Their last meeting
having ended 8:0, Newmarket were expecting a tougher game from St
Ives, on their home turf, particularly when their 3rd
team, currently in the premier division, had just played and were on
hand to lend support.
Both teams may have been
affected by the cold as the game was very slow to start, neither
team exerting much pressure. St Ives were put on the defensive as
the game was taken into their half but attempts on goal were not
forthcoming. This initial movement of the game was to set the
pattern as Newmarket defended
their half way line making it hard for St Ives to get near the goal.
As Newmarket began to
thaw out the passing became more accurate and the game was taken
more often into the St Ives D, Rachel Allen working hard on the
right wing. A short corner opportunity came and Lydia Fyson took
her place to provide a good solid shot, which Sarah Haird deflected
in by the right post.
St Ives made good use of
the width of the pitch, often sending the ball down the wings to
make headway into Newmarket’s
territory. Town’s defence proved solid however and such attempts
were dispelled from the D or stopped shortly after the halfway line.
Fyson again showed the
quality of her hits, scoring Town’s second from the top of the D.
Shortly afterwards, one touch by Tracy Cockerill on a Beth Wombwell
ball, directed it past the ‘keeper’s foot to find the backboard.
The game continued in a
similar manner after half time, with play more consistently in St
Ives’ half. The Newmarket defence proved flexible, sending any
balls from St Ives back to the Town forwards for another attack –
Sam Smith, playing centre back, venturing all the way to the
baseline herself on one occasion.
Later on in the second
half the middle of the pitch was often clear allowing centre-field
players on both sides room to manoeuvre. St Ives rarely made it as
far as the D whereas one Newmarket venture resulted in Wombwell
emerging victorious from a 1 on 1 with the home ‘keeper.
The final score was
reflective of play but the game had remained slow and neither team
played as well as they are able.
Newmarket entertain
Peterborough 4s at Nowton Park, 12.30 on Saturday.
