Ladies 2's defeat South Berks 3's

P&R ladies 2's made hard work of their win on Saturday but a deflected goal in the first half from Saucy was enough to get the 3 points and keep the team in 2nd place.

The game started strongly with the oranges having most of the possession but just not finding that final touch in the D to get the ball in the net. A much improved South Berks side also had a young keeper between the sticks and she did a great job blocking out P&R's attempts to break through the defence.

The goal came on 20 minutes when Saucy picked up the ball on the left and pushed the ball hard inside the D (aiming for the back post I think!). The defender got a touch on the ball which looped it high over the stranded keeper and into the back of the goal to set us up at 1-0.

It looked like more goals would come but a couple of good chances went begging just before half time - clearly not having an out and out striker on the pitch was a bit of a problem but those that took a turn up front did really well to try and get in the right places to score!

The second half was much the same - P&R had most of the possession and saw a number of short corners come and go without a follow up goal, and it started to get a bit nervy when South Berks had a couple of breaks on goal late on. Luckily keeper Hannah Doherty was on hand and alert to the danger and cleared her lines well.

The ladies continued to press and whilst Katie Murphy had a brilliant game at right wing her penetrating runs just couldn't be converted into goals by the makeshift strike force!

Genny Porter and Beth Tait-Alexander did brilliantly well on their debuts in the 2's coming up from the 3's and, despite Porter taking a ball high on the thigh with 10 minutes to go which left her out of action, they both showed what strength and depth the Ladies section now has!

With a couple of minutes left the oranges used their match savvy to run the clock down pressing high up the pitch and forcing South Berks into some errors to keep the ball away from the P&R goal and a nervy match ended with a much needed 1-0 win!

The team go away to Abingdon next week knowing that anything other than a win will see them drop out of the top 2.

Saucy POM - Beth Tait Alexander