The girls started off very tentatively and struggled to get a foot hold in the game in the early exchanges despite Georgia opening the scoring after just 2 minutes putting her head in where it hurts to beat the oncoming keeper. Eventually the girls settled and stated to play some nice expansive football which Mansfield found hard to deal with.

With the clock on 15 minutes Katie M who started her 100^th consecutive game placed the ball for a free kick 25 yards out after Emily was bundled off the ball. With a sweet strike Katie opened her account bending the ball past the wall and into the net. The girls really settled then and played much better and it wasn’t long before Katie latched onto a lovely through ball from Saff to slide the ball past the onrushing keeper. Straight from the kick off the girls regained possession on the right, Mia fed Anna who squared the ball to Katie W who found Katie M who with a cheeky back heel put Robyn through to apply the finish to a superb team goal.

Over the last few weeks we have worked on dead balls and heading, with Georgia’s sheer pace down the left she delivered the perfect cross for Mia to head home our second headed goal of the game.

With the whistle still ringing in the ears of the players for the start of the second half, Saff wriggled through to slot home her first and the teams 6^th. This was soon followed with her second, finishing a brilliant spell of possession. Katie W has managed to score in the teams opening fixture of the season since we started five seasons ago and she was not to be outdone today. Picking the ball up on the right wing, cutting past three defenders and sliding the ball into the far corner of the net ensured her run remains.

Having worked hard in midfield, Emily got her reward with a well taken drive to make it 9. Katie M who was now on a hat trick picked up the ball out wide left, cut in and beat the keeper at the near post to mark her special day with a hat trick. With all the girls now pushing on Woodlands were continually denied by a quite brilliant Mansfield keeper who was the best player on the pitch. Emily found herself free only to be denied by the keeper but Georgia was there to knock home the “spillage” Martin !!!!!

Saff was not to be denied her hat trick either smashing home and unstoppable drive that was quickly followed by another for the hard working Emily. To Mansfield’s huge credit they never once gave up and right at the death Mansfield’s No.4 broke clear, with Robyn and Becky snapping at her heels she still got off a good shot that was met with an outstanding one handed tip round the post by Annie in the Woodlands goal.

The games foundations today were built by all the players at the back, Annie who did everything that was asked of her, Becky, Peggy and Chelsea were all outstanding. The midfield which had Mia, Georgia, Emily, Saff, Katie W, Anna, Robyn and Amy in its ranks at various points looked sharp and controlled along with a forward line of Katie M, Hannah and Grace who did everything asked of them and more today.

Thanks to all the parents for getting the girls there in plenty of time and I am sure you will all agree it was nice to see them run out in our new club colours.

Thanks to all the coaches for your input throughout the game and to Martin for running the line and Donna for the tea stall. Its a team effort all the way.

Very proud of you all