Is there any more dispiriting sight in amateur football than turning up at a ground and finding the gates locked? That was what confronted our Women’s team as they arrived at St. Catherine’s Fields on Grand Drive last Sunday to take on Westside in a rearranged fixture, the first attempt abandoned earlier in the season at 0-0 when Sophie head-butted their ‘keeper’s knee. Our opponents were equally mystified and several phone calls were needed before it was established that another user of the ground had informed the groundsman that all football was cancelled for the weekend. What??? Just as it looked that this fixture was jinxed, miraculously another ground was found (reasonably) nearby and the game could proceed with a late kick-off on a pitch which, though relatively dry, had a few patches down the middle that resembled the Somme (after the battle).

The sense of chaos continued as it transpired the oppo had only 10 players, and it soon became clear that some were less than familiar with the Laws of the Game – the referee had to explain to one girl how to take a throw-in, and she still managed to screw it up! Despite all this disruption, the ladies stayed admirably focused and laid siege to the Westside goal from the off. The firmer wings were used to good effect with Gemma Priest in particular a constant threat down the right-hand side. Charlie Spencer was driving forward from midfield with Kirsty Mulcahey stepping up from the defence to add numbers with the oppo necessarily playing with one up front. A combination of spirited defending and a lack of composure in the final third meant that we had to wait until the half-hour for our first goal, Motty’s persistence paying off chasing a bouncing ball. Seeing she had just taken a right-arm smash from an opponent seconds earlier, her celebrations were rather pointed. Motty added another shortly before half-time to send us into the break 2-0 up.

The half-time chat was about more composure, playing our football and being patient. There was no need for the third element as a flowing move straight from the kick-off ended in Motty curling a lovely shot into the top corner for her hat-trick. Our gander was up now and the goals flowed as Westside fell into disarray and basically gave up. Kirsty slotted home a penalty (at last!) after Charlie was brought down, and then Gemma fired home from a narrow angle. Lisa Manley slotted home from close range before Kirsty added another, this time from open play. No goals in the last 20 minutes, which were largely spent avoiding increasingly desperate tackles from the oppo, one of which unfortunately resulted in a broken rib for Gemma Priest. Get well soon Gemma.

A second win in succession then for our Women, indicative of an improved attitude and greater discipline and teamwork. A pity if this is to be cut short by the accursed virus, but hopefully we can build on this in the coming months whenever we resume.