Just the right amount of alcohol

Is a Friday night team social a good idea before a 9AM meet? Perhaps, but only if you've got the formula for just the right amount of alcohol (if anyone wants in on this secret calculation, then Pippa's the person to speak to) and the only shots consumed are Ribena. Proof of this came as the clock struck 9 and the only thing delaying people was the parking machine... again!

One thing was clear as we went through our pre-match routines - we'd arrived raring to go and determined to put in a good performance. This carried through onto the pitch with a high tempo first half.

As expected from the Uni team we spent a lot of time in the early stages out of possession. Our organised defence and excellent communication between the lines meant that, bar a couple of early sighters for the strikers, we kept the threat at bay.

With the half progressing we started to build momentum of our own. Using the triangles created by our wing backs and mids to move our way up the pitch. The resulting forays into the D brought a zinger of a shot from Chell forcing the keeper into making a save.

Entering the final 10 minutes of the half, the Uni pushed all but one outfield player into our half, determined to make their increasing pressure pay off. We were a match for them and rode the storm of successive short corners, including one in the dying seconds of the half which drew a stunning double save from Maggie at the near post.

The second half started with the umpires holding true to their warning at half time that any backchat would lead to cards. Our captain Alice was the first to go - called across from the other side of the pitch because of comments made among the subs on the sideline.

This was soon matched with a card for a Uni player who ignored the whistle being blown multiple times, continued to play and took a shot despite everyone around her standing still.

Uni started the half as they had ended the first pushing to find the opening goal. A change in approach opened up our previously tight defence and the goaline came under threat as Maggie made an initial save and the rebound came to Craggs to clear on the line.

The deadlock was eventually broken with some neat passing in the D to undo our previously resilient marking. This was quickly followed by a second in similar fashion.

There was definitely a sense that we weren't out of it yet as we pushed forward in search of a response. Lottie took up some great positions almost stealing the ball on a couple of occasions as it was knocked around at the back.

Eventually we won a short from a breakaway by Anna. Emily stepped up to take the strike and found Chloe on the post but the deflection was judged to have hit her foot before going in past the diving keeper. Anna had another chance not long after, as the keeper came charging toward her at the top of the D she put a little too much on the strike and the ball soared over the crossbar.

As the game drew to a close and we started to fade the Uni added the third and fourth goals to their tally. We ended another game with a sense the scoreline wasn't a reflection of our performance and with the determination that it won't be long until all this hard work pays off.

Player of the match: Rachel