A Tale of Two Captains

Fareham Ladies’ 1s began the second half of their league campaign on Saturday with a 1-1 home draw against Exeter. It was a slow burner of a match with very little goalmouth action for three tense quarters until late fireworks in the 4th quarter almost brought a winning goal for both teams.

After some excellent play in the mid-season friendlies, Fareham resumed league action with the confidence that they had been playing well but knowing that they would need to find more goals and string together some victories to have a realistic chance of extending their stay in the national league. They had a good squad of 15 players with Lydia Jackson playing her first league game since she injured her shoulder in October.

In a relatively quiet opening quarter Fareham had the majority of the territorial advantage but blocked shots from Aimee Timms and Sarah Atkinson, after a penalty corner, were the closest they came to a goal. Exeter’s best opportunity came from a penalty corner shot kicked clear by Sophia Barclay.

The 2nd quarter was equally tight with Exeter having slightly more of the possession but struggling to find a way through a very resolute Fareham defence. The best chances fell to Maddie Schuchter who was closed down after a long run and later took advantage of a rare bit of space in the ‘D’ but Sophia was in position to comfortably deal with the reverse shot.

With the first half ending in stalemate, Fareham stepped up the pace after the break and came close to taking the lead in the 41st minute. Alicia Caillard quickly took a free hit just outside the 23 and her shot into the ‘D’ came within a whisker of getting a touch from Georgia Collins who did her best to sell the possibility of a deflection to the umpire but he wasn’t convinced.

Both sides had good spells as the quarter continued but without the threat of a goal. The final quarter began with the score 0-0. It was the furthest into a game that the home side had kept a clean sheet all season and there was a sense that one goal would probably be enough to decide the contest.

A spell of Exeter possession led to the first opportunity of the final period. Captain Kate Hutchings’ shot from a 56th minute penalty corner was blocked by Sophia Barclay who kept her composure to kick the ball away to safety.

Heading into the last ten minutes, Fareham built up the pressure and won a penalty corner after good work down the right hand side by Alice Lander and Georgia Collins. A second PC immediately followed in the 61st minute and the crowd erupted as TARA LEMON received the injection, took a step forward and drilled her shot straight down the middle, finding the gap between the keeper and a defender on the line, to open the scoring. It was no more than Tara deserved after an outstanding second half display from the Fareham captain.

With the hosts minutes away from a first win it was a time for cool heads. Unfortunately Exeter levelled the scores through their own captain in controversial fashion after 64 minutes. The visitors were awarded a free hit on the edge of the circle as a long ball was played into the ‘D’. As Sophia retrieved the ball from the goal she knocked the ball a few yards away. It was fairly innocuous but deliberate and the umpire upgraded the free hit to a penalty corner. A second corner immediately followed and although the initial attempt on goal was cleared to the edge of the area the ball was returned across the goalmouth and was finished off awkwardly at the far post by KATE HUTCHINGS. Exeter celebrations were initially cut short as the umpire furthest from goal went over to his colleague to discuss things. There was certainly the possibility of a foot being involved as the goal was scored but after a few seconds the call was confirmed and the goal stood.

Fareham responded well to the setback and pinned the visitors back in their own area but the resulting penalty corner in the 68th minute was cleared and almost led to an Exeter winner as they took advantage of players caught up field by launching a quick break. Maddie Schuchter passed to a wide open Maria Ward in the Fareham ‘D’ with only Sophia Barclay close enough to stop her. Unfortunately for the Devon side the forward failed to connect and a glorious opportunity was lost.

The game ended with a final Fareham penalty corner but there was to be no repeat goal for Tara and the match finished 1-1.

It was another fantastic Fareham effort that deserved a win and yet it could easily have cruelly ended in a defeat so a single point had to suffice. However, with Cheltenham and Basingstoke both losing, the result saw us edge slightly closer to the teams above us.

Next Saturday we have a late away game at Reading 2s (16.30) as the search for an elusive win continues.