Good away day in Ipswich

Having played Castaways there last week Bury Ladies 4s returned to Gainsborough Sports Centre to play Christchurch 2s, with no idea of their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses having been conceded the home league game. Initial instructions were simple: get it wide to our speedsters and go around their probably stronger players in the middle. When we dwelt on the ball Christchurch broke up play and sought to create their own chances. When we went wide early we were menacing, with Bella Bridgeman causing particular havoc. Bury took the lead on 8 minutes, Jen Clark reacting fastest to a left wing cross to slide the ball home on the reverse. The lead was doubled on 15 minutes, with Kathryn Mitchell the scorer. With three subs Bury could keep fresh against tiring opponents who continued to try and attack. That left space when we had the ball, Georgina Northeast-Roffey being the next beneficiary when she finished a flowing right side attack on the left hand post. It was four by half-time as another passing move saw Bryony Reeves set up Bella for the tap-in.

Christchurch kept trying to attack rather than shut shop and they got their reward early in the second half when Bury’s marking fell apart, the free player in our D sliding the ball home. Duly chastened Bury started to let the ball do the work and regularly created runners behind defenders, allowing Christchurch’s 'sweeper keeper' to repeatedly excel with a highly mobile style that created a conundrum we haven’t seen before this year. Bury re-established their advantage from their first corner of the game on 55 minutes, a combination of Katie Green and Georgina forcing home a rebound. Kathryn added her second with a deft deflection before Katie scored a collectors item strike from the top of the D. (We specialise in scoring from close in.)

Bury finish their season at 12.30 at Culford against IES 3s. A win will secure second place. And make the honeymooning captain very happy!