DARK BIBS 0 – 0 LIGHT BIBS

 

There were so many players at the session that bibs had to be doubled up (black & blue being “dark” and Oranges & yellows being “light”), and this match reporter could not remember all the players names so there will be no team lists in this report.

 

In total there were 24 ladies playing, a fantastic number, and a show of strength for the fun that the ladies have at their sessions and all of the non-playing attendees (male & female) commented on just how much improvement had happened in a few short weeks, but for the increase in ability there was no reduction in the fun and supportiveness at the session.

 

The teams were split evenly in terms of ability, although poor counting by the coach, Tim Richens, mean that one team had 13 and one had 11, though this was evened up slightly in the second half as veteran men’s player, Rob Sheldon, went in goal for the dark bibs’ team.

 

There were too many great individual performances to mention here but as always Julie Rogers, and her daughter Lindsay, were superb throughout with the younger Rogers even having a break from goalkeeping to play outfield, though this time she was unable to nutmeg her mum as they were on the same side.

In opposition, for the dark bibs, were another mother and daughter, the Llewellyn’s – Nikki and Chelsea – who made sure the game was fair and competitive.

Alongside these were a number of the impressive ladies’ team from last week, including the energetic Nicky Frewin, Cheryl Ward, Jane White and deadly striker, Sarah Williams.

But this was countered by the light bibs not only having both Rogers’s, but also Jill Bassett (scorer of a great goal last week – unfortunately in her own net), aka “Shearer”!!

 

The pitch was probably a bit crowded but, despite this, the standard of football was very high with lots of good play, foiled as always by some fantastic defending, especially by Julie Postins (returning after a couple of weeks break).

This quality of defending, on both sides, was needed as the attacking was dangerous throughout, with Dawn Clarke at the heart of much that went on, but for all the great skill on show, there was also some great play defensively from her sister-in-law – Lesley Chick – which stopped the light bibs’ forward, Karen Heal, from getting a goal.

 

After a tough, uncompromising and skillful first half, the teams went into a short break level at 0-0.

It has to be stressed that this was not due to poor finishing but instead, superb defending and, occasionally, when defences were breached, great goalkeeping, especially for the light bibs by Jane Morgan, again impressing all she did.

 

The second half saw the same pattern of play, both teams looking dangerous on the ball but working really hard, and effectively, when having to defend.

But it was the light bibs who almost scored first when Karen Heal burst clear of the dark bibs’ defence and fired a hard and low shot that was heading for the bottom corner of the goal but, at the last minute, the outstretched arm of Rob Sheldon deflected it wide (not at a little discomfort to the ex-Bouncer’s arm!!) to deprive Heal of her first walking football goal.

Not to be outdone the Dark Bib’s had their own chance as top striker, Sarah Williams, pounced on the ball and fired in a shot that everyone thought was heading into the goal, but the keeper at the time, Sarah Davies-Walter showed that anything Jane Morgan could do, she could do as well and produced a fantastic save to keep her team level.

 

This late save meant that the game ended, deservedly, level and after much laughter and “virtual handshakes” (we are still Covid aware!!) some of the ladies retired to the Riverside Inn to enjoy topping up the fluids they had lost through their efforts in a fun but hard-working hour of football.

 

If you want to give this a try, just turn up at Kings (on the Astro pitch) on a Tuesday at 7:15, you will be made very welcome by a great bunch of ladies and remember:

• You don’t have to be ultra-fit

• You don’t have to have played football

• You don’t pay for the first two session (so, “try before you buy”)

• You do have to want to have fun

• You will be made welcome

• You can be any

  • Age

  • Weight

  • Level of fitness

If not sure – check with one of the ladies who plays already, they’ll tell you exactly how it is!