Both teams fielded strong sides on Saturday and things looked set
for a good match.
Sawtry took the ball from the
off and had a shot on goal after just 2 minutes, forcing defensive
play from the visitors. An improving hit-out format helped
take Newmarket forward. Player of the match Sarah Haird and Gail
McDonnell worked particularly well together in the centre, passing
the ball back and around the Sawtry midfield.
A tussle on Sawtry’s right wing
shot an undirected ball out to the middle of the pitch, a brilliant
single touch from Sarah Hummersone directed it through a gap in the
home defence to Di Thomas who was on target but the ball wasn’t
touched in the D – no goal.
Sawtry retaliated and attacked
the Newmarket D but a defender’s foot kicked the ball. The
defenders stopped, expecting the whistle but the umpire played
advantage and as the keeper committed to a dive on the ball, Sawtry
put the rebound in an open goal. 1:0. The score doubled at 33
minutes when a lack of ownership on the ball by Newmarket’s defence
resulted in no tackle on the shooter.
Newmarket’s game picked up in
the second half. There was great team-work and advantage was made
of the whole pitch with some great runs up the left wing and
determined work by Rachel Allen on the right in the attacking 22.
They seemed, however, unable to shift from the defensive format they
had adopted in the first half and despite creating the chances, were
unable to score. Worryingly, it was the failure to convert chances
into points that saw Newmarket demoted on goal difference 2 seasons
ago. Newmarket host Cambridge South next week who are currently top
of the table.
