Timperley 1XI vs Doncaster 1XI (Away)

First game of the season saw Timperley Ladies 1s facing recently relegated national league team Doncaster, with the standard first game being away.

The girls were ready and raring to go, with a Doncaster boom box motivating the first game warm up. The game started off with a quick pace and all players brushing off those cob webs and ready to show off the "free time" skills they had been practicing in preseason. Even the umpires were geared up with their popstar head and microphones, some confusion (Schoey) to who they were talking to.

Two minutes in to the game, Jay "beaks" Mortimer took on a Doncaster defender and got took out by her butt! suffered slight whiplash and a bruise to her ego as well as her head. Timperley took the lead in the first half with a strike from new recruit Kim top D that took and deflection to top right of the goal, "cushioned" in by Schoey..

Doncaster had a few short corners but were denied goals off the line by Sophie "mouth" Robinson and her new confidence with a face mask. Defence were solid with Rach Small in goal giving the support from the back, Kate "flash" goalen with her calmness on the ball, Catherine and new recruit Kenny making great tackles and runs up the line. Annie fitted right in with the defence with her signature reverse interceptions and winding the Doncaster defence up.

Great work rate on and off the ball in the first half with some frantic moments, but calmed down by Jamie (coach) telling us to keep our heads. Schoey making a tackle on the defence 25 and throwing a Doncaster stick across the pitch. The half time whistle blew with some relief so all players could refocus.

Second half started off just as intense but well controlled by midfield with the welcome return of Horan to the 1st team, and Leonnie and Kim opening the play and interlinking with players across the pitch. As the game became more intense so did the cards, with greens for Kim and Horan, and yellows with Kim and Leonnie for late tackles, not to mention a number of cards for the Doncaster players. Timperley kept their heads even as Doncaster players and spectators decided to question every decision made by the umpires.

The Doncaster goal came from a rebound from the goal post which hit the back of Smally's kicker and in to the goal, a soft goal to concede.

The Timperley strikers kept the pressure on Doncaster with pace, passion and skills upfront from the Blex duo, Beaks and Fiona. The flair upfront gave numerous attempts on goal and short corners but unfortunately no end result. Timperley forcing the usual press as Schoey freaked out when a new formation was too confusing!

Full time whistle blew with a 1-1 draw, earning Timperley a good point to start the season.

MOM - Kenny - fearless tackles and even scarier death stare
DOD - Beaks - usual organisation skill as she had to buy birthday cards/cakes from a service station as she left them at home!