The most confusing match...

For the last game of the season, we were playing Leeds Adel at home. After half the team cried off half way through the week, we found ourselves with 10 players, and Helen who was on call, and unfortunately never actually made it.

Leeds Adel on the other hand had 11 players, but no keeper. At first we were hopeful at this news, but soon realised this meant they had 11 outfield players, while we only had 9. Yes their goal would be relatively unguarded, but we had to get there to take advantage of it.

As the game started, it became clear that we were going to struggle with our team set up. It felt like Adel had hundreds of players and most attacks were a 3 on 1 for the defenders. Adel’s first goal came quickly. A short corner, lifted when it hit Gail’s stick and landed, perfectly in the top of our net, just above Helens head. It was a cracking goal by Gail! 1-0 to Adel.

We began to get to grips with the game, worked out who we needed to man mark and who could afford to mark space. This meant the ball got through slightly less. Our attackers were pulled back into midfield and defence to try and support as we were swamped by players on the attack. The second goal came when a shot bounced off Helens glove and somehow sneaked between the barely ball sized spaces between her hand and the post. Even Adel weren’t sure if it had actually gone in. 2-0 to Adel.

Some light came for Batley as on a quick break, we were able to get the ball up the field to Jodi, who took it round their final defender and score our first GOAL. It was clear the Adel were panicking when we went on the attack.

At half time we regrouped and went out with more marking plans and a view to take the game to Adel, knowing we could capitalise when we got the ball up the field. Jo was having a great game, all over the place and really getting in Adel’s way!

Adel however were still taking advantage of having 2 extra men and sending 3 people into each attack, leaving us at a loss for how to defend effectively. Their third goal came when the ball hit Krystal’s foot in the D and in the confusion of the expected resulting short corner actually bounced into the net.

Another great break by the Batley attack saw Gail run the ball up the field and get Jodi in a great position to take it round the last defender and score our second GOAL 3-2!

Adel’s final goal came in the last few minutes of the game, and again was a deflection from us. I have less details on this one, because I was too tired to remember at this point. Sorry! Safe to say, we scored all 6 goals of the game, just 4 of them ended up in our net.

MOM went to Jo. Next we play Bingley Bees in the new year.

At this halfway point in the season, I’m sharing the tables as they stand. We are 9th in the league, a dangerous position, just above relegation. We need some wins in the second half of the season. Jodi holds top scorer with 4 goals to her name, Fretters is in the top spot with most MOMs having gotten 3 already! Most commitment is tied between Newby and Emily who have both played all the league matches. More detail here...

#matchreport #hockey #batleyladieshc #batley