Match Report: Ladies 1st XI 2nd Nov

Yateley 4-2 Basingstoke

Having valiantly tried, but failed, to get points from their last two matches, the ladies played Basingstoke 3s at home determined to get something for their efforts.

From the outset, Yateley dominated the game, putting Basingstoke under pressure in all areas of the pitch. Yateley threatened to score on a number of occasions, but the first goal proved hard to find. Totally against the run of play, Basingstoke counter-attacked and Ams managed to lose her astro. Yateley lost a bit of focus while stopping to look at Ams and her missing shoe, and Basingstoke managed to find the back of the net.

Realising that they needed to make amends for a momentary lapse of concentration, Yateley quickly set about levelling the scores. A penalty corner routine ended up with Jo on the right-hand side of the D and Jo sent her shot crashing into the bottom corner, to level the score at 1-1 at half-time.
Coming out at half-time Yateley knew that they needed to stamp their mark on the game. Being ‘aggressive in defence’, in all areas of the pitch, meant that Yateley closed Basingstoke down and gave them very little time on the ball.

A fantastic move down the right of the pitch saw Caty move into space and receive the ball inside the D. Lining up the goal in her sights she cleverly lifted the ball to beat the GK and make the score 2-1.

Yateley were not content with a one goal lead and set about creating more chances. Switching the ball around the back and creating space in the channels meant that more corners were won. Jen took a straight strike, which the keeper saved well, but cleared straight into the path of Ams who sent a blistering strike into the goal and give Yateley a 3-1 lead.

Basingstoke won one of their only corners of the game and managed to convert a neatly taken right ramp to bring the scores to 3-2.
In true Yateley Ladies fighting spirit they continued to attack to the very end and won another corner. Another save by the keeper resulted in Gemma pouncing on the loose ball to slot the ball in to make the final score 4-2.

A dominant performance by the L1s and a well-earned 3 points.