Ladies 1 vs Blueharts 2 (Slip Date)

This week’s match up saw us take on middle of the table Blueharts at their gaff.

Dodgy availability this week ( half term hols and all that) saw us welcome Meryl, Cailin and Emma W into the fold and with only one sub available to us, we were set for a serious calorie burner. 

The first half started with Blueharts who had a handle on most of the possession, utilising some of their players at the back to pull through the midline and create decent overloads. 

Early on, it became clear that there really was no leniency when it came to the clashing of sticks and physicality with the whistle becoming the general background music down our end. Frustrating as it was, we battled on and created clear chances to show we were still a threat. Sophia showed off some lovely deflected passes and Nats demonstrated beautiful close stick skill to dart round more than a few of their players , with our defensive line in Cailin, Clare and Isla battling consistently to keep us in the game. 

Our physicality was fierce , which seemed to rile some of the Blueharts players (“You’re a dick number 11”…. Steady on!) and invite some questionable treatment (hope your face is ok Donna) but alas we were unlucky on not winning more decisions. 

Anyway, the first half was end to end and sadly after a bit of a blue flurry in our D, the ball somehow managed to creep over the line.

Harps 0 - 1 Blueharts

The half time whistle blew and there was a bit of deflation in our camp. We were fighting hard but just couldn’t seem to breakdown the Blueharts fluidity. We wanted a result and so we went out onto the pitch in the second half with the intent to reduce the amount of turnover ball and pack out the defensive formation to make it harder for BH to penetrate our D. 

Our intensity increased with us having the better play and possession in the second, lovely triangles, some pre- scanning and a lot more communication. Our confidence was building and we won our fair share of short corners. Sadly there had been a bit of a change up of our normal routines just before we came out of the changing rooms which confused all of us, even our Corner Guru and so we weren’t able convert any of those today. (seriously, what is the new number 4??) 

We continued to press, with Bryony (having changed up her pre-match nutrition routine by adding a can of Red Bull) having faster hands than a magician, flabbergasting the oppo with her stick skill, and Meryl using her speed to outrun most of the other players on the pitch. 

A controversial (and pivotal) moment came when a crash ball came into our D (from outside) and ended up in our goal. Umpire didn’t see a touch and so gives a 16. We start to move to take our ball, when the whistle is blown again… our officials need a chat… 

After some discussion and despite no one seeming to have a definitive view of what/if there was a touch before it went in the goal, the decision was reversed and a goal given. Gutted. You can’t win ‘em all.

The second goal killed the game for us and after a lot of hard work the final whistle blew with a loss on the chalk board for the L1s. Of course, we were disappointed but our spirits were very soon lifted with the 10/10 teas that Blueharts always put on. Pasta with a lovely tomatoey sauce and parsley garnish,much to the delight of GK Kim who was initially terrified it was coriander.

We won’t let this loss get us down HHCers, we go on to Saffron Walden next week with the luxury of being at Woollams. If anyone’s about to give us a cheer, we promise a banging playlist, entertainment and decent half time sweets

⭐️Player of the match - Clare

🌦️ Bit of spitting rain. I have no other stats as our Weather Lady hasn’t reported in yet

🍾Champagne moment- Donna for saving a ball off the line for Kim

🍝10/10 - thank you Blueharts, definitely worth making myself late for a 40th celebration (not mine Vijay) 

😞Special sorry - to vice-captain Bry for my absolutely crap bobble hat click and collect service