As the end of the season drew to a close the Acolytes found themselves top of the table, and uncatchable, on 56 points with 94 goals scored and a goal difference of 85.
Late season availability meant a number of regular players were pulled into the ladies 5’s and a changed team headed off to Witham to a cold and blustery ground. On the home leg the Acolytes had won 9 -2, however the 12th placed oppo were having none of it. An early break resulted in a short corner and a 1-0 advantage within the first 8 minutes.
The Acolytes came back hard with counterattack after counterattack. The now expected beautiful baseline runs from Charlie Woodrow led to a number of missed opportunities. Having joined the ladies 6’s from the 7’s before Christmas Mary Sanders added to her goal tally finding the breakthrough goal at 24 minutes in.
Not to be outdone on the score line, leading goal taker Jo Newman converted a Stortford penalty corner taking her goals this season to 21 from 17 matches with the Acolytes.
Witham were not overawed and were dangerous on the break with Lis’s calm and measured keeping being needed throughout the match. We are fortunate to have had a keeper available for all 22 matches, only not playing with us when pulled up to the ladies 5’s.
A half time calming few words from stalwarts Lis Foote and Gemma Leach with Liv Brierley in coaching mode brought focus on the need to relax and play our own game. Charlie took the talk to heart and pushed the ball across the Witham line around 8 minutes into the restart.
Scout Neville moved into defence for the acolytes in the second half deftly playing her fast game to outwit Witham time and again with beautiful square passes to Emily Scofield and Savannah Taylor both of whom kept the pressure on with continual passes into the D. Beth stayed wide and hassled the defence winning numerous balls to feed to the forwards.
Eventually a D entry found Marni Cochrane, another player who has moved up from the 7s this year, and the 4th goal came in the 65th minute taking the scoreline to 4-1. Not to be outdone Witham won a short corner. An earlier decision from Captain Naomi to leave Gemma in defence played off as a goal strike was deftly and expertly cleared by a player aptly nicknamed “the Wall”.
The acolytes finish in top position with 4Se beckoning. This season 38 players have contributed to our season (in was 44 last season). 98 goals have been scored and 10 conceded leading to an 88 goal difference. 19 games have been won, 2 drawn and 1 lost.
3 players, Charlie Woodrow, Lis Foote and Naomi Holloway have been available 22 matches with Catherine Clune available 21. Players have joined us from the 4’s and moved up from the 7’s. Working along with the 5’s captain has meant that a number of adult players have managed more matches than might have been possible due to flexible selection to help with childcare issues. Where possible juniors with Saturday school at Hockerill and BSC have been slotted in. 7 players have scored 1 goal, 7 have scored between 2 and 4. Charlie Woodrow has scored 6, Mary Sanders and Izzy Lawrence 8 and Marni Cochrane 11, with Jo Newman topping the list at 21.
With over 25 players across the 5’s and 6’s regularly making practice (and sometimes over 30) captaining this side has been pleasure. My biggest regret? Not being able to give some excellent players more opportunity to play – there’s sadly only 14 slots available each week!
PoM Liv Brierley
