Bolden's Blog
Bolden’s Blog: munchkins, McMuffins and sausage, egg and bread
Published by Gillingham Ladies Media on October 14, 2009
Sunday was a great result again for both teams, winning 4-0 all round. The ladies first team were treated to a visit from Meridian, which we are all keenly waiting to see the results of at some point soon. Many of the girls have expressed their dismay at not knowing the exact day of air, as they have been forced to watch the otherwise avoided news!
The reserves played fourth in the league Long Lane, away in Kidbrooke. A busy ground, the changing rooms weren’t available until 1.30, which really upset the girls usual warm-up routine. This showed somewhat on the pitch in the first few minutes as although we were attacking well, we were doing in in a very half-heated and sloppy way. The girls were missing centre back Terri Reynolds, and once again had lost Kate Foster and Charlotte Abbott to the first team. New members Hannah and Sammy however were able to make their debuts, and we would like to welcome them to the squad. Hannah has joined us from the Gills Academy, and Sammy has moved from Gravesham. The game settled after around the twenty minute mark when Lauren Harris netted to open up the scoring. Keeper Jess Nunn kept the team in it with a few blinding clearences from the top of her area, after Long Lane began to hit back with a few surging attacks. Kirsty, Amy and Chloe Phillips were all unlucky several times from crosses and personal runs, but the second goal came from a tapped in cross, which Amy Russ made sure hit the back of the net.
The second half allowed Gills to settle more and gave Chloe Phillips the chance to score, after several unlucky chances. The team then saw quite a reshuffle with Annelle Massey coming on for Lauren Harris, Hannah Corral coming on for Chloe Phillips and Sammy came on for Rachel Ahern. Hannah Corral then scored on her debut with a well timed run allowing her to score from a long through ball. After all the excitement of last week, the game was pretty uneventful. I feel a need to make a special mention and thanks to Leanne Stevens, who washed AND IRONED the kit, after agreeing on a kit washing rota, Leanne has certainly set the standards! I was made responsible for this weeks washing, and after experiencing the minging kit first hand, I have alot of respect for kit washers all over the country. Sadly I did not have the time to wash the kit to this level of perfection, but to make up for it I did take extra care to fold it nicely!
Our little munchkins were in action also this weekend, with a nice and early trip to Southampton Saturday morning, meaning we have seen the sunrise a number of weeks in a row now, and McDonalds have made a killing in sausage-egg Mcmuffins and coffee! Seeing four coaches and all their stuff in my little car started off what was to be a day I feel I have to discuss!
We only had a team of 7 for a 7-aside game which was pretty hardcore of us to consider in the first place, as one of our darlings is suffering from a broken wrist. We made it to Fleet services and bumped into half of Sittingbourne, which was reassuring that only 30 miles away from a 120 mile trip, most of us were nearly there. We saw just one from the under tens, but were pleased that we had at least one player to present to Hampshire. On arriving at the ground we warmed up well, and Matt and I were feeling positive about the game. Until we realised, we only had six players…where was munchkin number 7???
We rang her 30 minutes before kick off with fresh directions, hoping that they would be close, knowing we were only 30 miles down the M3 from where we had last seen them. A more frantic phone call 5 minutes before kick off revealed they had got so lost, “Sat Nav” said they were now 55 miles from the ground!! Both bemused and panicked, we put “plan B” into action…we stole the second goal keeper from the under 12′s after clearing she could play, and put her in our goal, leaving our goalkeeper to be put into a yellow shirt and pushed on the pitch up-front. May I add how fantastically she played considering she has never been on pitch before! So the score gets to 1-1 and we are really chuffed with how the girls are dealing with a GK upfront and a striker in defence replacing our injured, and we give away a penatly. A soft one, but a penalty none the less…by the smallest player on the pitch…love how hardcore she is!!
So anyway, they net a second, and we start battling to get back in the game. And next quarter, we do, we score… only, the ball doesn’t hit the net, and so the Reff calls to play on! Bemused, BOTH teams stand around a little baffled, but sadly, the opposition got the idea a little quicker than my girls that the ball had not been seen by the Reff to have crossed the line, and pumped it down our end to go and score. 3-1- soooooooooooooo not impressed! Several of the girls were in tears, and Matt and I were so gutted for them, as despite a few really brave attempts the girls went on to lose 3-1. So I would just like to add in at this point WE WOZ ROBBED!! And to top it all off on the way home, I ran over a foot high fence in the car park!! grrr!
So that was the joy of my weekend…
Tuesday night training has reached a new level of competitiveness, as Ian has finally worked out the cheating that occurs to ensure a place in the 7 aside final and has vowed from now on to record the scores! Although a game of sausage, egg, bread introduced by Dani Farmer soon settled any complaints! (Paper Scissors Rock to most!?)
Lets hope the game against Anchorians Reserves next week brings some livelier news…
Kimi
