A game of two halves

Bury 4s travelled to Tuddenham Road hoping for an easy win against bottom side Ipswich 5s. They had a rude awakening. Recent 13th birthdays meant some impressive league debuts bolstered solid experience; we were very much in a game. Initially we didn't help ourselves, with a combination of slow ball movement and a misplaced belief that sticks would evaporate if we played through them. As a result we struggled to create much in an end to end first half. There was a fear that this might just be one of those days.

Half-time allowed us to regroup and remember a few fundamentals, not least 'see pass, make pass'; and if necessary win corners. The first corner of the half saw Jazz Westcott's first shot saved, but whilst the defence dithered she swept home the rebound to calm a few nerves. Ugly goal counts one. The lead was soon doubled. Ella Brisbane passed from deep to Bella Bridgeman whose early pass released Bryony Reeves to run in on goal and finish.

Ipswich kept running, their skilful youngsters causing concern and keeping Bury very honest. However we were now making chances as we were attacking space rather than trying to barrel through the opposition. Katie Green shovelled home another rebound goal to make the points safe. A fourth was added from the Kathryn Mitchell to Alex Tomlinson to Bella Bridgeman corner routine, which is looking highly effective.

Debutant Charlotte Whiting got a clean sheet where saves were required, including an early one to stop us going 1-0 down. It seems likely that Ipswich 5s will have a much better rest of the season.

Home next week, against Framlingham. (The first rule about Framlingham is that we don't talk about the away game...)