Chelmsford 4th XI - 3
Southend & Benfleet 2nd XI - 2 (Hannah Tooze, Charlotte Brooks)
The S&B super 2’s troop had been lining up tactics for this battle all week. Players were prepped, side line spectators were rallied, no one was prepared for the bitter cold and the referee from Gladiators was brought out of retirement (or so he should have been) in order to say those magic words……. ‘contenders ready!!!! 3…..2…….1’
Just like a Jet versus Wolf fight, what a battle this match turned out to be. From the get go both teams seemed determined to make their mark on the scoreboard early. The S&B Super 2’s flew into attack mode and continually pounded Chelmsford backline, who remained solid and unfazed by the attempt. Midfielder Hannah ‘Tornado’ Tooze and forward Charlotte ‘freight train’ Brooks managed to keep up the attack by moving the ball swiftly between each other and taking a few cheeky shots on goal. However, Chelmsford were determined to show the S&B side how it was done and with a few long balls down the right hand side of the pitch, past the usually undefeated S&B brick backline and into the D, Chelmsford scored first in the game. Like the quack of a duck appearing to translate as a laugh to the human hearing it, the Chelmsford walk of pride to the half way line to restart the game appeared like a strut of confidence to the S&B army. As the match restarted the S&B spectators remained positive and cheered their team on with gusto. The level of noise coming from the side line for this match could not be faulted, and aided the rallying of the S&B army into yet another attack mode. With some lovely balls smashed from the backline by Claire ‘Powerhouse’ Sutton, and traveled up the pitch to meet Chloe ‘killer’ King the Chelmsford backline and keeper were tested once more. The S&B Super 2’s even decided to throw in a few short corners for good measures but these did not convert to a goal.
At half time, the Chelmsford squad were up by 2 and the S&B troop needed to rethink their strategies. Half time talks over, both teams were back and S&B had developed a bit of a growl. As the whistle blew S&B flew into yet another attack on the Chelmsford lot pushing their team right into their half were the game stayed for the majority of the second half. Short corners were awarded, side line hits were demanded, and spectators volumes were being turned up. The atmosphere was tense and the S&B army knew in their hearts that this was their chance.
The Chelmsford goalie done well to fight of a barrage of shots on her goal, but she eventually looked tired and S&B took advantage, with Hannah ‘Tornado’ Tooze flying a ball past her legs cracking the backboard with a might. Suddenly the S&B super 2s army appeared to get their fight back, and a few minutes later the ball was majestically passed around the pitch, for Charlotte ‘freight train’ Brooks to fling yet another goal past the Chelmsford goalie. Suddenly, the match was 2 all and Chelmsford appeared to be worried. Even until the last minute the S&B super 2’s army did not let go of the potential win and kept on harassing the Chelmsford backline. Sadly, with only 4 minutes left of the match Chelmsford decided that enough was enough, and they ended any chance of S&B spoiling the game by flinging an unsuspected ball past the S&B goalies feet.
Final score – S&B 2 – Chelmsford 3
POM – Hannah ‘Tornado’ Tooze