On Saturday Pickering Ladies welcomed Darlington 2nds team after their very scenic route to Swainsea Lane. With a team of only 13 players Pickering knew we had a long game ahead.
Pickering started out very strong with our midfielders Sarah, Anna, Helen and Ella working the ball into the D on multiple occasions for lots of shots on goal by our attackers. Notably, Sarah working some beautiful balls across the D.
Our defenders Ellie Hall, Zoe, Chloe and Eleanor were an extremely strong back half allowing very little chance for Darlington to break free and attack. Darlington only had very few chances against our very own Sarah Wilkinson who cleared the ball away with no chance of Pickering conceding a goal.
Pickering was still determined to get a goal with Lauren working hard to get the ball towards the goal. Pickering’s first goal came at 17 minutes when Isobel hit the ball towards the right of the goal that met Ellie Hornsby’s stick to get a tap over the line.
After that Pickering’s spirits were high but with only 2 substitutions we were getting warm and tired.
Thankfully the half time whistle blew.
The second half was very much the same with our midfielders holding strong ground in defending and attacking to keep the ball in the attacking half. In the 41st minute Lauren managed to win Pickering a short corner that found the ball being passed to Helen who slipped it left to Ellie Hornsby and the ball flew to the back of the goal.
Pickering held on as much as they could despite tiredness and battling a warm day to keep the score finishing at 2-0 to Pickering in the end.
Joint man of the match deservingly went to Ella and Chloe. And Chloe also got Dick of the day as it her last match before her adventures in Florida, we will miss you Chloe!!
Thank you to Darlington for being a great opposition, it was a great game!