After a run of results had left them in a precarious league position, the ladies 2s knew that they had to se-cure points to help towards their survival. Ops got off to a dream start, putting Court under pressure and forcing them in to a series of errors. One such pressurised press saw Court throw the ball off the sideline with a quick thinking Isla Gallagher taking the sideline pass and driving at the space behind the Court de-fence. A smart one two with Allegra Hopkinson created the space for Gallagher to find Evie Little who placed the ball home past the oncoming Court keeper. Ops’ lead was short lived when Court pinned them on their own 25 yard line and a crash ball into the D was deflected in to pull them level. After a series of Court short corners they managed to put one away to go in 2-1 up at half time.

Ops started the second half as they did the first, pressing Court high up the pitch and turning the ball over in dangerous positions. They were unlucky to draw level with them having shots saved off the line and denied by posts. On one such attacking foray Court turned the ball over and broke from wide with an overload of players to score at the back post to go 3-1 up. Ops were having none of it and refused to back down. A mazy run and fizzed in pass from Laurel Fry caused chaos with Emily Allon reacting quickest and finding a Court foot on the line, penalty stroke to Ops. Up stepped Erin Fuller who made no mistake to bring Ops back to within one. With time ticking away and just minutes left Ops rolled the dice and substituted off their keeper for an additional forward in the hopes of getting another goal. The gamble paid off when Demi Broome picked up the ball high and wide and fired in a cross that was forced home by Allon to draw Ops level. Even this late in the game Court pushed for a winner but the Ops defence was resolute, winning the ball near the own back line and clearing high to secure the draw.

A fantastic fightback from the team who travel to Blackheath next week for a season defining 10th v 11th bat-tle.