First game back since December and with no friendlies to ease ourselves back in, we anticipated needing to blow off some cobwebs and get used to holding our sticks again. St Ives started well for the first few minutes pushing forwards and seemingly determined to approach the game with some positivity, but it wasn’t long before Kettering found their flow and then the goals started coming.
The first came as Georgie won the ball on the right and drove down the line. A well paced ball found Toni at the top of the circle unmarked and with no challenge coming from a defender time was taken to place the shot into the bottom left corner.
The second goal came as a free hit taken by Cath once again found Toni unmarked on the baseline who then crossed the ball at pace along the back line. Harri connected with it first but then it was sister, Steph who got the final touch into the goal.
Our third goal was then scored my Lucy whose position allowed her to tap the ball in and the delight on her face at scoring earned some champagne moment votes too!
Half time came and went and the goals kept coming.
The fourth goal was another for Lucy who managed to hit the ball in the air on the volley to beat the keeper and then the fifth goal was also for Lucy who again was in the right position as the cross came in to slot it away for the first hat-trick of the game.
The sixth goal came as Toni picked up the ball in the middle and had the legs to take the ball past the covering defender. The cross into the circle once again found Harri, who then neatly set it up for Steph to get her second goal of the game.
The seventh goal was from a penalty corner, and once again with space and time Toni had time to pick out the shot and went for a flick that was travelling into the top right corner, only for Steph to put her stick on it just as it was going in to then complete her hat-trick of the game (I’m not bitter at all! Lol)
The final goal came as Georgie battled through a few heavy tackles to then smash the ball into the far corner.
Although there were plenty of goals to talk about we should also mention the composure Poppy did show in goal when she was required to play her part in the game, Emma Rs excellent positioning which meant we always had the option to pass back and round, and the driving forwards of our right and left backs Gracie, Isla and Evie.
An all round good team effort and definitely nice to start the year off with a win.