L1: Staines 2 Reading 5

Slazenger EHL Women’s Conference East
Saturday 18th October 2008
Staines 2 Reading 5 (Claire Kerr 2, Becky Odlin, Jenna Woolven, Alex Smith)

Reading had an unfamiliar feeling this week, actually playing hockey on a Saturday. Another away game took them just down the road to Staines, the scene of their cup exit last year. Keen to avenge that defeat, and with Laura Puddle returning to her previous club for the first time Reading were highly motivated from their military style warm up led by Drill Sergeant Popey, to the opening salvos of the game. Having been put under pressure by conceding early last time, Reading were aware how important it was to make a start in front of the Staines crowd, and on a slippery pitch. So the blues were delighted that not only did they not concede, but they scored a settling early goal in the 5th minute, thanks to Claire Kerr’s deft little dink over the keeper.

Reading continued to have the best of the half, in control of both territory and possession without finding another breakthrough. Laura Puddle and Vicky Bryant were tricky again on the right, but Laura’s old team were familiar with her tricks and Reading didn’t quite manage to find the right option in the D.

The Blues got a deserved second goal just after the half hour mark. Alex Smith mishit a free hit on the left hand side of the D, which provied dangerous as the ball surprised and therefore eluded everyone. Becky Odlin, unmarked on the right of the D managed to instinctively stop the ball with a great pick, and calmly slotted the ball into the corner.

Any hopes Staines had of mounting an immediate come back after half time were dashed as Reading kept possession of the ball to frustrate the home side. Full backs Alison Pope and Lou Gordon passed the ball between them, tiring out the Staines forwards and forcing them to leave space behind them if they wanted to come and compete for the ball. Once they did Reading were devastating, moving the ball at pace up the D to allow Jenna Woolven to finish with a reverse stick shot. When Claire Kerr deflected in a short corner move only 5 minutes later, Reading were 4-0 up and the game was all but won.

In such a comfortable position, Reading were guilty of relaxing a bit too much, as they conserved themselves for their second game on the Sunday. Once Staines pulled a goal back, from a pinball short corner, their confidence was boosted, and roared on by their home crowd they had their purple patch. Reading were flustered for 10 minutes as Staines forced them back, securing a second goal in the process. Reading was not helped by having Becky Odlin sin binned for 5 minutes, further disrupting their shape, and allowing Staines to pile on the pressure.

Eventually, Reading recovered their composure and exerted their control over the game to snuff out the threat of a resurgent Staines. Reading had further chances to go ahead, hitting the post, and a creeping shot from Puddle was denied as the whistle had been blown shortly beforehand. Reading claimed a deserved fifth goal with the very last act of the game, as player of the match Alex Smith calmly converted a penalty stroke after an infringement that had denied Reading a certain goal.

The first half of the weekend’s double header had been negotiated successfully with a first run out on home turf to come.

Squad: Lucy Stevenson, Alice Margerison (Capt), Alison Pope, Marianne Downer, Emma Kavanagh, Emily Malden, Alex Smith, Laura Puddle, Claire Kerr, Becky Odlin, Vicky Bryant, Clare Appleton, Lou Gordon, Becky Dru, Josie Inverdale, Jenna Woolven

Management: Rhys Joyce, Emma France

Green: Becky Odlin
Yellow: Becky Odlin
Player of the Match: Alex Smith
Most fines: Becky Odline for racking up those cards. Need we say more?!?