Liverpool Sefton vs Timperley Ladies

On Saturday 17th September 2016, Timperley Ladies First Team squad traveled to Liverpool Sefton to participate in their first ever National League Hockey match. It was a pleasant surprise and something we are not yet used to being greeted with Tea, coffee and biscuits before we entered the changing room.

Although it was obvious the girls were nervous, the atmosphere in the changing room was relaxed with banter flowing and young Alex Pepper entering the oppositions changing room instead of the Toilets! We had done the hard work to get promoted into this league and now we wanted to go out and enjoy our hockey.

By the time we entered the pitch to do our warm up we were pumped and ready to go, the warm up one of the best we have undertaken in a long time. The side-line was starting to fill up with spectators and we were extremely grateful for the supporters that have travelled to Liverpool from Timperley for our first game of the season.

From the starting whistle we went out hard and we were on top of the game for the first ten minutes. The pace was quicker than we have been used to it but we were ready for this and matched the pace of the opposition if not exceeded it....After a small scrap in the D Nicki Walsh placed the ball in the back of the net, but celebrations were short-lived as the umpire disallowed the goal for an apparent foot. Sefton fought hard from here and a short corner resulted in a spectacular save on the line by Sophie Robinson who had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds. Numerous saves from rachel Small kept us in the game.

Every person on the pitch was working to 100% and we utilised the 16 players who traveled with us, however unfortunately, mid-way through the first half Sefton sealed the first goal after a break from their 25 yard line.

This is where we came together as a team and did not let our head drop. It was 1 nill at half time.

The team talk was focused. We had been one nil down before and brought things back. We were to go back on the pitch and step the intensity up again. And this is what we did. Not long into the second half a beautiful ball to Caroline Small allowed her to run the ball from the half way line, using her skill to pass at least four of the opposition before flicking the ball behind her to Nicki Walsh who struck the ball from Top-D, resulting in a spectacular first ever National League Goal for Timperley Hockey Club...... 1 -1.

Not long after we scored, Liverpool Sefton raised their game and scored a second goal....it was then a fight to the final whistle. Sefton were playing a very defensive game and despite numerous attempts on goal we were unable to score the equaliser. The screams from the Sefton back line to "Keep The Ball!!!" were encouraging us further to press higher to win the ball back every time. We saw the umpire raise his hands marking the final two minutes of the game and Sarah Capel ran through the half way line on the receiving end of a stick thrown in from a Sefton mid-fielder. She went down to the ground but Kate Goalen played the fast ball through the D to Jay Mortimer. Jay crossed the ball across the D and Lexi was on the receiving end of the ball, placing it into the back of the net!

The pitch and the side-line went wild. We fought hard for the equaliser and were rewarded with a point on the table come the end of the game.

This was a good start to the season and we are ready for the next League game, at home, Ben Rhydding on Saturday 24th.

MOM - Kim Jones & Rachel Small
DOD - Alex Pepper