Ladies 4s Match reports

The Ladies 4s travelled to Sutton Valence in a sadly depleted state, taking to the field with just 10 players, including a very poorly Jessica whose resilience simply to be there was nothing short of exceptional. Their opponents, meanwhile, lined up with a youthful squad complete with a strong bench.

Despite the numerical disadvantage from the first whistle, the first half was a remarkably tight affair. Every player worked at an incredible level, covering ground, doubling up, and making life difficult for Sutton Valence at every turn. It was genuinely a joy to watch the effort and commitment on display.

A standout performer in the opening period was young Charli Pitcher, whose calmness on the ball and decision-making were assured well beyond her years. She was joined by her mum, Francis, making her return to the pitch for the first time in over three years and instantly showing that class and composure never truly disappear.

Despite all the grit and organisation, the physical toll of being a player down eventually told, and Anchs went into the break 3–0 down.

A midfield reshuffle and change of formation at half time brought renewed structure, but against a large and energetic Sutton Valence squad, the second half became increasingly challenging. Energy levels inevitably dropped after the extraordinary work rate of the opening 35 minutes.

Sian found herself in several promising positions going forward, but with legs tiring across the pitch, Anchs simply could not get numbers forward quickly enough to support the attacks.

The adversity did not stop there. Peanut was forced off for five minutes after a knock, and Hoppo was also briefly sidelined following a painful foot smash. This meant Anchs played two spells with just nine players. With so many players running on empty, the pressure eventually told, and Sutton Valence were able to convert their chances.

The match finished 7 to 1 which is a scoreline that flatters Sutton Valence massively. Despite playing the entire game with 10 players and periods with only 9, the Anchs players out fought, out worked and out hearted their opponents from start to finish.

An immense amount of pride should be taken from today’s performance. The spirit, resilience and togetherness shown were outstanding. On to the next one.

Anchorians 2-4 Marden

Faversham 3-0 Anchorians

Anchorians 2-4 Burnt Ash

Anchorians 3s 1-0 Anchorians 4s

Fresh from a 6–0 win the previous week, Gore Court arrived confident and ready. For Anchorians Ladies 4s, this was their competitive league debut and they showed right from the off that they were no easy opposition.

A very thorough pre-match team talk set the tone, ensuring everyone knew their role and what was expected of them. The first half was a cagey affair, both teams not really testing each other. Anchorians, in their usual white and purple, were exceptionally disciplined and organised, limiting Gore Court to virtually no chances. The only real threat came on 30 minutes with the first short corner of the game, but the defence held strong and Emily in goal was outstanding, a theme that continued all afternoon.

After the break, tactical changes brought a more dominant midfield display. Denise and Sian combined to form a dynamic and tireless central pairing, while Hoppo in her familiar sweeper role and Jackie who was making her first start in the centre of defence were she impressed and a wonderful calmness, stood firm. Rosa and Carrie were equally reliable on the flanks of defence, coming up with some incredible goal line saves and playing with real determination.

Anchorians’ resilience shone through in a spell of four consecutive short corners, where every player dug deep to keep Gore Court at bay. As the game opened up, Jessica and Peanut began to find pockets of space on the right, with Sian and Charli pushing hard on the left. Despite heroic defending from Hoppo, Anchorians were finally undone from a short corner sequence, Gore Court breaking the deadlock 18 minutes into the second half.

Heads never dropped. If anything, the goal lifted Anchorians further. Their work rate and togetherness was clear for all to see. In the 33rd minute, a slick move starting from Hoppo’s inch-perfect pass to Sian nearly brought reward. A sharp one-two with Charli released Peanut through on goal, with Sian bursting into the D and Jess darting towards the back post. Sadly, the final pass just slipped away, but the move itself was a glimpse of the quality this side is building.

Special mention must also go to Lila, whose selfless work in shackling Gore Court’s number 16 completely nullified their playmaker.

The game ended 1-0 to Gore Court, but the performance was far greater than the scoreline suggested. This was not just a group of individuals, it was a team fighting for each other, working tirelessly and showing the potential to become a real force once they settle into their roles.

Players of the Match (as voted by the team)

• Sian for her relentless energy and work rate in midfield, a true player of the match performance.

• Jessica for her clever movement and creation of space up front

• Lila for her tireless work rate and excellent man-marking display

• Special Mention: Peanut, for briefly losing her head and concentration in attack but making up for it by looking stylish with tape stuck to her head

Game not played.