Ladies 4s Match reports

The ladies vets faced rain and sunshine to play their first true knock-out cup game. After getting over the initial shock that the opposition were warming up, we decided the sooner we got started, the sooner we could get a cup of tea and a trip to Katy's bakery.

Reigate Priory, it turns out, are a really bloody good team and they slotted one into our goal very, very quickly. No problem, heads up, regroup, smash your own player on the knee... oh no, that was just Panda. Heidi hobbles off, Rosa hobbles back on. Despite another goal from the travelling team, the Anchs ladies were getting some luck at the other end, with Katy, Tina and Sara troubling their back line. Anchs pulled one back when Meg drove the left hand side, beat a player and popped the ball into the D for Tina to get the final touch and us all to will it across the line. Despite us winning a string of short corners, Reigate had the final say in the first half when they picked up their own clearance and scored on the break for the final act of the half.

For the second act, we dropped to a half court press which saw us turn the ball over more and after a mazy pitch-length run from Tash, Tina collected a brace (one off a hat-trick) when she popped the ball back between her own legs and those of the defender on the line. 3-2! Could the come-back be on? The defence of Panda, Carrie, Rosa were largely keeping the opposition to pot-shots and the midfield of Heidi, Meg, Tash and I were playing balls into the forwards as we tried to force our way back into the game.

Unfortunately the fact that they didn't seem to have played yesterday and their standard of hockey was a couple of leagues above ours to start with, was decisive. Two more goals from open play beat even player of the match, Kirsty who's number of helmet saves was capped at two.

Alas, the defeat sees us out of the vets cup, but we've had a lot of laughs on the way, and most importantly we've eaten a lot of cake.

A big thank you to Ladies Vets Official Umpire 25-26 Ann and also Phil who dragged himself out of bed to blow the whistle. Plus Tilly, no1 fan, Zoe for the photos and all the others who came to cheer us on today and the other games. Until next season

The ladies vets braved the cold weather to play their second cup game of the season. We started brightly, but found ourselves up against a very well drilled Tunbridge Wells team. Still, it was Anchs who broke the deadlock as I lifted a rebounded shot over the grounded keeper to take the lead from our first short.

TW's came back at us though and despite some brilliant saves from Kirsty, one from open play and another very nice short corner saw them go in ahead 2-1 at the break.

The second half, we kept trying to push back and some lovely balls out the back from Panda, Lacky and Heidi combined with great runs from Tash, Meg and Katy were a massive help. Rosa and Carrie held strong and Sara, Biffo and Hoppo didn't stop fighting.

TW snuck another one before Sara converted another short with a well composed shot, made the last fifteen a close affair. Or it would have if any of us still had working legs or lungs! Almost as one, our legs and breath ran out and the visitors managed to sneak another past us, but excellent last-ditch defending kept the final score to 4-2.

Player went to Tash, with Kirsty a very close second

Special went to Katy for thinking Panda's ego was bigger than her hit outs

Special thanks to Trev and Matt for umpiring, everyone who came and supported and to Katy for making the most incredible post-match cakes!

We dusted off the ladies vets (aka masters) team and took them on a jolly outing to the seaside to play Herne Bay. Despite some worries that their team seemed to have less grey hairs than ours, Anchs started the game by far the brighter side.

Lacky and Heidi picked up loose balls in midfield, with Laura, Jackie and Biffo making runs ahead, there were a few close chances for the visitors. Sara and Katy made fantastic runs down the wings, with Panda, Vicky and Carrie shoring up the back line in front of Kirsty.

After riding their luck on the goal line, Herne Bay counter attacked and scored with their literal first circle entry of the game! We stayed positive and kept pushing, with Hoppo giving the defence a lift, Mel and Hev putting legs into midfield.

We went in 1-0 down at half time, but knew we were pushing HB hard. Second half saw a bit of a shuffle, with Sara going into the middle, Mel on the right, me on the left and Katy, Biffo and Hev (yes, you read that right) up front. Shots from all three went just wide of the post, but as Anchs searched for the equaliser, Herne Bay snuck another one past Kirsty who was having a brilliant game.

I kept plodding down the left, desperately looking for a pass as Hev kept shouting "keep going" and that somehow got me player. Katy, after a big night out, tripped over her own and a defenders feet at the same time, under literally zero pressure to take special.

We did manage to sneak one back as Panda put a short corner my way for a tap in on the post but despite by far more possession in the opposition half, we couldn't quite make the draw.

So proud of how everyone approached the game, everyone worked hard, kept laughing throughout. Really lovely to see old friends and be umpired by the ladies most capped national league umpire, Ann Hopkins.