Women's 3rd XI Vs OPM

This was always going to be a tough fixture and Caradon knew they had to start strong straight from the whistle! Caradon had the bit between their teeth and came out ready to fight hard and dominated the first half of this match. Pippa Hedley, Abi Larigo and Rach Luiten worked hard and won the ball back in the centre of the pitch to keep the pressure on, forwards Jayne Longrigg and Erryn Lockett put pressure on the visitors and eventually in the final minutes of the first half a goal came when a pass from Longrigg was picked up by Lockett who slotted the ball through the keepers legs.

The second half saw a change in strategy from the visiting team with them putting all efforts into driving forward bounding the Caradon players out of way if required! Caradon stood firm and tried to keep their heads. Caradons’ defence of Delia Woodman, Shelley Lockett, Emma Link and Abbie Strevens and keeper Lauren Bowdler worked hard to thwart OPMs drives forward and well timed tackles and clearances were a plenty! Unfortunately a foot penalty in front of goal from Link lead to a penalty flick being awarded and OPM relished the opportunity to level the scoreboard and get back into this game. Keeper Bowdler was unfortunately sent the wrong way and the score line was equaled. This spurred the visitors on, Nic Batten and Bryony Gubbins ran theirselves ragged trying to mark OPMs quick wingers who had looked dangerous all the way through the match and even more so since they had drawn level. Unfortunately the youth of the OPM team won through when their constant pressure paid off and in the dying minutes they took the lead with a well worked goal. Caradon should be proud of their performance with this battle of wills game. The young players in the team coped extremely well with the physical game. Player of the match was Rach Luiten.