Wow, Wow, WOW...!!!

Three wonderful goals from the Pippins in an excellent, gritty performance on Saturday helped them come from behind twice to beat a determined Stourport in testing wet conditions.

We knew this would be a challenging match, so it was key that all the children approached the match with the right attitude, make the ball "do the work" and play as a team. The early exchanges saw the Pippins display these traits with most of the play in the opposition half, however the first goal was scored by Stourport after the Pippins failed to clear a bobbling ball at the top of the "D".

Dusting themselves off, the Pippins lifted their chins and built momentum all over again. After several probing attacks they constructed an excellent equaliser, an eye through a needle through ball by Stuart Boocock to Izzy Nott was nonchalantly dispatched as she rounded the keeper and slotted home on her reverse stick.

Unfortunately, just before half time concentration at the back (after sustained pressure) slipped for just a second and Stourport clinically re-took the lead.

The Pippins battled hard in the second half, movingly the ball round the pitch with purpose and for a while it was a very even contest. Hard work and concentration were always required in midfield and defence to contain the best Stourport players.

Thankfully the tide turned when Izzy Nott decided to switch on her turbo boost as she twice outran the opposition adult player around the outside; the second time coolly slotting home with the defence and goalkeeper unable to cope with her ambition.

The goal lifted the spirits of the Pippins, who started to power forwards with menacing purpose as evidenced by Ben Lawrence and Alastair Borwell-Fox both dynamically turning defence into attack. But for the accuracy of the final ball the Pippins could have had several more scoring opportunities.

With the clock ticking down it seemed that we would finish with a draw, but no one had explained this to young Luke Bowerman! As the ball switched around just inside the top left of the "D" he took matters into his own hands, unleashing a powerful, unstoppable reverse stick chop shot past the despairing dive of the goalkeeper.

Fabulous!

Pippins Scorers: Izzy Nott x2, Luke Bowerman

Player of the Match: Izzy Nott

Pippins Team: Austin Shipley (GK), Bella Fielden, Ben Lawrence, Matt Boulton, Alastair Borwell-Fox, Stuart Boocock, Eliot Turner, Dan Rickman, Milly Short, Lottie Atkinson, Luke Bowerman, Tom Scotson, Alex Byng, Izzy Nott