Leighton buzzard 1s vs Waltham Forest

The game started at a fast pace with Leighton Buzzard Ladies 1s having lots of possession in the attacking half, involving a period of great passing hockey down right hand side opening up opportunities on goal early on. Following the fast start, there was a period of attack by opposition which was soaked up well by the Leighton Buzzard defensive unit. Hard and high pressing from Leighton Ladies resulted in more circle entries and a short corner, which was well defended by Waltham Forest. The foot came off the gas for a moment, resulting in 2 short corners and a goal, making the score 1-0 to Waltham Forest.

Leighton Buzzard responded well to the goal with lots of pressure high up the pitch again and several shots on goal, which were saved well by the Waltham Forest keeper. Waltham Forest kept up their intensity too, but a counter attack down the right of the pitch with a D entry and composure by Leighton Buzzard led to a reverse stick finish by Hollie Taylor, causing the scores to be level at 1-1.
Some end to end hockey followed, but a good piece of transfer play by the opposition with a crossed ball into the D for a one time finish made the score 2-1 to Waltham Forest at half time.

Leighton Buzzard came out fighting again in the second half with lots of pressure and play in the attacking half. Following this there was a period of intense pressure on the Leighton Buzzard defence. However, some solid defensive work by the team and some brilliant goal keeping work by Asta the pressure was soaked up well. A quick counter attack led to a one on one for Gabbie Avola in the circle. A composed spin and shot narrowly missed the post. The opposition kept position well and despite hard work in the press were able to keep the ball away from Leighton Buzzard for the next period of play. A free hit outside the 25 was struck in hard to the D where Waltham Forests striker trapped the ball and calmly slotted it past the keeper to make it 3-1.

Leighton Buzzard Ladies keep their heads up and responded well with some quick passing out of defence up the left hand side of the pitch and a high transfer resulting in a circle entry on the right hand baseline. Leighton Buzzard then kept the pressure on in the opposition 25 and some great passing hockey into the D resulted with Gabbie Avola pushing the ball past the keeper into the far left hand corner to make it 3-2. An early free hit from the middle of the pitch passed wide left and a great ball down the line, led to a composed lift over the defenders stick by Hollie Taylor and a hard push past the on coming goalkeeper to make it 3-3 with only a couple of minutes to go. The final whistle went keeping the score at a well battled 3-3 draw.

Player of the match - Hollie Taylor