MK Ladies 1sts vs. Reading 2nds - 15th October 2016

The Milton Keynes ladies 1st team returned to ‘fortress’ Woughton on Saturday looking to get their league campaign back on track following a rocky start to the season. Their opposition, Reading 2nds, sat one point behind them in the league making it a must win game if MK were to retain their position above them in the table. The game started in a rather feisty fashion with both teams trying to muscle their way into a commanding position and to stamp an early mark on the game. MK came close to scoring on a number of occasions; however it was the visitors who found the net first. MK bounced back with a goal of their own just minutes later, Sophie Reynolds firing home from a penalty corner. MK’s defence were kept busy by some high paced attacks from the Reading team but some solid tackles from Maxine McMenamin and Clare Stacey kept the scores level. Working tirelessly in midfield, player of the match, Laura Browne, along with Lindsay Kettleborough, Thea Jackson and Alice Vigor made some excellent links from defence to attack enabling Lisa Kavanagh and Karmel Bracken to penetrate the Reading D. No goal for the home team was forthcoming and their frustrations were compounded when Reading found a way through to take the lead again.
With the score at 2-1 at half time, MK knew the game was far from over and the points were theirs for the taking if the team could play the hockey everyone knew they were capable of. The second half proved to be more fruitful for the team in terms of goal scoring opportunities but the final touch on several occasions just wouldn’t find the net. Reading had chances of their own at the other end with L-J Millers being called into action to keep the lead to one. MK pressed with determination and commitment for the equaliser and were rewarded with a penalty corner in the final minute of the game, Laura Browne slotting the ball home from the post much to the despair of the Reading team who were just seconds away from taking all three points and utter delight of the home side who had clinched a point to keep them above Reading in the league table. The ladies sit 9th and travel to 7th placed Southgate next weekend, once again looking to find that winning form again.