Sheffield Shadows North 4-1 Kingston Diamonds North
26th September 2009

Match Report by D.Dickinson Back to Fixtures

The season started with a local derby against the Sheffield Shadows B team. The Diamonds were in confident mood and wanted to make their mark on the League in what was for some of the girls their first ever League game and for some others their first for 15 years! What was hoped to be a skate in the park turned out to be a baptism of fire with 20 minute periods being the order of the day!

The girls confidence was dampened when they realised that the opposition could skate, pass the puck and shoot. This was to be a game of end-to-end hockey with inspirational play being made by both sides. Unfortunately it was Sheffield that was to open the scoring, a screened shot from the point caught a slightly rusty Dawn out. This didn’t unsettle the Diamonds they just tried harder to reverse the score. Unfortunately Rachel “Potter” Rawson, the Shadows netminder, did not read the script; instead she cast a spell over her net preventing the determined Diamonds from scoring which inspired the Sheffield side to score two more!

Three goals down the Diamonds entered the second period trying to put things right. A fantastic set piece between Elaine Kennington and Beth Davis resulted in an outstanding goal breaking “Potters” spell. Unfortunately this glimmer of hope was dashed by a fourth goal by the Shadows.

The third period opened 4 – 1 and this is how it finished. It would be fair to say that the score did not represent the flow of the play as it was end to end and the Diamonds were not out classed by Sheffield’s out players with result coming down to Sheffield’s outstanding netminder who faced 22 shots compared to Dawns 36.

Although a little downhearted by the final score the Girls learnt a lot from their first game and certainly impressed their opposition who complemented the Diamonds on their performance. With a little more confidence these Diamonds shouldn’t be underestimated.