Tamworth Ladies Thirds Vs Cannock 4

After a week of ups and downs the 3rds went to Cannock knowing the 11 players would be reduced to 10 having to take a player off to umpire. A chance encounter with an ex player enabled all 11 to play against the 2nd placed team in the league. Plans were thought of (1 – 10 formation, 1 – 9 – 1 formation and many more) and in the end we knew we had to defend with Chris Mander and Megan  Delderfield playing forwards and the rest defending and hoping for a breakaway!.

The first half was a real battle with the town side defending for their lives and unfortunately with 10 mins to go Cannock scored a patchy goal. With the Cannock umpire allowing her own team to get away with some dodgy tackles the town side showed that whey could defend brilliantly and almost scored with a breakaway. Exhausted at half time Tamworth came out to show Cannock that we could do more.

The second half started similar to the first but Tamworth stopped the Cannock side from playing and frustrated them so much that one Cannock player went off crying. With Tamworth came out fighting and Cannock came out expecting to win they scored their second goal with a shot across the Tamworth D that went through a gap and against the play Tamworth were down 2 nil. Most sides would of let more goals in but this galvanised the side to defend even more and thwart the Cannock side. There were fine displays from Lesley Broadway, Di Milner, Gemma Wheelhouse, Kate Caddick, Sam Bowyer in midfield and Sarah Hutchins, Margaret Worsley, Sarah Price in Defence and Chris Mander and Megan Delderfield in attack – the whole team!

At the end of the game Cannock were shocked that they had not thrashed Tamworth and the Tamworth girls were more like the victors with one of the best displays of defending and counter attack they had been involved in for a long time.

I can’t remember who won POM or DOD but it was a real pleasure (if exhausting) to play in that side and everyone was extremely proud to survived.