Mamma Mia – here we go again; another early start to make a 10 o’clock kick-off in Camberley. Suburbia sleeps as we depart; our only accompaniment the hum of a faraway train rolling over distant rails – chi-qui-tita-chi-qui-tita-chi-qui-tita. You and I know how the heartaches come and they go and the scars Liss are leaving. The girls, eager to consign last Sunday’s result to the history book on the shelf, were keen to show this week the name of the game is football, so when Gary asked “Who wants to play?”, the girls responded enthusiastically, “I do, I do, I do, I do, I do.”

And play they did! Camberley’s goal was constantly under attack as the visitors piled forward. The orange shirts and black shorts of Sophie, Tayla, Beth and Alice were like bees about the honey. Honey we could not quite convert into goals in the early stages, but all the signs were encouraging. Tayla and Alice were whipping in crosses, Sophie and Beth in the thick of it, fighting for every ball. Then disaster struck when the man in the middle deemed a clearance from Niamh to be a back pass. The indirect free-kick, two yards –if that- from Blues goal was quickly taken and prodded home.

Disillusion could easily have set in, but this is no ordinary team we are talking about –this is Reading Blues! Inspirational Captain Katie spurred her team on and proved herself to be a real super trouper when she picked up the ball in the middle of the park, ran forward into the space conceded by the retreating Camberley defence and fired a thunderbolt to level the score.

In the second period, Blues really announced their arrival, all the girls hungry for the ball. “Gimme, gimme, gimme,” shouted Alice, before threading a long ball through to Amy on the edge of Camberley’s box. Amy controlled superbly, before slotting home beyond the despairing reach of Camberley’s goalkeeper.

Camberley, to their credit, were not about to concede the game without a fight. This was pure, honest football, unsullied by the money, money, money of the professional game. Niamh and Georgia were colossal, determined to be first to every ball. Jemima pulled off saves that David James can only dream about.

Blues were in dire need of a third goal to kill the game off. Jemima kicked delicately to Alice, who turned and put through Sophie. Sophie homed in on goal, only to tumble head over heels on the edge of Camberley’s area after a heavy challenge. A free-kick, surely –but no, the referee waves ‘play on’ and Camberley break –a shot that skims off Blues’ crossbar. Blues are now riled. Georgia takes a powerful goal-kick that finds Sophie, our dancing queen, who waltzes with ease round one tackle, then ups the tempo with a fast flamenco, shoots, a finger-tip save, and, olé, our very own Fernando Torres in the form of Alice is there to scoop home the loose ball.

The game now turned into a high-volt, energetic frenzy. Camberley pulled a goal back and desperately searched for an equalizer. Jemima refused to panic in situations that would have caused many a professional keeper to send out a frantic S.O.S to their defence. Instead she pulled off one of the best saves we have witnessed at this level, diving bravely at a forward’s feet to push the ball to safety.

The morning’s drama was far from over as it was feared Brian’s friend would need hospital treatment after Camberley cleared the ball powerfully. To use cricketing parlance the ball clipped his bails, and with such force it caused him to bend double. “Hasta Manana,” he cried, soprano style, “Why did it have to be me?” There’s a lesson here for every footballer; never take your eye off the ball.

There was still time for one last drama to unfold on the pitch. Following a well-taken corner by Niamh, Alice saw her shot hit the post. Beth and Sophie both pounced and in the melee a shot span towards goal; only to be blocked by hands that seemed to belong to a player other than the goalkeeper. Blues players and supporters alike could not believe a penalty was not awarded and play continued. Camberley, though, could not capitalise on their good fortune as Blues clung on for victory.

Recognition must be given to both teams for this highly entertaining encounter, and if football were music then such a wondrous melody was heard this day we must applaud the girls and say thank you for the music.

Camberley, though, had met their Waterloo; they left the field with nothing.

Blues returned home with all the points, for in this game the winner takes it all.

TWJ