Timperley Ladies 1s vs Beeston 1s

Week 4 of the Investec Women's Hockey league took newcomers Timperley to the established Beeston HC. The visiting players and "backroom" staff (we have quite a following!) arrived in good spirits, if a little queasy due to a certain player's (will remain nameless!) driving, and with plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere, and work out which of the three pitches we would be playing on!

The home side kindly saw to it that the changing rooms would be decorated to make the travelling team feel at home...blue decor! However, Timperley switched to their away strip of white so as not the clash with the "Bees" of Beeston...get it Jay???

A sobering set of results last weekend meant all were keen to right the wrongs of last week, but nonetheless knew Beeston would provide a sterner test. In the shadow of the city of Nottingham, that historically has seen a band of merry men roaming free, even the umpire queried our buoyant mood! Ominous?!?! Timperley took to the pitch amidst an errant water canon and a PA system blasting out some tunes! Warm-up completed, they gathered for their pre-match huddle. The announcer worked his way through the names of each squad...some "exotic" interpretations of our names lead some to think they had recruited a new player "Number 10: Layonee Mallory!" (In fairness she may have had a better game than the present incumbent!) The music eventually died down...the whistle blown...

To say Timperley had a faltering start would perhaps be a disservice to the clinical finishing of the opposition. Within four minutes, the PA music still rattling round in their heads, Timperley found themselves 2-0 down. Crazily conceding the two goals seemed to jump start the travelling side and they started to string a few passes together and create a few of their own chances. The ball patrol employed by Beeston were a little timid and weren't always feeding the balls in when Timperley wanted who were keen to try to catch the home side out. The half-time whistle blew and saw the blue contingent trailing the "Bees" 3-0.

The half-time team talk was made more tricky due to the music over the PA system...a nice touch if a little distracting! Being 3-0 down you may think it was time to panic, but that does not quite tell the picture of the half. Aside from the first four minutes of madness Timperley had created chances, the clinical finishing of the home side a telling difference.

The second half promised much for the travelling blues but offered scant consolation. A succession of short corners proved unsuccessful, a shot eventually crossing the line but above the backboard! Perhaps the overly dramatic music played when a short corner was awarded threw the away team off their game? A marauding run by Kate Goalen late into the second half gave Timperley their consolatory goal. A superb strike from Kim Nkonde, that was on a par with the sublime finishing of the home side, gave the travelling team something to take back up North!

The game finished at 6-1. Never an easy score line to stomach. However, a loss provides an opportunity to learn, and learn they shall. Beeston were generous and hospitable hosts. As league newcomers Timperley have much to learn, both on and off the pitch. This match report has purposefully not contained names of individual players (bar the solitary goal!) to highlight that no-one player is responsible for the results we get. This is a squad effort. They win as a squad, they lose as a squad, and they will learn as a squad. This was not their finest performance, but this is early days. Do not lose heart, as heart will win battles yet to come!

A challenge was set for this match report:

Timperley's Ode to Shakespeare

Shall I compare thee to last weekend?
Thou art less lovely and equally temperate:
Rough tackles do shake the Timperley midfield.
But resolve to improve is a fervent chant.
Three-nil down. What light through yonder half-time window breaks?

Ventured east to Beeston town, upon which Timperley's sun went down.
They fetched the ball from the goal six times.
Less haste? More speed? Dissect we shall;
To training we go to atone and test.
And thus come Saturday we may be best?

Timperley will perform, the date not yet known.
To home they went; to mourn? To scorn?
A derby day on the horizon looms,
We summon thee to the sidelines to chant, to cheer, to share a beer (Oktoberfest!)

MOM: Cath Thompson-Smith for unfaltering workrate
DOD: Jessica Mortimer desperate to keep hold of the DOD outfit she left it at home! However, notable strong contenders, such as Miss Pepper were edged out of this weeks award!

Timperley's next game is at home to Brooklands Poynton. A derby day promises a fiercely competitive fixture, and we urge you to get down and support the Ladies in their quest to get more points on the board.