An Unorthodox Win, but a Win!

ECHC L2 travelled to Newmarket on Saturday to face Newmarket 3. The game started well, with Ely having all the posession, however, despite numerous shots, we could not seem to finish the goals. A contravertial call by one umpire in the other's "D" did not help the matter when we were yet again at a scoring opportunity, but we carried on regardless. After 25 minutes of constant stick tackling, we finally put a goal on the board, after a beautiful bit of play by Rachel Carpenter opened up an opportunity for Kate Read to fire it home. We ended the first half 1-0 up. We had a goal, but we were by no means safe.

The second half continued in the same form as the first, until Sophie Robb managed to score from a Short Corner. However, it was here that our troubles began. Newmarket managed to make a brake for it whilst all our players were pushed up, leaving a potention 3 on 1 with Kerry Newson, our Goal Keeper. Kerry was straight off her line to meet the ball, and carried on going, out of the "D", over the "23", and she was first to it, however, she decided to play it with her feet... The umpires were having none of it, and a yellow card was produced immediately, with Kerry sent off to the sin bin for the remaining 9 mintues of the game. Newmarket were awarded a short corner, and Angelica Ferentinos was elected "Kicking Back". Donning the smelly shirt (as there were no bibs), and a Helmet, she joined the defenders on the line for the short. They met the ball with blistering speed, but conceeded another short in the process. The second short was taken and a shot made, but this was stopped and cleared with calm composure from the defence. The pressure was now on to keep the ball out of Ely's 1/2, so we piled on the pressure and went hunting once again. In te last few minutes Emily James managed to score, putting us comfortably ahead, however, there was still one more opportunity to be had. In the last minute of the game, Ely were awarded a Short Corner, so the call was made to push everyone up, everyone apart from Angelica Ferentinos, who forgetting the rules, decided a kicking back should be able to go past the half-way. The umpires once more seized control and sent her packing. Though we didn't score from this opportunity, everyone was delighted with a 3-0 win!

Man of the match was awarded to Rachel Carpenter for her relentless attacking.