Ladies 4th Team (Dolls) Vs North Norfolk 2

The Dolls visited Sheringham for a game against fellow promotion team North Norfolk (the ones that came 2nd .... have we ever mentioned that we won the league?) A game that was to be played under a grey sky, buffeted by a brisk sea breeze, on a pitch covered with more sand than the local beach! Buoyed by last weekends victory and rumblings of fish and chips after the game, another much changed team approached the game with more confidence than recent outings.

Suzanne "Hotshot" Thorne returned, Carolyn "The Elder" Reid made a reappearance after a bout of ill health and Anna "Original Doll" Morrisey was back yet again !!

The game started at a furious pace with Dereham having the wind in their sails, several shots flew past the face of the goal and the excellent North Norfolk goalkeeper was forced into a series of saves. The forward line of Suzanne, Becky "Foxy" Cox and Edie "Top Gun" Topping were running the opposition defence ragged and several copper bottomed chances went begging. Suzanne was to break the dead lock in her usual dead eye fashion.

Everything was ship shape and Bristol fashion at the back as most of the game was taking place in the opposition half. With Tori "Back At The Back" Baker and Wendy "Nursie" Ellen mopping up any attacks. El Capitano Sands - newly powered by HRT - was rolling back the years while Anna "Original Doll" Morrisey had clearly taken Bev "Bucket" Chantry's advice and was fuelled by three shredded wheat and a Red Bull! As she barrelled up and down the pitch, making numerous tackles and providing attacking balls.

The tide was to gradually turn and the North Norfolk team were starting to make excursions into the Dereham D and the short corners were once again starting to stack up. One particular short corner was to see Natasha "Tough As Nails" Hammond caught amid ships or to be exact in the thigh as she ran out. Natasha has been in fine form since her return for a years loan and is becoming a mainstay of the Dolls defensive midfield.

One particular shot across the bows was to see Anna stretch out a stick and watch the ball deflect towards the goal, leaving the AGK (Ancient Goalkeeper) floundering but a dangling kicker was to catch the ball that then clipped the other heel and went off the side ..... the AGK was so sure that the ball had gone in the goal she had to be told it had gone wide as she searched for it!

Half time saw the score at 1-0 despite chances that had come and gone for the Dolls. Everybody took on board the necessity to keep all hands on deck!

What can be said about the 2nd half? That it was a game for the connoisseur? A spectacle for the crowd that wasn't there? That the teams knocked seven bells out of each other?

The half started at a rate of knots with end to end play. The forwards continued to make chances but seemed unable to force the ball into the goal. Becky was particularly aggrieved not to get a decision on a deflection of a ball into the goal but was to pop up immediately afterwards to make the score 2-0.

The Dolls were were not to batten down the hatches and conceded within minutes when an opposition attacker was to overwhelm El Capitano Sands and Tori on the edge of the D leaving the AGK high and dry in a one on one situation and avid readers of this bilge know how well that ends ...

Suzanne, Edie and Becky continued to create chances supported by Tilly "Saving Miss" Banks, Laura "Whispering" Garrod and Liv "Not Maddie" Dean. But with the defence playing quite high up the pitch the Dolls were sailing close to the wind. Carolyn "The Elder" Reid was to end one attack sitting on the astro while El Capitano Sands was to find that HRT may have magical powers but it does not include getting back before the leggy North Norfolk forward! The resulting short corner conceded by Tori "Don't Mention Her Feet" Baker was to be slotted home squeezing between the AGK's kicker and Anna "Like The Cut Of Your Jib" Morrisey on the post...

One of the more colourful moments in the 2nd half was when after a scrimmage in the D a penalty flick was awarded against the Dolls. As the blood drained from the AGK's face under her helmet and she plaintively asked "Why?" while trying to remember where she would need to put her feet in the event of having to do it! A lengthy discussion between Maz "The Marvellous Moderator" Doble and the other umpire, pointing out that the AGK was actually behind the Doll with the offensive feet (No names mentioned ....) was to see the decision rescinded and a short corner awarded.

However the Dolls still had the wind in their sails and once again Becky " Even Keel" Cox was to pop up and put the Dolls into another lead. The defence were all hands on deck with Natasha "Hard As Nails" Hammond and Tori Baker trying to stem the tide. Another short corner was to sink the opportunity for the win. When a ball travelling at a rate of knots was to go between the AGK and El Capitano Sands, surprising as the AGK is somewhat broad of beam but as El Capitano was to comment "she got a hold of that ...."

The final minutes were somewhat frantic with everybody pressed into service at both ends of the pitch and despite having several short corner opportunities just before the final whistle, the Dolls were unable to capitalise and the game ended in what should be said was a in all probability a fair result!

#perhapsweshouldhavepractisedshortcornersbeforethegame

MOM - Jointly - Natasha "Tough As Nails" Hammond and Anna "Like The Cut Of Your Jib" Morrisey for all round wonderful play.

The Booby - Anna Morrisey for very nearly scoring in her own goal but unlike Wendy "Nursie" Ellen not succeeding!!