Castaways show their class

Bury Ladies 4s welcomed Georgina Northeast-Roffey, Fiona Stokes and Alexandra Tomlinson into a much changed team against table topping Castaways, with several regulars injured, unavailable or called up to the 3s. We knew this was going to be a challenging game but stuck to an attacking formation anyway.

Castaways dominated early on, not making the basic errors we have preyed on in other games. We couldn’t pass through them so needed to go around them. And under pressure we made more mistakes than they did. We resisted in open play but struggled to get up the pitch to relieve the pressure. Ultimately it was set pieces that proved our undoing. Castaways' first corner went in off the left hand post, the second the right hand side board and the third, on second phase, the roof of the net. Kerry Woods had seen off everything else but you don’t stop those; you just applaud.

Bury didn’t give up though as players got to know each other and positions were changed searching for some rhythm. We found it and several chances came and went before Kathryn Mitchell fired home from a corner via several Castaway sticks. It was a more even game now but we needed a second before halftime. Unfortunately we couldn’t find it.

Castaways came out strongly in the second half looking to finish the game. They are a team who play together week in week out and it showed. Their running off the ball pulled us around and a fourth goal wasn’t a surprise when the ball was slapped home through a crowd of legs.

However Bury dug in and started to move the ball better as Castaways tired. A second goal came as Sue Yeates, slightly to everyone's surprise, drove through midfield and, having powered through several challenges, played the ball into the D where a trademark Mitchell shot on the turn nestled in the corner.

So ultimately we lost 4-2. But it was the best match of the season so far. Everyone was fully involved and gave their all. Castaways - a much stronger team than the one we played last season in the division above - have set the benchmark we are looking to attain. Let’s see how we go against Christchurch next time out.

Correction: In the report on last week's game against Felixstowe it was reported that Jen Clark received a green card for arguing with the umpire. While Jen acknowledges that she did indeed argue with the umpire on more than one occasion the card she would like to point out that the card was actually given because of her failure to retreat.