Match Report: Yateley Hockey Club Ladies 3s vs Staines 3 – Saturday 8th February 2025, 12:00 PM Pushback

On a grey February morning, the Yateley Hockey Club Ladies 3’s made their way to Staines to face the 2nd place team in the league, knowing that they were currently sitting in 6th. With the help of Lianne, Kerry, and Foley, the team was able to field a full lineup of 11 players. With limited space by the pitch, a quick warm-up was conducted as the team prepared for the pushback, but neither goalkeeper, Helen for YHC nor the opposing keeper, got a touch of the ball before the match began.

The lineup for Yateley consisted of Helen in goal, with Nicki, Flippa, Lianne, and Lyss in the defensive positions. The midfield featured Foley and Rosie on the flanks, with Emily and Sarah side by side, while Caroline led the attack with Kerry filling in as a forward.

From the outset, Yateley showed great determination and composed play, utilizing triangular passing to move the ball forward. However, Staines quickly put pressure on Yateley, and an ex-England player from their side managed to score a goal, lifting the ball over Helen’s head and just out of her reach.

The first half continued with Yateley defending several short corners, but unfortunately, the team also had to cope with an injury to Nicki's knee just before another defensive short corner. She had to leave the field, with Kerry stepping in to support the backline in her absence.
At half-time, the team had a long discussion, fueled by some sweets and a fresh team mindset. They reset for the second half with ten players on the pitch, but with a renewed focus. The second half mirrored the first, with Staines continuing to dominate possession, but Yateley managed to break forward on occasion, especially when the ball reached Caroline via Foley, who had plenty of space on the left side of the pitch, or Rosie on the right.

While the scoreline didn't reflect what Yateley had hoped for, the team’s defense deserves credit. Despite being under constant pressure and defending multiple short corners, they managed to keep the ball out of the goal, which was a testament to their resilience.
Player of the Match (MOM): Joint award for Lyss and Helen, both of whom played key roles in the defense and kept the scoreline manageable.

Next Match: Away to Marlow on Saturday, 15th February 2025, at 11:30 AM.