Keeping it simple

Our day started with the majority of the team heading to Coach Lane to honour Lina and support the 3s. It was a fitting tribute and show of the strength of our club and hockey community.

In typical 2s style, there's as much to write about the 'journey' as there is about the match in these reports. The important thing is that we made it to Durham wihtout incident; everyone had a seat in a car, even if it wasn't the one they'd planned or the one carrying their kit and nobody (finger's crossed) got a parking fine, despite the ticket machine at Coach Lane trying its best to thwart us.

Ahead of the starting whistle we joined with our opposition to give our own tribute to Lina with a minute of applause. In the huddle that followed we re-focused and summarised all the pre-match chat into three Cs: conviction, communication and er, definitely no cards. I'll admit that last one needs a little work!

We started the first half on the front foot, clearly taking note of the direction Becks gave us at training to focus on possession and protecting the centre of the pitch.

Against the run of play Durham City won a short corner. With the initial shot saved the danger was cleared and we were back on the attack. Immediately returning to their D to win a short of our own. Now back in their half we piled on pressure, defending from the front. The epic energy from our forward line of Bobi and Lottie, with Tiny marshalling the press from top of the diamond.

It was clear Durham’s high forward would be the target of all their attacks. Rachel and I soon figured out how to manage that, with one of use acting as a screen while the other stuck to her like glue.

The breakthrough finally came from a short corner, which I’m reliably informed was won by Chell. She then went on to convert it too with a trademark strike into the bottom corner - out of reach of both keeper and the defender covering the post/injector.

Spurred on by taking the lead we kept up the momentum and camped in their half. Multiple opportunities came for a second goal but their goalkeeper made some flying saves to keep our lead to one at the break.

The half time team talk was a simple one with the key message being more of the same please.

We knew they might change their tactics and that proved to be true. It put us under pressure early on as we adjusted, particularly in defence. Maggie kept us in it with some fantastic double saves.

Things eventually settled down and we returned to sustained periods of possession. Increasingly putting pressure on their defenders at hit outs. There was a real sense the second goal was coming. Fantastic link up play between the wing backs, Zoe and Emily, and the midfield of Pippa, Tara, Hannah and Isla, created space and opportunity around our attacking D. The goal came when the Durham keeper made an initial save and Tiny put the rebound into the roof of the net.

Not long after we’d doubled the lead did Durham get a goal back from nothing. Their centre forward picking the ball up on the P spot and turning to fire a shot through the assembled players to rattle the back board.

The aggression on the pitch increased as Durham fought for an equaliser. This lead to a succession of wipe outs - first a body check on Pippa, then in a single move both Tiny and Lottie found themselves dumped to the ground. This last was eventually enough to bring out a card.

As time ticked down there were some frantic moments in front of our goal including a couple of dubious short corners. We dealt with the pressure well and cleared out to the midfield who carried the ball out of danger. Regaining our composure at the crucial moment we saw out the last few minutes maintain possession high up the pitch. With that end to the match we found our third C... composure.

Players of the match: Maggie and Rachel