Ladies 1's finish Pre-seaon with a draw at the Home of Northern Soul

Home at last.

What a long day, up at 7am for an 8:30am meet and the long journey up to Wigan for our final pre-season match (whose idea was that? Mmmm)

With the team ready and waiting at Sainsbury’s around the corner came Amanda on 2 wheels in the Mini Bus (well at a crawl really, she was SO disappointed that it only did 62 MPH). As we all waited to get underway we realised that certain players were missing:

V Cpt Kelly and Mrs & Mrs Richardson did finally arrived some 15 mins late after Kelly had finished all the Housework, Ironing, Baby duties, Washing etc etc etc, but she at least arrived for the all important 1st XI Selection Match ! Oh Kelly lol.

So the long Journey began and we decided to meet up at Knutsford Services with all the Cardiff and Arsenal fans! Several varieties of Sandwiches & refreshments were purchased at various levels of available spending power. Some purchased Juices Coffee and Doughnuts while Helena stepped up with a huge bag full of goodies from the “Most Expensive Range” out of the M&S concession. She looked like a child who had been given the keys to the sweet shop, such bright sparkling eyes.

So after the short break our journey continued onwards to Wigan HC and our date with Hockey as played and Umpired ‘UP NORF”.

Captain for the day Kath Lee was delighted to be back in her hometown and it didn’t take very long for her Northern Lass accent to return, she was beaming.

And so to the game:

The pitch had a thick sand covering and combined with the morning’s torrential downpour it was extremely heavy going. We struggled in the opening exchanges to get any sort of flowing passing game going and it was the home team that settled the quicker forcing our back line into some heavy pressure and last minute defending.

We struggled to get the ball through the midfield at times but on the odd occasions we did, we also had our chances, but some untidy finishing and interesting umpiring led to the Wigan goal remaining in tact.

One plus though was the change in Penalty Corner team, with Bex hitting out the ball was getting top ‘D’ much quicker and Marie took over Strike duties and forced the Wigan keeper into a couple of good saves.

A lot of effort 1st half for little reward but we did feel the chances would come again and we would eventually get used to the heavy going conditions.

Half time: WIGAN 0-0 DERBY

After some re-jigging of the team and small tactical changes we set out 2nd half to dominate Wigan as much as possible and got our reward on 38 minutes.

The ball came out through midfield at pace to the waiting Taran who quickly passed the ball on to Bex out left, Bex ran the line and Laura Parkers lead run was spotted and she received the perfect through ball to the left of the ‘D’ deep on the base line, a mazy run from Laura saw her drive across the Wigan defence and SLAM the ball home for a quite breathtaking piece of individual skill and an overall quality team goal.

WIGAN 0:1 DERBY

There’s an adage in sport that states you’re at your most vulnerable just after you’ve scored, yep almost from the restart Wigan drove at us and following some confusion in the Derby defence the Wigan striker just 10 mtrs out from goal calmly took her opportunity with a well placed reverse stick strike to level the scores.

WIGAN 1:1 DERBY

The pace of the game changed almost immediately as both teams had belief they could go on and win the match.

Wigan were always dangerous on the counter attack and Derby found, for the first time in a very long time, that the back line had lost some of it’s poise as time and time again players were pulled out of position and found themselves falling over each other leaving spaces for Wigan to exploit.

Derby though always looked the most likely to score and on 52 mins we re-took the lead from a penalty corner. Amanda’s initial shot was half-stopped by the charging Wigan defender, but Bex had the quickness of thought to pounce on the loose ball to score her 3rd in 2 matches and send Derby into a 2-1 lead.

WIGAN 1:2 DERBY

We should have pushed on from there but despite several chances the Wigan defence had stepped up their own game and stopped all we through at them and it was Wigan who finished the scoring on 60 mins.

From a wide Wigan attack, for once, we failed to close down the oncoming winger who was allowed to drive into the ‘D’ unopposed and get her shot away, Lisa saved the initial shot but the ball broke to the Wigan striker who some how squeezed the ball past Lisa, a desperate dive at the ball from Amanda still failed to stop the ball going over the line and bringing the scores level.

WIGAN 2:2 DERBY

The scoring may have finished but in a horrible twist with just 30 seconds left the returning Laura Parker had a re-occurrence of her groin strain but this time she heard it POP ! See you in around 3 weeks to a month. Gutted.

Final Score:

WIGAN 2:2 DERBY

Overall the team played well today, its not easy coming somewhere like this on a poor pitch and playing our normal game. Ali and Kelly just ran as if there lives depended on it all day and Amanda’s probing runs from full back were a real positive.

While I am talking about Amanda I want to give her a HUGE thanks for getting the bus and driving today, you helped make the day that little bit more special.


MOM: Laura Parker

Donkey: Andy Taylor – totally undeserved, one slip of a finger and Amanda gets a text destined for Nigel and I get the HAT ! I officially hate BRA’s (You had to be there)


Just a quick special mention about Helen Poultney.

Helen stepped up from the 2’s to play for us again today and didn’t let anyone down. It can be a quite daunting experience in the 1’s camp but Helen has taken her opportunity with great courage and a huge smile. From everyone Helen I want to give you a big well done.



So the pre-season has finished and we have to take good heart from the results we have attained. The opening game v Aztecs (4-1 win) was just a get together for everyone but still we found a win, Last week v Barton (2-0 win against last seasons league winners) was a great away win when you consider we had no 1st XI Keeper and Captain Lisa along with no Laura Parker. Today’s tough encounter against Wigan (2-2), again without key players Laura Skaife and Theresa Alton, proved to me the benefit of changing our closed season routine. 3 positive results all away from home despite key players missing in each one.

Next Saturday we finally get to play at Home as we begin our League campaign against Northampton Saints 3pm start.

The team is looking strong and confidence is high as it should be. We are continually proving we are a squad of players and the loss, for whatever reason, of any players does not weaken us at all.

Good pre-season ladies now lets get on to the good stuff.



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