Due to our 9-aside pitch being frozen solid, we had to play our match against Oxford City on the 11-aside pitch next door. Both coaches agreed to play 10 a-side. We played this game with our new player Beatriz Kretteis making her debut. After losing 3-0 to Croughton last week, it was important for us to get back to winning ways to try to keep the pressure on at the top of the league table. Unfortunately, due to the late switch of pitches, we were unable to oversee the warm up properly as we were hastily preparing the 11 a side pich. This meant that we started the match very slowly, were under lots of pressure and, after failing to clear the ball from defence numerous times, we found ourselves 2-0 down after only 10 mins. The old Ruislip would normally let their heads go down when going behind, but this game showed how far the Ruislip girls have developed a fighting spirit. Halfway through the 1st half, the midfield worked the ball to Amy on the left wing who crossed the ball into penalty area for Sophie to score our 1st goal. During the remainder of the 1st half we managed to get the ball forward for Sophie to run onto a few more times and we were unlucky not to score more goals. However, Niamh also had to remain alert in goal and command her goal area to prevent Oxford going further into the lead. The 1st half finished 2-1 to Oxford. The 2nd half saw Ruislip make a great early start when Daisy passed to Lauren, then Lauren and Beatriz worked the ball down the right wing to Sophie, who crossed the ball into the penalty area for Amy to score and make it 2-2. Unfortunately straight after getting the equaliser Ruislip fell asleep again and allowed Oxford to score two quick goals to make the score 4-2 to Oxford. But the girls again fought back from a 2 goal deficit. We won the ball in midfield, Beatriz passed to Lauren who crossed the ball in to the penalty area for Sophie to score her second and make the score 4-3. Within a couple of minutes, Hayley won the ball in midfield and put a pass through to Beatriz who beat a couple of defenders and slotted the ball into the net to make the score 4-4. Niamh then had to make a great save when Oxford took a long range shot. With 8 minutes left we won a corner which Amy crossed into the penalty area. Oxford cleared the ball to just outside the box, which Annabel ran onto and met with a tremendous shot into the bottom right of the goal. The last 8 minutes were end to end, we had a few chances to finish the game off but were also thankful to the defence of Elia, Annabel, Megan and Caitlin who held firm and kept Oxford at bay. GOM: Annabel & Beatrice.
