The women’s 2s travelled to Blackheath looking to kick start their season after a tough start. Ops started strongly, moving the ball round with intent and finding space in amongst the Blackheath players. This early control of the game paid dividend when a quick breakaway from Abbie Hopkin found Claire Carter who won a short corner. In a reverse of normal proceedings, it was Adrienne Rowe who beat the first defender to slip back to Emily Allon to finish through the keepers legs. Ops continued to press with breaks coming from wide players Poppy Rockall and Laurel Fry, both using their slick stick skills to eliminate the Blackheath players try-ing to stop them.
Seemingly the half time break came at the wrong time for Ops with them losing their momentum and Black-heath starting the stronger of the two sides. Bea Allison, Carris Clarke & Erin Fuller worked tirelessly to track their players all across the pitch and keep them from receiving the ball. The unfamiliarness of being ahead soon took it’s toll and a mis-hit ball from Blackheath bounced not unlike a rubber ball through both home attackers and away defenders to fall to a player on the back post to draw them level. Determined to hold on to their first point of the season Ops dug in and started playing again and had chances to pinch a winner at the end but were foiled by the Blackheath defence.
First point on the board, onwards and upwards.