On Saturday the Tigers made the long trip to play away at the recent Plate winners, Stotfold Lilacs.
The game kicked off with the hosts firmly on top, largely due to the driving runs of the hosts number 10. From one of these powerful runs the number 10 unleashed a ferocious shot low into the corner, which was fantastically saved by Poppy. But you guessed it, as with the last couple of games the ball landed at the feet of an on rushing forward who had the task of rolling the ball into an empty net.
As with the previous two matches, the hosts scored their second almost immediately and to be fair, it was a deserved lead.
The 2nd quarter kicked off with the Tigers finally starting to show their fight.
A corner from Carey was cleared by the hosts who looked to break out from the back, in stepped Caitlin to break up the counter attack and play a fantastic ball through to Izzy, who picked up the pass and drove at the hosts defence. From this driving run the ball shifted across the box to an unmarked Nyla who slammed home the loose ball.
However, the fight back faltered just before half time with the Stotfold number 10 playing a fantastic through ball to the striker who finished extremely well into the top of the goal.
Half time 3-1 Stotfold
The third quarter kicked off with the Tigers finally starting to look themselves, putting the hosts onto the back foot. The Tigers just couldn’t score, that was until Carey picked up the ball around the halfway line and drove towards goal, beating two players before finishing well into the top of the net.
This should have been the moment which lit the torch paper, but it was to be very short lived, as almost from kick off the hosts scored their 4th to reestablish their two goal advantage.
The third quarter continued in much the same way, with the Tigers looking positive and strong, but the hosts looking dangerous on the break. This pattern of play continued into the 4th quarter and it looked to be that the game would fizzle out to its conclusion. However, another driving run from Carey was picked up by Sophia who smashed the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.
Following on from their 3rd goal the Tigers the completely out played the hosts who really were hanging on. Unfortunately, no further chances were taken and the Tigers had somehow lost the game.
4-3 Stotfold
The girls again put in a Fantastic shift and this game more than any of the others, has left me wondering how we haven’t won.
Going forward, I hope the one take away all of the girls have is that they can do it, they just have to believe in themselves. For me, that was the big difference in their performance over the two half’s.
Another great performance, although a slightly disappointing outcome. But Stotfold are an established side who have just been promoted back into the top tier, that shows you how far the girls have come when a tight loss with a depleted squad, leaves you slightly disappointed.
Pom: Carey
Thanks to Coach Luke for the match report
