After some slightly disappointing scores, the Ladies 1s were keen to get back into their winning stride.
With hopes high, the Wanderers ended up on the back foot. Oxford Hawks started the game with high levels of pressure, and our gameplay was sloppy. The Hawks’ high press proved effective when their CF won the ball and nutmegged Jade to give them a 1-0 advantage.

In classic Wanderers fashion, their early goal gave us the push we needed to break through Hawks’ play and work our way into their D. The forwards started to connect up top, and after Liv Mason smashed the ball in from the top of the D, Sophie got a reverse tap-in on the post to give the Wanderers the leveller.

At the back, there were a few more instances of squeaky bum time. A dodgy deflection from Steph forced Jade to make a very interesting arm save, but both Steph and Abby made up for it with multiple goal-line saves, denying any more Hawks goals before half-time.

TB summoned the girls in with his serious manager backpack on, and we reset our aims for the game before restarting the second soggy half.

Much like the first half, we struggled to find our feet, and Hawks gained a second goal. From then on, the defenders – Steph, Anna, Abby, and Vicky – held solid, setting up plays down the pitch for the forwards to take on and take over in the Hawks’ D. After allegedly “tripping” a Hawks forward down the home end, Stabby launched a run down the pitch and ended it with a bang that the defenders’ sticks couldn’t stop from making it into the net, leveling the score again.

The next 15 minutes saw Wootton dominating the play! Jade found herself slipping and sliding around her D, making a few squeaky saves, with the CBs backing her up with another round of goal-line saves. Hawks were becoming infuriated but could not find a way in.

In the last two minutes of the game, after an onslaught of shots at goal, a well-worked left slip from Sophie shot its way into the goal to give the Wanderers the 3-2 win.

I think we can all agree that manager TB and his backpack inspired our win, and we’re going to bring the same energy next week against Abingdon.

MOM – Stabby for her constant running legs and defender-defying skills.

d.