Timperley 1s vs Ben Rhydding 1s (12th November 2017)

In our final home game before the mid season break all eyes were on Timperley taking the three points from the Rhydding game, with their recent solid performances, the team felt positive and as the coach said “Let Your team mates have the best game they’ve ever had”. That was exactly what happened on Sunday 12th November against Ben Rhydding’s Ladies 1's who sat mid table in North Conference.

Timperley first push back and with a great start and attacking pressure, led to Leonnie Malloy in the 'D' and a 1 v 1 with the goalkeeper, who unfortunately put it wide, however a good early start from Timperley and promising for the rest of the game. Timperley continued to add the pressure, causing Ben Rhydding to make mistakes, which Timperley exposed, creating more scoring opportunities and possession in Ben Rhydding 23. A good give a go from the Timperley attackers allowed another attack for Timperley, who again unfortunately failed to score.

Timperley structure looked solid, moving as one unit up and down the pitch, creating chance after chance, wining several penalty corners, with scoring being the only thing Timperley were lacking. This was most certainly a game Timperley wanted to three points from. Timperley had 90% possession in the first half creating chance after chance and Ben Rhydding were not close to scoring, with a strong blues defence breaking down their attacks for majority of the first half.

With a few minutes left Ben Rhydding broke down play from a Timperley counter coming across on the left with a slip into the D. The Ben Rhydding attacker lifted the ball over the Goalkeeper away from goal, hit back towards goal and was stood ready to volley it in, however with the ball in the air Samantha Hargreaves managed to get her stick around the attacker and hit the ball the opposite way, and cleared the ball. Unfortunately, the stick caught the head of the Ben Rhydding player who went off injured and sat out the rest of the game. Due to the fair challenge as Ben Rhydding lifted the ball and was a 50/50 ball and Samantha winning the ball fairly a bully was awarded. There was a minute left and Timperley decided to keep the ball until half time whistle. It was clear to say Timperley should be going into the second 3 or 4 – 0 up, however it remained goalless Timperley 0 – Ben Rhydding 0 at Half Time.

Second half and this should be Timperley's game, however Ben Rhydding adapted their tactics, isolating their play down one side and the home side were exposed at times. It was a ropey first 10 minutes for Timperley who eventually got back into shape as one unit. The Blues started to press forward, creating chances and attacking the D, winning yet more short corners, with a near miss from Caroline Small just pass the post. Ben Rhydding were holding onto a clean sheet, and on 58 minutes they attacked Timperley defence, with a very controversial penalty corner awarded for a foot in the D, despite appeal the umpire gave the short corner and with a very well executed penalty corner they deflected it past the goal keeper towards the far post Timperley 0 – Ben Rhydding 1.

Despite fury from Timperley, they were still in, three points were still in sight, and Timperley just needed to keep applying the pressure. With more penalty corners Timperley still struggled to find the goal. On the 67th minute Ben Rhydding attacked through the defence, hitting ball from outside the D in towards goal, Timperley defence called and all left the ball as no one touched it in the D and no Ben Rhydding players around, showing great awareness and defensive play, however the Umpires decision was to award Ben Rhydding the goal. Despite appeal to the Umpire from Timperley the decision stood. Timperley 0 – Ben Rhydding 2. Final whistle, and controversial decisions meant the visitors went away with the points.

This game was however, one of the best performances from Timperley in terms of unit play this season, and the squad will build on for next week, with the hardest test of the season with an away trip to Nottingham to face Beeston 1s. Even after losing the Timperley girls knew they worked hard, dominated, created more than enough chances and knew the three points will be theirs next time. Nevertheless it was a high level game of hockey and Timperley continue to strive forward.

POM – Samantha Hargreaves and Caroline Small for a great performance.

DOD – Alice Cribb for a fake tan!