Saturday’s local derby between the Hotshots and their younger sisters the Steelers; who are made up of mainly Year 8 players, was a great game that was played in a friendly spirit. Although the Hotshots won the match by a fair margin they were made to earn it and sometimes were shown a thing or two by the ever improving Steelers.

MR Hotshots 12 d MR Steelers 2                    

Saturday’s local derby between the Hotshots and their younger sisters the Steelers; who are made up of mainly Year 8 players, was a great game that was played in a friendly spirit. Although the Hotshots won the match by a fair margin they were made to earn it and sometimes were shown a thing or two by the ever improving Steelers.

 

Congratulations are also due as the Hotshots have wrapped up the Title with three games remaining, even though they played without a full team for the third week in a row.  

 

Zaneta Van Zyl showed that she is dangerous all over the park with a Chooks player of the match performance which netted her 5 goals, but also showed her flexibility when sent back by continually finding players up the park with pinpoint passes. Jordan Bernhardt was one who also came away with a bag of goals. She scored a hatrick, most the result of some great work with the ball at her feet beating several players before finding the net. Jordan really controls the midfield for us and put some skilled passes through for players to run onto.

 

Ebony Darnell scored 2 goals by being well positioned for the cross and putting away the offering. It sounds easy but it is a real skill that Ebony and Zaneta have and it benefits us often. Ebony also was a real attacking weapon for us down the wing with some smooth moves. Jasmine Mawdsley made a stunning one handed save for us in goal, before moving up the ground and putting one past the keeper herself.
We welcomed back this week Lisa Baddock who with Sarafina Rooks ran hard all day in midfield. Our defence was great under pressure led by Casey Wood who was suffering from a virus, and flanked by the still retired Rosie Hoban (Happy Birthday), Siobhan Rooney and Jasmine.

Tash Rigby as usual was a livewire across the ground, but had no better highlight than her “goalie run” up the ground where she took the ball from her own penalty area all the way to the edge of the opposing penalty area, beating three players along the way, before crossing the ball unselfishly to a free player. Fortunately the Steelers couldn’t get the ball back fast enough to challenge the open goal whilst Tash was returning.

This group of players, no matter what the situation, play some quality football that is entertaining to watch. Time and again, under pressure, they found a player to pass to and set up each other with attacking play, often right from the defensive line.

Hopefully now we can get some players back from illness and holidays and finish the season full of running to maintain that unbeaten streak.