Move like tuna

The longer I spend writing the preambles to our match reports, the more surreal they get. To the extent that I wonder whether I haven't dreamt it all. This installment sees our protagonists sitting in a large circle at Wetherby services. Isla is feeding Tiny calamari. Nikki is taking things out of her handbag one-by-one and announcing each item. Nobody knows where Anna is. Did we leave her in Newastle? We're discussing today's game plan and Isla suggests we move like tuna.

Surely I'll wake up soon?!

And so I find myself on the hockey pitch and the whistle blows for the start of the match. It's a tentative start as both sides remember what it feels like to play hockey after the extended festive break.

First blood goes to Leeds Uni winning a couple of short corners around the 10 minute mark. The first straight strike is dealt with easily by Maggie and the back four. The second slips right then back to the P spot where the shot is guided past the stunned defence.

Within minutes the fightback was on. A break out of defence through Alice and Emily released the right wing. Tiny played the ball into the D to find Becca diving on the right post to defeat the keeper and score the equaliser.

Play from this point was pretty even with chances created at both ends. As we were breaking out of defence once more I heard Maggie shout "move like tuna" - I think I've fallen asleep and am back in that dream again.

As the half went on, the shorts were stacking up in our opposition's favour. In the last minute before the whistle blew for the break, Leeds took the lead again with another well-worked corner routine.

The second half started with us pushing forward to get back on level pegging. The best chances coming from Lottie driving into the D along the baseline and sending the ball back into the danger zone. Despite consistent possession the final touch wasn't coming off and the Leeds Uni keeper dealt with everything on target.

The next best chance came for Leeds when they committed players high. Despite isolating Maggie in a 2-on-1 they managed to miss the open goal. And we breathed a collective sigh of relief.

From that point the game got quite scrappy with neither side managing any decent period of possession. With a quarter to play Leeds Uni stepped on the gas. Despite our best efforts we were stretched in defence and space opened up for yet another goal from a short. This was followed by an unfortunate turn of events which saw Zoe slip ball through Maggie’s legs and over the line. It's ok though, as nobody seemed to remember this happening and we disputed the final score for most of the journey home.