A Waiting Game of Experience

As our club coloured beer, Guinness, famously stated “Good things come to those that wait!” It’s important to stress just how much we had all waited for this game. It was in our sights for weeks. Guinness might say good things come to those who wait but we say… “better things come to those who don’t give up… and the best things come to those who believe!” We believed in each other from the moment we stepped in that car to travel the 20mile journey together. Leading up to this ‘short’ away game organising the transport was quite eventful… a good 100 whatapps later and we were sorted! After traveling with Hannah and Bobi, Bazi wasn’t very pleased with her travel arrangements. She was having to listen to a breast-feeding masterclass in the car on the way to Durham. Meanwhile the Hodgson car was putting the world to rights about increasing young girls in sport and the Suze car was having to move in order to keep Princess Bass happy. Apparently, the dripping on the car from the bridge was offending Princess ‘hamstring’ Bass! This was also alongside Lou lou’s story who was trying to impress her teammates by talking about how the Kenya’s set off fireworks which have chili attached to them (by Hannah’s favourite stock object) and how they are used to keep the elephants away. As they say every days a school day. Fi also learnt something new. Don’t wear sliders on a wet day and definitely not to Durham! It It is muddy! Phil brought his wellies!

As we entered the sport area it was great to see Durham’s fantastic facilities. We were on the new pitch with beautiful dug outs, a section for our fan club to sit under cover and a very wet surface to play on! Not a surface we’re used to playing on but it is one that creates a lot more 50/50’s on the pitch. Good job the club have had so much practice at Lea Valley!

Before the start, both clubs stood shoulder to shoulder, to pay tribute to the fallen heros. 100 years, Lest we forget.

A quick sprint to our defending D to get the legs going and prepare the mind ready for the starting whistle. It took us the first few minutes to get into the rhythm of the pitch. As we anticipated the ball better the more we created. The off the ball runs and the passing between the players up the wings created more and more opportunities. We had waited this long for this game we were certainly going to take our chances. With these opportunities also came moments of defence. It was one of these moments that Farrah felt the need to sit down as she slipped when making a tackle. Amy was on top form and moved well around the goal to make certain every save, with her legs, arms and even her head! Our confidence built with every tackle and every pass. We generated an opportunity in the D and Bobs produced an amazing but not on purpose looping ball into the top of the net! GOAL!!!!

We created more goals throughout the pitch and pushed them hard on the ball. It was all down to the second half now. As Brian said before we venture back out, ‘This is going to be the hardest half you’ve played.” Boy he was right but we weren’t going to let that stop us. We were going to get another goal and so we did! Nicky who was bossing the middle of the pitch had the ball at the top of the D and ran in to pass it left to Laura who shot. The ball deflected by their defender made its way into the back of the net! Another GOAL for NHC!!! Wahoo!!!!! Durham weren’t about to give up. With a slippy pitch and 50/50 balls worth fighting for Fi went into one slippy feet first tackle taking out the Durham girl. Thankfully the lady understood it was an accident and wasn’t hurt. Fi gained a green card for her troubles (some say it should have been a yellow). Durham tried to use this time to press us and managed to get another sort corner. Now, we always like to make these games interesting and we thought we’d continue this tradition and allow them to grab a goal back. 2-1. It was important for us to take the sting out of their attack so we used all our experience of defending trophy finals, cup matches and play offs to our advantage. Durham did manage to get another short as Rach shouted at the umpire 'It's not a goal, it hit my foot, not her stick!' as Rach hadn’t realised he had actually already given a short! Yet another moment in the game that Helen had to explain what had happened so Megan understood. After we cleared the ball we stayed strong in defence. Everyone was involved in the team effort. Even the forwards got involved in team D. As we continued our great team effort, Julia came out of nowhere to do a great tackle on the 23m line and run off with the ball. This wonder run gave us some breathing space.

As time continued to tick, players began to lose their focus. It was the expertise of Hodge and Bazi to ensure we retained the ball for the last 10mins, where most people are thinking 'please don't let it come to me!' With Durham trying to regain possession, Helen and Bazi called on all their combined experience from their relatively young ages to successfully keep the ball until the final whistle.

It was the first match in a long time that the forwards weren’t exhausted by the runs into the D and it was the first time for many that we all had wet shoes, socks. shin pads, and even wet knickers. With the random heat in the November air and the wet pitch it might have been better if we had worn vests. Most importantly it was the first time we had such a fantastic crowd with us at an away match. The Applebys, the Edwards, The Stewarts, and the Farrahs all made the different. They were the voices we heard when we attacked and when we defended. It was the voices that made us step up that little bit more than we might have done. It was the voices that helped us to win! We can’t thank you all enough. It was fantastic to have you all there.

As Michael Jordon once said “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” Together we have taken another positive step forward towards our season goal. Let’s keep working in the right direction with our creative, energetic and experienced hockey. #team