Driffield L2 3 - 0 Acomb L1

After a week off last week, Driffield were looking to come back and continue their winning streak. Acomb 1’s were sitting 2nd in the league table so the ladies knew they would have to have their wits about them in order to make this happen.

The unseasonably bright and warm weather brought with it it’s challenges but as Driffield won the toss they started with the push back and the more fortunate end of the pitch. The girls were hot off the mark, quickly putting pressure on the Acomb defence and having a shot on goal within the first 2 minutes, this was deftly saved by the surprised Acomb keeper.

The starting directive in the team talk had been to score a goal in the first 5 minutes; not wishing to disappoint the girls maintained their pressure and a swift ball into the D from Lauren Dinsdale-Young to Bry Sykes was slipped left to Chloe Rhodes on the post who skillfully swept the ball under the Acomb keeper in the 4th minute - objective met.

Fired up, the Driffield midfield Harriet Dobson, Alice Walker, Nicola Guthrie and Beth Dinsdale-Young were expertly breaking down any threat of attack from the Acomb girls and redistributing the ball up the field to the wings Ash Cowton and Lauren Dinsdale-Young giving Driffield the lions share of the possession and the upper hand.

Driffield kept a high press on their opposition, and very quickly turned this into another success, after a tactically placed ball on the foot of an Acomb defender by Di Levitt earned the girls a short corner. As the corner was taken the ball skipped past the striker at top D, catching the defenders off guard; this was picked up by Nicola Guthrie and a quick slip in and a rapid shot on goal saw Di Levitt earn Driffield their second goal of the match.

Acomb, who had not yet tasted defeat this season, began to lose their cool punctuating the game play with some colourful language up to the half time whistle, score 2-0 Driffield. Half time team talks from Captain Charlotte Smith and Driffield’s keeper Becks Lalor were positive boosting spirits and more of the good stuff was promised.

Our girls went back on and maintained their continual calm, collected play to outwit their opponents. It wasn’t long before this paid off and a shot from the P-Spot by Bry Sykes saw a 3rd goal for the Driffield side.

The Driffield defence, Ellen Calder, Mags Purnell, Charlotte Smith, Sophie Watson and Becks Lalor (GK) were impenetrable, disarming each wave of attack from Acomb effortlessly and saving all penalty corners, snubbing Acomb’s chances for points on the board. One counter attack saw Acomb break into the Driffield D where they managed a shot goalward; this went wide but in the process the striker also struck Ellen Calder in the back of the head with her stick. Ellen had to retire from the game for her injury - literally giving blood for her team and heading (pun intended) to Minor Injuries.

The final whistle blew at a score of 3-0 to Driffield L2’s; the girls can hold their heads high as this respectful win sees them climb to 3rd in the league. The girls travel to York next week (Saturday 27th October, 15.30pb) to take on the City of York 2’s who currently sit one position above them in the league at 2nd; a challenge they will, no doubt, face head on.

Thanks, as always, must go to Bob at the Spread for post match refreshments for the team and to the umpires.

Final Score: Driffield L2’s 3 - 0 Acomb L1’s

Scorers: Chloe Rhodes, Di Levitt, Bry Sykes

(Wo)man of the match: Alice Walker - None stop effort and skillful redistribution of the ball throughout.