Ladies 2s had the first round of the England hockey cup against Berkswell and Balsall Common 1s. The girls arrived full of energy and determination, boosted by a strong warm up and inspiring team talk.

From the outset, Wootton dominated the first 20 minutes, showcasing excellent ball control and teamwork. They maintained possession, with every player contributing to the flow of the game. Their persistence paid off when Amie scored from an incredible passage of play, giving the girls a deserved 1-0 lead.

As the match progressed, Wanderers continued to apply pressure, creating several opportunities while their defence stood solid and resolute. However, just before half time, Berkswell and Balsall seized a crucial moment to break through, levelling the score to 1-1.

The half time break saw the girls regroup, fuelled by a motivational team talk to boost the spirits. With the knockout nature weighing on the girls’ shoulders, shuffles were in the back of the mind but their main focus was on the next 35 minutes.

The second half opened with Wootton showing strong teamwork, looking to regain control of the match, However B&B capitalised on an opportunity to net their second goal taking a 2-1 lead.

Despite the setback, the mighty wanderers refused to let their heads drop, putting in valiant efforts to find an equaliser. They made good use of the space to transfer the ball but unfortunately the spark that characterised their early performance seemed to fade.

As the game progressed, a card was awarded to wootton, giving them further challenges in the last 10 minutes, but their match concluded with a final score of 2-1 to Berkswell and Balsall Common meaning wanderers are out of the cup.

Despite the disappointing result, the girls battled extremely hard and left everything on the pitch. Player of the match went to the youngsters Luce & Emily, who displayed outstanding performances both in the forward line and defensive line putting 110% effort into the game. Next week sees the girls over at Leighton buzzard hoping to bounce back with a win.