Drunkenness, own goals and unsporting behaviour in a 6-2 win over Burton!

Derby Asterdale Ladies 3rds vs Burton Ladies 3rds

Saturday morning broke with good news and bad; the good news that it hadn't dropped below freezing overnight - what a refreshing change! The bad that our keeper had not managed to find her bed the night before and was somewhat still intoxicated by our 9:45 meet time....

As we stepped out to play our first match in 5 weeks having only played 1 game since the 26th November 2011 (yes that is correct!) against a physical Burton side who were gunning for us it was always going to be tough.

We started strongly scoring our first goal, what was really an own goal from Burton that came off Emma's stick in the D on 1min 6 secs. We continued to dominate and scored our second goal with a through ball from Rach B slotted confidently home by Jo on approx 5 mins. Then we fell apart.... The tension from Burton was tangible and it affected us as we let in 2 goals in quick succession at around the 15 min mark. The first a good goal from Burton, the second came from a massive hit outside of the D that managed to find the tip of a Burton stick in the D and changed direction as it hit Annie's stick wrongfooting the sobering Megan. 2-2!

Now the tension was unbearable, we couldn't find each other, our play kept breaking down and we were a shade of the team that had dominated the league the first half of the season. Burton put us under more pressure resulting in some very close moments in our D and an excellent diving save from Megan. Following some tactical changes we managed to get some pressure back on Burton in the last 5 mins of the half. 3 mins before half time we had a free hit in their 25 just by the backline. Taking inspiration from Ali and using a trick taught by Andy Rach B dragged the ball back to the side line before moving it back towards the d and crashing it along the backline, Rach H who reads the play so well saw it coming and dived to the ground to get the touch and bang, into the back of the goal 3-2!

Half time was uncomfortable and after the first negative team talk of the season we came back fighting. The challenge was to win the game 5-2... In the early part of the 2nd half we won a penalty corner , Rach H sent the ball out hard to Rach B who was a little shocked to receive it, luckily their runners were also shocked and left her a massive space to step in and crash it into the bottom left hand corner of the goal 4-2! This was when the unsporting behaviour began....

As we dominated Burton for the majority of the second half we had lots and lots of free hits in their 25, continuing to use what we shall call the 'Ali Tactic' resulted in Burton's always vocal (in the wrong kind of way) number 4 to complain to the umpire what felt like every 2 minutes that the ball was not travelling 5m. She couldn't accept that this was incorrect and got angrier and angrier. Eventually this spilled over with her making an obvious beeline for Rach B and knocking her flying to the ground, unfortunately she got away with it despite Rach's best attempts to bring her down from the floor (oops).

As we dominated the second half Nikki went on an awesome run through the centre of the field beating player after player and passing unselfishly to Shelley who slotted the ball past the keeper scoring on her debut 5-2! Minutes later a targeted long ball from Nikki found Shelley at the top of the D saw her in a 1 on 1 with the keeper, Shelley calmly and confidently beat the keeper and hit the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal 6-2!

The final whistle was a welcome sound as the rain turned to hail briefly. Burton's number 4 continued her vendetta by giving Matt Parker (our brave umpire) a dressing down on the sideline, her insistence was that the ball has to move 5m in a STRAIGHT line... OK...whatever. If anyone from Burton reads this please can you give her a rule book so she can look it up? Also while she's at it tell her to read the bit about no contact with opposition players...

To summarise, a shaky first half, a good second half where we showed our true grit as a team. Some great goals, and some shining moments of brilliance, and an excellent debut from Shelley - plenty to build on next week. It's always a shame when aggression takes over in a game and can slightly take the tarnish off a great result. Perhaps the worst bit was when Burton refused to come back to the pub for refreshments because quote - "it's too cold and wet"!!

Man of the match was shared by Jo, Hilary & Rach B, Donkey went to Annie for the own goal although it was very tempting to give it to Megan. Thanks to Matt for umpiring a difficult match and thanks to Chris for supporting (as always) and particular thanks to Ali for coming down and supporting - it made a big difference having you there

Final score Derby Asterdale 6 - 2 Burton

Sounds like an interesting game!! Well played girls - a fantastic result under what sounds like very difficult circumstances.
I like the new phrase, the "Ali tactic"!! It does work though doesn't it?!!

Great result Ladies, 3 pts closer to that league title, shame about the way your opposition took the game but hey, just look at the league tables that should make you smile.

Oh and Megan................

You Know !

Thanks rach, overall a good game
Andy I am sorry it won't happen again....