Many people often comment on the AWMA ‘micro climate’, the overcast Saturday morning turning to torrential rain, hammering the men’s 5s second half performance. Rumblings started as to whether this game would go ahead, both teams saturated in their warm ups, the retreat to the bench from Jenny and Baxter probably a little to late!
And then in the blink of an eye, the bright yellow sun came out and the colourful rainbow arced over the the green and blue turf. Gaaaaaaaaame on!
It would be Driffield who would start the brightest, comfortable in possession, linking passes and moving forward as a unit. Early saves from McCall kept the score sheet empty, but Adel would need to up their game. Tough tests in earlier games with Newcastle and Boston Spa have helped Adel cope in these situations. Byers, Jeavons and Goacher stopping the Driffield attacks before they met the top of the D, Henry, Straughan and Love, energetic and starting to dominate their respective players. The game settled down into normal proceedings with a early converted chance for Wood, a second added by C.Goacher. The somewhat undeserved lead settling nerves on and off the pitch.
Adel’s confidence quickly grew, inners A.Blyth and Hesselwood finding some space to distribute wide to Smith, K.Blyth and Bickley. The later thwarted as she thought she had rounded the keeper, only to be denied by a diving stick interception. Ball pace was increasing, coach Ransley spoke before the game about being ready to move the ball on before it is received, Straughan taking it one step further, allowing a 20yd pass across the back of her feet at right half, a delicate touch and away up the wing! Adel added a much more deserved third goal, another close range composed finished by Wood. Halftime 3-0
The introduction of Wood shortly after the break was likely to have only one impact. 4-0, another impressive hat-trick for the centre forward. Driffield snatched one back, a well finished short-corner routine, recognised as the undoing of Ben Rhydding in seasons past. C.Goacher would add the fifth, her second of the game with a placed tight angled finish on the right. Bickley making it six, latching onto a cross goal ball, deflecting the ball into the roof of the net. Smith adding her own party tricks, with some 3D skills, dancing around the area. K.Blyth rounding off proceedings with a thunderbolt strike and the game ended 7-1.
Many thanks to the umpires and the ever supporting players, friends, parents and canines for braving the AWMA weather front!
MOM- Emma Bickley – Yet another strong performance finished off nicely with a well taken goal.
DOD- Sammy Hesselwood – Almost scoring on numerous occassions, however preferred to flap around on the floor like a helpless salmon.