L1: Exmouth 0 Reading 2

Kerr-Sunk!

Reading regain momentum thanks to Kerr’s spectacular strike

Slazenger EHL National South
Exmouth 0 Reading 2 (Claire Kerr, 39; Becky Odlin, 57)

British Bulldog is banned…
There is a reason for that…
Anyway on to the game…

Reading travelled to the Devon coast to resume their league campaign after a 7 week break for the Christmas festivities and the indoor season, and returned to Berkshire with three more points and their lead at the top of Slazenger EHL National South intact.

This was a tricky match for the girls to negotiate. The outdoor squad had barely played a competitive game together since December and even then GB gold medallist Abi Harper was still resting after her exploits down under Chiara Wild made her EHL debut as her replacement. There was also a debut for Helen Marsden in goal after injury has curtailed #1 keeper Fi Holmes’ season and #2 keeper withdrew on Friday evening due to family illness. Marsden was to show no nerves in goal however and deliver on her promise as one of the most exciting young keepers around with a clean sheet.

Exmouth have taken most of their points at home and they were a more combative side her than they were when demolish at Sonning Lane. Even so Reading had the better of the opening stage and managed to create a flurry of chances in the first ten minutes with Ali Omell on fire. Reading could not put the ball in the back of the net however, despite several short corners and with frustration starting to show their play became a little frantic as they pushed numbers forward to make their pressure count on the scoresheet.

Pushing so far forward gave Exmouth space to counter attack and with Reading failing to score their confidence grew as Reading huffed and puffed with maximum effort but little end product. In fact they probably had the clearest chance of the half on the stroke of hlaf time when the ball headed towards a play unmarked in the D but she contrived to miss the ball completely.

With that let off Reading came out a more composed side in the second half and they only had to wait 4 minutes for the breakthrough which came from top scorer Claire Kerr with a Rooney-esque entrance into the game. Beating several players with her trickery in the D it looked like Kerr ahd done too much when she lashed in a superb strike on the reverse. Inspired by this fine piece of individual skill Reading rediscovered their ‘mojo’ and settled into their passing routines.

With the half backs Kirsty Reeman and Emma Kavanagh maurading up the wings and man of the match Emma Thomas in control of the midfield Reading pressed for second. Exmouth didn’t give up however and Alice Margerison and Alison Pope at full back mopped up a few breaks before Margerison was unlucjy to concede a penalty corner. Pope blocked the strike on the left post before outletting to Anna McLaughlin on the wing. The ball was moved quickly forward to Erin Ruxton and then Kerr who slotted it into the D for Becky Odlin to finish. From being on the cusp of conceding an equaliser Reading created a fantastic team goal to seal the game.

Reading have a season defining weekend ahead of them as they take on 2nd place St Albans on Saturday (A) in a key title clash. Then in a double header weekend they open Super Sunday with a 12:30 game against Swansea, one of only 2 sides to take points from Reading so far, at Sonning Lane.

Squad: Helen ‘New Girl’ Marsden, Kirsty ‘Slip Sliding Away’ Reeman, Alice ‘Vanity’ Margerison, Alison ‘Needs New Shoes’ Pope, Emma ‘Backpack’ Kavanagh, Alex ‘Bad Hair Day’ Smith, Emma ‘Dog Whistle’ Thomas, Anna ‘Workaholic’ McGlaughlin, Ali ‘Chilled’ Omell, Emily ‘Should’ve Had a Goal’ Malden, Becky ’77%’ Odlin, Erin ‘Pink Shoes’ Ruxton, Claire ‘Dude’ Kerr, Chiara ‘Where’s My Car?’ Wild
Management: Mani ‘Raisin in a Blanket’ Kochar, Emma ‘Dr’ Gibbings
Man of the Match: Emma Thomas