First League game a tough opener for the Green Goddesses

The 2023/2024 league began for the Lewes lovelies with an away slot at Blatchington Mill School (BMS), against Brighton and Hove 5’s.
It was a glorious day, almost summer hockey weather, which makes a change from the usual driving rain that seems to mostly greet us when we play at BMS. A delay to the published pushback whilst an elderly, sagging goal was needing to be replaced – a feeling that I must say I felt some sympathy with. Especially by the 60th or so minute….
Props go out to the umpiring team at Brighton today, who communicated the delay and officiated the game itself fairly and clearly. Although the final play is one that I must confess to needing to refer to the rule book about.

It felt very much like a game of two equals, with the scales tipping one way and then the other, with a draw perhaps feeling like the result that it should have been, but sport is notoriously not a fair reflection of effort. Although the finishing from the opposition was admirable, the second conceded goal was an especially fine strike. Apologies to Freya for letting her into the D in the first place, missing tackle from me putting our goalie under undue pressure. If there was a statistician on the side-line, then they would have surely calculated a higher percentage success rate for entries into the strike zone for the hosts.

A lot of personnel changes for the 3’s today, welcoming a host of new players – great to see some new players to the club, hello to Helen Gill and Freya Colvin – both of whom having a baptism of fire in defence today! Long periods of some solid defending keeping what felt like hordes of players in blue shirts out of the D.
Also new to the squad, with deserved promotion from the 4’s was Sophia Roberts and Nina Blackwell-Rayan who worked hard across the forward line and midfield respectively. Nina showed her silky skills and turn of speed in many a fine foray down the right, and backline – winning her the accolade of today’s players’ player. Well done to Nina for creating some great attacking opportunities, as did Maddie Hutchinson with some great runs. Work required by the all of us in making those efforts pay off – the final touch when heading into heavy traffic let us down a few times today. New combinations needing to settle in, with time and some head-lifting/pre-scanning, I am sure this will come.
The Lewes goal came early in the second half, with a fabulous lifted number from Jan ‘Goldie’ Goldsmith after some great build up from the whole team, pivoting across the pitch beautifully. A strategy that worked every time it was deployed – note for future my lovelies.

All in all, was fabulous to be back on the Astro with the gorgeous greens – sad it wasn’t a W on the board, but onwards and upwards to next week. ‘Home’ at Falmer to South Downs 1’s.