Thame 2's 1 - 2 P&R Ladies 2's

The ladies 2's battled through freezing conditions with ten players to record a 2-1 win over mid table Thame on Saturday.

With a light dusting of snow still on the pitch in places, the game started brightly with the orange fully in control despite being a player down. Playing without a centre forward, the team worked hard to get the wingers and inners up and down the pitch and it worked brilliantly.

Beth James and Hannah White combined well on the right to set up several chances but couldn't quite apply the final touch to score. Thame rarely threatened despite the advantage in the first half, their only really attacks came from the left and were dealt with comfortably by Forest (back playing right half after a long break from hockey) and Lucy Plummer at the back.

Steph Newton scored the first goal with a great solo run which ended with a slightly scuffed shot which went between the keepers legs and over the line! We didn't care how it went in and the whole team cheered like crazy people:-)

The half finished 0-1 and after some jelly babies and a team talk the oranges got back to work. The score line should have been more convincing but for some missed opportunities at the back post (Naomi Ashcroft will kick herself!) but the team kept plugging away and repelling borders as Thame started to get more into the game.

Thame got an equaliser with 20 mins to go after a P&R attack was turned over and Thame drove quickly forward on the counter attack. Despite the defences best efforts the ball was scrambled over the line to get the score back to 1-1.

The oranges didn't take it lying down and that goal galvanised the team into 15 minutes of great play, we had wave after wave of attack but Thame defended heroically and their keeper and captain Julia Sharpe kept them in the game with some good saves and strong clearances.

Hannah White got the decisive 2nd goal with ten mins to go - a lovely strike from the right hand side which went bottom left hand corner and saw another huge cheer.

Katie Murphy, Newton and Ashcroft then all combined to keep the ball deep in Thame's half and run the clock down to see out a great win.

Captain Jax is a very proud captain and every player deserved their post match hug (sorry about that!!).

No game for the 2's next weekend as we take a well earned half term break. See you at training!!

Jax