Ladies left searching for goal scoring fireworks in damp defeat!

In lashing rain and wind, Marlborough ladies confidently stepped out to face the side that were sitting near the top of the league table. Redlands had first push back, but Marlborough quickly turned the ball over for the first attack into the Redlands defence. This quick start saw the greens dominating in the Redlands defensive territory, putting the opposition on the back foot. Good passing play between midfielders Ness Pickford-Smith, Penny Bowen and Rachel Cox got the ball out to Becki Marnane on the right wing, where she delivered a lightning cross into the circle, but Marlborough were unable to score.

Some counterattacking from Redlands suddenly gave the Marlborough defence something to think about as the opposition won their first short corner of the game. Excellent defending from Marlborough meant they were unable to convert their chance. Play continued at a fierce pace from end to end, with plenty of turn overs, exciting counterattacking from both sides, but it was Marlborough dominating this good Redlands team. Unfortunately the first half arrived with no score.

Changing ends and facing a strong headwind, Marlborough couldn’t maintain the same dominance in the second half, and it was’t long before a Redlands counterattack ended in a goal. Redlands pressed home the advantage, and managed to win numerous short corners. The Marlborough defence held out, with a brilliant stop on the line by Sarah Kendall. Despite a number of breakaways from Marlborough, the greens were unable to level the score, and a passage of countering play for Redlands saw them slip in a lucky second goal. A few more short corners for Redlands came, but Marlborough's tireless defence didn’t let them convert - another great save from goalie Vicky Moxham was cleared out by the defence. After another successful breakdown and clearance of a Redlands short corner, the opposition picked up the stray ball and drove in to the circle to score their third goal of the match.

With limited time on the clock, Marlborough rallied with a strong run forward and were rewarded with their first and only short corner. Alex Crosby-Jones' rebounded strike off the keeper was deftly followed up by Penny Bowen, who slotted the ball into the corner of the goal. Sadly it was too little too late for the home side and the match ended 3-1 to Redlands.

Ness Pickford-Smith was man of the match.