Great start for our first game of the season.

The new season finally got underway with our first home game and well-deserved win against Weymouth. Prior to the game, the team decided on some goals for the season including, a positive goal difference and starting the game strongly, both of which we achieved in the game.

A positive, attacking start saw Marlborough dominate the first half with countless chances just missing the last touch into the goal. Excellent play from our midfielders Rachel Cox, Jess Davis, Kitty Cleaver and Alice Thompson, Weymouth struggled to get out of their half and with great communication from the team, the ball didn’t come through our press, which was controlled by Catherine Manley. Within the first 10 minutes of the game we were awarded a short corner and with an excellent first strike from Kitty Cleaver, which was rebounded off the keeper and Emily Carter-Davies on the post to lift it in the goal, 1-0 to Marlborough. Marlborough still had the fire in their bellies and kept on the pressure from balls into the D from Emily Carter-Davies and Beth Palfrey to our forwards Milly Dawson and Kitty Lloyd who kept working on Weymouth’s defence. Our 2nd goal was scored by an excellent pass from out wide to Rachel Cox waiting at the penalty spot who deftly glanced the ball passed the keeper, 2-0 to Marlborough. Weymouth didn’t give up, but Issy Davies made sure she the ball wasn’t going into our goal with some excellent saves allowing Weymouth no chances to score. We held our 2-0 lead into halftime despite an eventful first half including Rachel Cox and Jess Davis both being hit in the face by Weymouth players, Weymouth having a goal disallowed and Marlborough going down to 11 players.

Starting the 2nd half 2-0 up we were determined to keep a lead against our opposition, however, Weymouth did score from an unfortunate short corner which made the score 2-1 to Marlborough. But never the less that didn’t put a downer on our game, Amy Davidson, Annabel Ashley, Beth Palfrey and Emily Carter-Davies were solid in defence to make sure there weren’t many opportunities for Weymouth to come into our D and Marlborough came fighting back with an excellent goal scored by Catherine Manley with the assist pass from Jess Davis on her reverse stick, 3-1 up to Marlborough. Unfortunately, in the last minute of the game, Weymouth broke through and scored the second goal, 3-2 to Marlborough. The final whistle could not come soon enough, and it was a well-deserved win for our first game of the season.

Our player of the match was Kitty Cleaver who had a great first game with the Ladies 1s.