Match Reports - 30th Jan

Sun, 31 Jan 2010

Mixed D

Played division champions Kestrels in our first mixed game, with Kestrels featuring 6 Men’s B team (premier league) players. Valkyrs started strongly with the game being dominated from the centre of the park by Mark Osborn and Nicky Vincent backed up by a solid back four of Roger Smith, Shauna Kennaugh, Bill Cowie and Sarah “I’ll come out of retirement just for you” Clague.

As the game progressed, it was obvious that Valkyrs would be on the back foot against a very strong Kestrels side but going into half time, we were only 1-0. Encouraged by the score line, Valkyrs continued to press forward with strong runs being made down each wing by Alice Henderson & Hannah Shimmin with support up top from Katie Craster.

As usual the team was indebted to Roger ‘the Rock’ Smith and the teams strongest man Bill Cowie who cleared the lines and kept Kestrels at bay. Apparently, the NHS/taxpayer is paying for Mr. Cowie to take all of February and part of March off (something about a conference in the Alps) so we’ll have to rely more on the defensive prowess and consistency of Mr. Smith in the next few games.

The game finished 3-0 to Kestrels but we can take heart from what was a really good performance against a very strong side. Report by Tim Groves

Mixed C

You wouldn't have known we hadn't played together as a team before - brilliant communication from the off. From the back, Mikey Lee was superb - great saves and survived a nasty knock to the knee which left him with some nice dimples for the weekend. Nay Lewis and Voirrey didn't let anything past them and Neil Shimmin did a good impression of an octopus with the amount of tackles. Michelle Clague and Carol Whitelegg were strong as ever rarely missing an opportunity to tackle the boys. Andy Kneale and "not so little" Chris Killey were dynamos in midfield and with Stephen Moore and Oli Lockley to feed the ball through to there were two fantastic goals. Heaven knows how Moorey managed to create such a great goal on his reverse stick and Oli was just unstoppable on a great break through.

A big pat on the back to all - the most enjoyable mixed match most of us had had in a couple of years. Bring on what should be a brilliant season if we can keep it up! Report by Donna Harrison