball off their star player in the D meant that Romsey came out 5-3 winners in a really brilliant match.
