This Sunday morning’s game saw Blues give a hearty welcome to Haslemere Town, a team, like us, still searching for their season’s first victory. To be fair, both teams have had incredibly hard opening fixtures, playing against opponents that finished in the top four last year, and all believing they are title contenders this time around. So, as the sun smiled gloriously down upon Burghfield, both teams set about their task of securing three vital points. There could only be one winner and in an enthralling game, it soon became apparent which team would be condemned to walk the desolate road to Tartarus and which would enjoy the opulence of Elysian Fields.

Blues were on fire, all systems primed and ready to go, as Victoria, Sophie and Alice tore through Haslemere’s defences. Tayla linked well with her midfielders as Blues surged forward in relentless fashion, keen to erase the disappointment of last week’s mauling. Katie, Niamh and Georgia were sturdy stalwarts, knights of defence, protecting their goal with grit and determination, confident in the knowledge that if Haslemere broke through, Jemima’s safe hands would save the day. This was Blues at their truly sumptuous best and the breakthrough came when Victoria’s powerful cross was dispatched calmly by Alice at the far post.

If Blues were on fire at the start, they were now a raging inferno, their conflagration burning freely and at such intensity Haslemere simply could not cope with the heat. Tayla, a pouncing tigress, collected loose balls at ease, playing neat passes to Alice, Sophie and Victoria, the Blues midfield trio inextinguishable as they swept through their opponent’s challenges. It was not surprising when Blues doubled their lead following a resolute run by Beth, who forced her way through a string of tackles before Victoria’s determined shot hit the back of the net.

Amy added a third with a well taken drive following good approach play by Sophie and Beth, and as the seconds ticked towards half-time, Katie was unlucky not to add a fourth when her power-blaster flashed narrowly wide.

Could the girls sustain such high intensity after the interval? Early indications were promising as Alice crossed to Amy, whose shot dipped over the bar. Alice, too, went close, seeing her shot from distance rebound off the post.

Haslemere, to their credit, had other ideas than merely being cannon fodder to Blues onslaught and Georgia was called upon twice in quick succession, making a great tackle and timely clearance.

Encouraged by this, Haslemere began to exert pressure and were rewarded with a well taken goal. Sensing they had possibly found a way back into the game, Haslemere now enjoyed their best period, and Katie was called upon on more than one occasion to show her determined defensive capabilities. Jemima, too, proved herself to be a worthy addition to the team as her good positioning and general awareness denied Haslemere a possible second goal.

Blues were now in dire need of blowing new life into the smouldering embers of their hitherto scrumptious performance. The gust that reignited the furnace came via Niamh, who played a short goal-kick to Alice. Alice found Sophie, who played the ball quickly forward to Tayla, whose effort was rewarded in a corner. Moments later the same combination linked up again, the movement culminating in Tayla whipping in a wicked cross that Amy prodded home with her outstretched patella.

It was all Blues needed; the fire rekindled and burning brightly, the girls surged on with renewed passion and energy. Beth made it five, latching on to Sophie’s cross after the midfield dynamo’s pulsating run. The girls, though, were not content with five and Sophie added a sixth before the referee called time on the morning’s proceedings.

This superb team performance has lifted Blues to sixth in the league. All the girls can take great pride in their own contributions to a terrific result. Next Sunday will see us long-haul it down to deepest Hampshire to face Liss Chicks, who are currently two places and two points ahead of us in the league. If the girls remain focused, show the same determination and play to their strengths, three more valuable points will be within reach.

Come on you Blues!

TWJ