Ladies 2nds Vs Reepham

Saturday 15th January 2022.

Division 3 North East

Reepham   1     Broadland II   5

The first fixture of 2022 looked likely to be a close fought game between bottom teams in the division 3NEN ladies league. In the end it was a one-sided game with plenty of action. Play started as the sun set and both teams looked to pick up points from their closest rivals. From the offset, however, Broadland took the game to Reepham. They passed fluently and around their opposite numbers with ease. It didn’t take too long before Broadland opened the scoring. The ball was moved expertly through the midfield to Kelly Holman on the right wing, who ran in along back line and passed the ball to the penalty spot, where Connie Harris waited and easily slotted in her first goal for Broadland this season. Not long after this her twin sister Isobel took advantage of a rebounded penalty corner strike to lift the ball into the top corner of the net. Welcome back ladies Broadland continued throughout the first half to dominate the play moving and passing extremely well and looking confident on the ball. Another goal looked likely at any time, however the half ended with Broadland remaining 2-0 up. After a rousing half time team talk from captain Emma Goldsmith, Broadland retook their positions and kept up their lively pace. Reepham also seemed to have had a thorough talking to and began to pull themselves back into the game through the second half of the match. The next goal, therefore, would be key to the run of play and thankfully it was Broadland who got the next. After another sublime midfield attacking run, Connie Harris ran the ball into the 22 and passed in from left to Lucy Barber who was able to move the ball quickly and in a one on one with the Reepham keeper1v1 keeper swept a reverse shot into the net. Broadland were now 3-0 up. Reepham we’re still fighting strong and managed to create some attacks of their own. They even managed to force a string of penalty corners, during which the Broadland defence stood strong. Sweeper Izzie London on the left post saved a low hard strike which would have opened Reepham’s scoring. This bout of pressure however came to nothing as Broadland’s rear-guard held firm. Turning defence into attack, a London hit out bypassed the Reepham midfield players where forward Nikki Baker received the ball and quickly passed the ball into the circle. Holman turn to smartly to get her stick onto the end of that ball and dink it round the keeper for Broadland’s 4th goal. Rattled Reepham rallied and finally they were able to turn pressure into results. After another string of penalty corners, a clever routine of passing saw them claim their only goal of the game. With time running out Broadland found a fifth goal at a penalty corner when Natasha Blyth, returning from a serious injury calmly received the ball at the top of the D and after rounding the first runner slotted home a fabulous strike.     Report from Izzie London

Division 5 North

Harleston Magpies VII  4     Broadland III   1