Ladies F 2-2 Skyers - EPIC!

Saturday 23rd Jan - Foxes 2 -  Skyers 2

On an unseasonably chilly Saturday afternoon, the Foxes lined up against the Skyers A team. We knew it was going to be a tough match and we weren't wrong!

The first half started well.  Skyers were fast and determined, but our backs fended them off admirably. Play was in our half for the first 20 minutes or so.  On our first short corner, we were able to out into practice the tactics Chappie had taught us on Thursday night. First corner - straight trap and strike - off target...Second corner immediately afterwards....we went a bit sneaky!! Viv used all her best am dram skills and looked like she was going to do an almighty push out to Nia at the top of the D - oh no no no! We foxes had some tricks up our sleeve - a short push out to Sam who smacked it straight into the goal! FANTASTIC! (those pesky skyers were not expecting that! HA! Nice one Chappie!)Yep Sam - that's what it feels like to smash the ball from a corner!! One nil...   

Their ball.....quickly intercepted by Helen who got the ball straight to Sam's waiting stick - WHAM! Second goal within 30 seconds of the first! two nil!!! Go Foxes!

Thank god for the half time whistle ...the mids had their busiest first half ever and were covering a lot of ground. And the backs...well, lets just say they worked their ass*s off in this game!  

2-0 at half time, woo hoo!!

2nd Half

At this point we were pretty elated with the score because it was becoming increasingly evident that that they were pushing us further and further back into the last quartile of the pitch.  They had superior
skills and a great passing game and were, on the odd occasion, able to break down our defence.  Polly, in goal for the second time in her life, made some amazing saves, powering the ball away and completely changing the direction of play.  But we were finding it hard to move up as a unit when we got the ball and eventually they got a break and passed a few too many people to leave Rhona with the defender's nightmare of having two people to mark and a goal scoring opportunity if she picked the wrong one.  She handled it perfectly but they managed to get an exceptional shot on goal by their number 9 and the score was 2-1.  Then, after some intense defending in the D after the umpteenth short corner against us, a shot was made that looked like it was going out but somehow that went in too.  2-2.  Everyone on the sidelines was now on tenterhooks, pacing nervously up and down.  Back on the pitch we were now under the first real pressure situation of the season and it was beginning to show a little bit - death stares and shouting were evident throughout!  Everyone was working really hard though and the run rate was much higher than in recent games but we weren't giving up.  Far from it, there were some very determined people on the pitch and we were not going to be beaten.  Final whistle blows and it's a draw....FOXES still the only undefeated side in the section...the club....the universe?!  

All in all, we will mark that down as a good result but the rest of the season is going to be tough as we will no doubt see their goal difference soaring meaning there is unlikely to be any room for a slip up or even a draw to remain top of the table.

Tequila moment number 1 - Ellen (in her best London teacher voice) to Alex at a 100 decibels....YOU!
ALEX!  THIS PLAYER! MOVE! NOW!(we all laughed about it and fortunately they are good
mates so all ok!)

Tequila moment number 2 - First card of the season to Dionna for not
being able to tell the difference between 3 metres and 5 metres (D...do
we need to explain some things about measurements in general?!)

Tequila moment number 3 - Helen, thank you for breaking the tension for
the crowd by subbing back on, charging towards the action and promptly
tripping over the ball, doing a commando roll and taking out two of the opposition, laughing loudly
as you apologised to the poor battered Skyers

Player of the match is Polly for her truly fantastic saves and for the incredible amount of work she put into practising in the run up to the game.   Think the foxes are all relieved that we don't have to play them again....   just have to keep our record flawless for the rest of the season so we have a chance of winning the league!  Special thanks this week to our super subs who don't always get to play
very much.  And also to Jo who came along to help......So, Unicorns next game - COME ON!