Summer’s sun is on the wane and with the drawing in of days it’s time to place all stumps and bails and willow-bats into winter storage. Let the multifaceted playing-fields of England be devoted to our nation’s finest sport – the game of Association Football.

A solitary whistle sounds; Sunday morning’s stillness at once is shattered and brave Blues sally forth on the start of adventures new. “Hurrah!” cry the crowd, their summer-long wait for action over. “Shoot!” cries Brian, his insatiable appetite for goals, goals, goals in need of instant sustenance.

Today’s opponents, Camberley, who enjoyed the better of our encounters last year, will provide a stern test. Concentration will be the key to our success and any ill-conceived notions of grandeur after successful summer tourneys our potential undoing.

Blues showed their intent from the start, each girl a precision-made cog in a well-oiled machine. Sophie, on the left, skipped her way round challenges before crossing to Alice, who shot wide. Sophie, Alice and Beth linked well to force a save from Camberley's keeper. Beth and Amy exchanged passes, as Blues surged forward.

Camberley tried to counter, but the resolute defensive pairing of Katie and Niamh kept the red-and-white striped opponents at bay and on the occasions they managed to break through they were thwarted by Jemima's safe hands.

Camberley tried to force their way into the game, but Blues were equal to the challenge. Alice picked up a loose ball, gained vital yards, threaded through to Sophie who, in turn, delicately placed the ball to Amy who forced a corner. Niamh drove her corner-kick into the danger area and Beth pounced, only to see her shot well-saved by Camberley's keeper.

Blues buoyant support could sense the breakthrough would come; they were not disappointed. Sophie charged down the left-flank, cut inside and whipped in a quick ball, which flashed across the box. Alice immediately crossed the ball back into the danger area and Amy ignited the cordite in her right boot to fire home an unstoppable shot. 1-0 to the Super Blues!

Camberley now began to find their rhythm as they fought to find a way back into the game. Katie and Niamh were called upon more and more, and Jemima was forced to make a good save.

It was now the turn of Blues to counter-attack and Tayla linked well with Sophie and Alice.

The game bounced back and forth at break-neck speed and Victoria showed her determination with a couple of powerful runs.

Camberley's equalizer came from a free kick awarded midway into Blues half and far enough to the right by-line to appear completely free from any danger. Perhaps this apparent safety was the real threat for the kicker struck the ball low, hard and straight. On another day the ball would have hit a multitude of legs, but on this day the ball found its path clear into the bottom corner of Blue's goal.

Unperturbed, Blues carried the game to the visitors. Sophie, Tayla and Victoria linked well to force a corner. Georgia's thunderous kick was knocked back by Tayla to Sophie, whose shot dipped over the bar.

After the break Blues surged forward with Katie in particular making determined runs from deep. Shots, too numerous to mention, rained in on Camberley’s beleaguered goal. Sophie’s shot was fumbled by the keeper, who dived frantically to scoop the ball away. The referee blew instantly to award a goal. “Hurrah!” cried ecstatic Blues supporters. “Never!” moaned disgruntled Camberley supporters and I’m sure it will be a talking point for many years to come; did the ball cross the line? Well, trust the word of this unbiased hack who’d left his glasses in the car, it sure looked a goal to me.

Blues pushed on in search of an elusive third but in the latter stages were caught on the break and Camberley pulled level. In the dying moments the game could have swung either way, Jemima saving well after a goal-mouth scramble and Sophie shooting just wide of the mark.

Last year we were thumped 6-1 in this fixture, so to have drawn 2-2 with the thought we could have won shows how far we have progressed over the last year. Next week we journey to Fleet. If we are able to come away from there with a result we will have shown the league our credentials to be serious top-four contenders.

Well done the Blues!

TWJ