With just two games to go for the Andover Girls to keep a clean sweep for the season the pressure was on against a very skilled Haslemere side.

The first quarter started pretty much as most games start with the girls not really getting started. However after the first ingestion of jelly babies and a stern pitch side chat the girls woke up in the second quarter. With play going from end to end either side looked like they could score, but it was Andover who broke the stalemate with a cracking goal from Polly after 20 minutes. Not to be outdone and with the wind taken, briefly, from the sails of the Haslemere girls, Liv quickly followed suit at the 22 minute point.

Haslemere, briefly stunned, quickly rallied and plied the pressure back on. The Andover defence were soon over whelmed by a determined attack that saw Josie stumbling as she tried desperately to intercept a skilfully struck ball that sailed in to the top right hand corner at the 24 minute mark. The scores then stayed the same up to the half time whistle as neither team could capitalise on their hard work.

The third quarter saw both sides fighting in the others D's as play moved from end to end, with neither side able to make the ball cross the line due to very determined and resolute defence from both teams. The key issue for Andover was their lack of width as they flooded the right hand side and centre channel and tried to drive the ball through a skilful Haslemere mid field that were able to contain their advances. When “legs” Martha, Polly, T, AK and Liv did manage to break free they were hounded down by a very mobile, rapid and skilful Haslemere defence who more often than not relieved them of the ball.

As the girls took to the field for the final quarter you could detect a new level of determination not to let the Haslemere girls take their unbeaten record. Polly clattered the ball in to the back of the net within the first minute following their first real use of space and this was quickly followed by Tiana two minutes later. With the score at 4-1 the pressure was off but the Haslemere girls were not giving up and attacked the Andover goal with grit and determination as they had done all game.

Although the glory always goes to the attack, the true story and reason for the Haslemere girls only managing to get one goal despite the constant pressure on the Andover net lay in the defence. To a girl the Andover team defended with gusto and determination not previously seen at this level. Josie had her game of the season, benefiting from the one on one eight second penalty training the previous day, she oozed confidence as she charged out at the attack in several one on one challenges, rebuffing each and every one. The balls that Josie did not manage to clear the other defenders, Flora, AB, EB, Hattie, Lottie and Emma pounced on determined to keep them out of the net in multiple goal line saves and pitch battles in the Andover D. Everyone lost count of the times the ball should have made it in to the net but was robustly defended. Andover proved to have a defence to be really proud of and frustrated both the Haslemere Girls and their supporters.

In the midfield Isla performed solidly making some great tackles under pressure supported by an omnipresent Indie, who as ever made her presence known hassling the Haslemere attack, defending with gusto and setting the Andover attack off in to the Haslemere D. Martha and AK made a number of great runs that set up the scores and worked hard tracking back to assist the defence as needed. Well done girls.

For a lot of the match my heart was in my mouth as Haslemere proved to be one of the most determined and skilled teams we have encountered this season. However, the girls really delivered when we needed them to and showed how well they now work together as a unit. Really well done everyone for a stonking game. One more to go…….

Haslemere’s players player went jointly to Josie and Polly.