PHC L1's 3 all draw against Wycombe L1's 07.02.2015

Chiswick Ladies took on the Wycombe today in what one describe as a game filled with blood, sweat, passion and tears.

It all began in the warm up when our incumbent captain Lisa Crane began peppering the team with over zealous nuggets of sports wisdom and catch phrases. It was received and heard loud and clear from our northern pocket rocket, whose passion and talking was unwavering throughout the match; with Pras Puna and her, our unofficial sideline commentators who entertained us with their opinions and felt the need to enlighten the referee on the rules of hockey on several occasions, with the referee turning on one occasion towards both ladies in what one would say in a theatrical declaration "I beseech you." They were momentarily silenced.

Wycombe came to play and play they did dominate most of the possession and territory in the first half, which resulted in them opening the scoring. That is not to say Chiswick did have their chances and created some wonderful opportunities to level, but went into halftime 0-1 down. 
Down, but never out of this game. The second half- Chiswick worked tirelessly but without reward and unfortunately Wycombe put another goal in. 2-0 down a rather ominous outcome was on the cards. But not in the hearts and minds of Chiswick. It was all part of the plan lulling them into a false sense of security. Every body loves a comeback. Sitting pretty at 2-0 Wycome were turned inside out and my my my how the tables turned within ten minutes.
 
After some tactical changes, Bex Smith put on her superwoman cape and was everywhere. Through a beautiful piece of team passing Bex Smith produced a fantastic power strike from the right and pulled back the deficit to just 1. Then again Chiswick were back penetrating with countless attacks into the attacking circle. After a series of dubious tackles and a tenacious Bex Smith earning a PC, which was quickly put right and she was given a stroke, much to the annoyance of "Big Red" the Wycome captain.
 
Bex Smith a true proficient of the penalty stroke slotted it in without hesitation. 2-2. Game on!
Chiswick persisted and again were back in the circle where Laura Patterson was flipped and took flight mid air but through fantastic advantage played by the referee, Bex Smith appeared again having apparated into a position to pick up the loose ball and power it into the back board.
 
3-2. Time to consolidate and hold on, we tried but in the last dying seconds Wycombe earned themselves a penalty corner. Kylie Burnett who defended brilliantly denied their first shot, but the ball fell fortuitously for a Wycombe player and she finished it off, slotting it into the net. Full time 3-3. 

There were some tears at the realisation of drawing with Wycombe and having victory snatched from us in the dying moments, after such a heroic comeback. But the bigger picture was our hope and dreams of getting promoted and winning the league. It has become harder, but not impossible. All is not lost and while this was not the result we wanted or deserved. We take heart that we can still get there and all is not over. 


DOD- Lisa Cane - Over zealous and passionate display of verbal fireworks of sporting catch phrases
MOM- Bex Smith- Hatrick Houdini and never gave up and kept believing! 

"There's winning and there's losing and in life both will happen, what is never acceptable is giving up."
We are still in this, don't give up hope! A week off and then Banbury!