Newly promoted Crostyx L3s were off to Brentwood for their 2nd game of the season having won a close match against Redbridge 4-3 the previous Saturday.  On arrival Styx found a youthful Brentwood opposition energetically slapping the ball to each other. With no keeper due to illness the ladies played a kicking back. Additionally with turnout struggling, Jane Ridgway came back from the injury bench in her first competitive match for 18 months with a one hour call up from Captain Vicky Britt. The Purple team was the usual range of teenage and veteran legs and the consensus was for a tough afternoon.

However, already 2 up after 8 minutes through excellent forward play from May Martindale and Atie Wadsworth, Crostyx experience started to control the channels and dominate the plays.  The first half went their way (5:0) with the forwards repeatedly slicing through the opposition defence. The midfield led by Rosa Corcoran-Jones, always tidy and efficient, and Sarah Williams, positively offensive in defence, pressed high up to service them. The back line, with Caroline Barr as kicking back, snuffed out any danger before a shot could be made on goal.

The second half was a blur of interplay with more opportunistic goals from Wadsworth, consistently beating the defenders to loose balls through her speed and determination, complementing awesome dribbles and strikes from Martindale. Louise Standring got her first goal of the season, excelling in an unfamiliar centre mid role. Brentwood pulled in a consolation goal from a short corner, which raised a heartfelt cheer from the Brentwood support. The remainder of the second half seemed to drag out endlessly as the Styx girls tired and the opposition's young legs kept on running, but they could not find a way through.

Everybody had a great game with special mentions to Ruby James, L3’s new find at right back and Williams, Gill Woods and Barr, thoroughly composed in central defence. Even Ridgway having spent 18 months on injury working with the junior section, rose to the occasion to set up a goal. The match ended 9-1 (Wadsworth and Martindale 4 each, Standring 1).

MoM : May Martindale