Over a fortnight of sub-zero temperatures finally released their clutches on the pitches at Friedberg Avenue, the thaw sufficiently progressed to mean a return to football for the girls on a bright mid-December morning. POSH were our visitors and were raring to go according to their manager a few days before the game. The clawing conditions of the thawing pitch even in the warm-up suggested this was to be a difficult and physically demanding challenge.
Bishops Stortford started brightly and playing up the hill, spent the first few minutes pressing in on the Peterborough box, Scarlett, Simi and Inka were feeding the ball to Ellie-Mae on the right who was pressurising the POSH left back constantly in the opening minutes. Scarlett had an early shot saved and Simi put Inka through for an attempt that was thwarted by POSH's re-shirted keeper. The pressure continued, Ellie-Mae putting in a great cross into the box that no-one managed to meet before POSH finally escaped, Louise thankfully on hand to extinguish the potential danger as she challenged and put the ball behind. The resulting corner couldn't be cleared immediately but Skye pulled off a fine save to push the ball round the post. The second corner was dealt with with reduced dramatics and Louise and Abby combined with nice passing to bring the ball away.
Passing however was proving difficult, the ball sticking and bobbling in the clinging mud, quick feet shackled. The midfield became the match's battleground as possession switched from side to side, firm tackle following firm tackle. Moves were difficult to build and chances few and far between as the game unfolded, though Inka was unfortunate to be called offside on one occasion and Tia on another, both referee whistles denying them good scoring chances. A foul on Tia produced a free kick opportunity for Emily midway through the half. Her clean and powerful strike was tipped over and the resulting corner saved, the POSH keeper continuing to perform well between the posts.
Taking into account the balance of play it was a surprise then when POSH took the lead, a rare break by their quick forwards sent them bearing down on Skye's goal, the ball trickling home in slow-motion following a last minute challenge that put the visitors into the lead. A little stunned, Stortford were slow to respond and now looked to be struggling with the conditions and short of an idea to find a way of breaking back. Their task doubled in size a few minutes later as POSH scored a second when the ball wasn't cleared effectively in a moment of poor team defending.
Ellie-Mae made an early attempt to reduce the deficit with a surging run down the wing, but the keeper again denied the light blues. Emily retired early for the half after a knock, Abigail slipping into midfield with Ellie-Mae dropping back into defence, the whistle for the break following a minute or two later.
Changes at half-time, Emily returned to the defence with Abigail, Tyler and Faye coming on for Abby, Simi and Tia, and a call to all to up the intensity. The response was quick, Abigail finding Inka after robust work from Scarlett in midfield. Inka stroked the ball home to make it 1-2 and the game was on, Bishops Stortford now with a spring in their step and the bit between their teeth. Ellie-Mae moved the ball beautifully past the Peterborough midfield on one run, only for Faye to be flagged offside as the ball came through to her. Needing a rest, Lauren now replaced Ellie-Mae on the right and defended her flank strongly for the rest of the game.
Belief in the come back coursing through their veins, the Stortford girls set up attack after attack, working hard to win challenges and find an opportunity. Abigail put Faye through, who rounded a defender before shooting to win a corner. Faye had another attempt saved, Lauren too went close, Faye another two shots blocked, the pressure was mounting on the long travelling visitors before the equaliser finally came. Faye turned provider now, passing to Inka who calmly found the net and the score-line leveler. Having run herself into the ground Inka took a rest, Ellie-Mae replacing her in midfield and quickly made an impact when she picked out Abigail with a lovely pass, whose run could only produce a corner. A series of corners followed but the scoring touch just evaded Stortford, who were saved by Tyler with a decisive tackle when POSH broke upfield.
With a draw not good enough to keep the pressure on Cambridge at the top of the table, a formation change was made from the touchline with a switch now to 2-4-2, Louise retiring to make way for Tia to go upfront. Ellie-Mae nearly found the winner herself with another great run before Inka returned to replace Faye and join Tia in leading the attacking line. Shots rained in on the Peterborough goal - Tia, Abigail, Scarlett all had shots and all were defended. Seconds, then minutes slipped by, the game ticking to its close and still the light blues wouldn't settle for the draw. Inka intercepted a goal kick and then was inexplicably penalised when she won a tackle and found the net, some thinking the whistle was for a penalty. Stortford won a corner and then another, the referee checking his watch as the ball was set up for the corner kick. Emily sent it in, the ball dropped in the six yard area and Tia flicked the ball home high into the net, the tension released in a crescendo of cheers.
Defences were shawed for the final seconds, the whistle bringing ecstasy to Stortford and heartbreak to POSH whose great spirit and defensive commitment had kept the home team at bay almost to the close. A highly commendable performance from them.
This had been the team's greatest comeback victory and showed wonderful character from everyone in never giving it up. This was also the toughest of games in terms of the tiring conditions. Everyone and especially Scarlett, is to be congratulated for the hard yards they put in on the energy sapping surface. And special mention too for her inspirational support in the die-ing seconds from Jackie which brought the best out of Tia at the crucial moment and for Jason's call to the referee for the corner when he looked indecisive. Without both of you, perhaps the final goal might never have come!
Result: Won 3-2 (HT 0-2)
Team: Skye, Simi, Emily (c), Louise, Scarlett, Inka, Abby, Ellie-Mae, Tia
Subs: Faye, Tyler, Abigail, Lauren
Scorers: Inka (2), Tia
