The Team

2nd Round of the Cup
SUN 16 DEC, 2pm	Mossley Hill	7	v	0	Manchester Stingers

Player of the Match
Aisha Hayatuddini

Match Report
On a crisp December morning, we headed off to Premier League team Mossley Hill for the second round of the League Cup as the Chrimbo seasonal flu and a spate of winter injuries depleted the usually robust Stingers team to a mere 7 players. And no, that was not a typo.

Full of mince pies and fairy cake, the 7 Stingers elves contemplated tactics; someone falling over injured featured highly so we could re-schedule the game. Alas, as Gwen laid out the formation on a pizza base using chocolate fairies to depict the magnificent seven, we started to think that all we wanted for Christmas was a solitary goal to retain some pride.

After a brisk 5 minute warm up (sorry Maggie, I was held up in the loo doing a pre-match nervy poo) the referee started the game, with the Mossley Hill players looking very bemused and clearly believing this was going to be a walkover. Not so. Gwen started confidently in goal, with Rhianne, Nat and Katie in defence, Helen, and Gracie in a pseudo midfield and me up front. Mossley Hill started with intent, and within a minute were bearing down on goal. No joy as our defence stayed strong and kept them at bay. St Michaelmass must have been sipping a pina colada on our goal post, because try as they might, Mossley Hill could not get a shot on target, and when they did, Gwen was there in all her 4 foot glory to prevent a goal. Stingers tactics consisted of “gerrit aaaaaaaaaaaaatt”, “hoooooof it aaaaaaatt”, “whack it and hope” and downright dogged defending. Every so often we managed to make it out of our own half. Not for long though. It took MH 20 minutes to finally net a goal, and after running aimlessly around in circles as MH passed the ball around us, I decided to go in goal and catch my breath.

In the most inspiring show of defensive brilliance I’ve seen in all my 2 years of Stingers football, we managed to keep MH at bay for long periods, although I did get a lot of action. Jane would have been proud of some of the saves I made, particularly one which seemed to hang in the air for an eternity, and as it looped over me and towards the back of the net, I went go-go gadget arms and got a finger to the ball and dipped over the goal.

Inevitably, MH managed to score again after 30 minutes. More of the same hoof it and hope football released Gracie to make solo runs towards the Mossley Hill half, with Gwen in support. Alas, the magical mini two were outnumbered and outsized, and bullied off the ball. Unrelenting attacks on the Stingers goal resulted in another goal shortly before half time.

We came off the pitch 3 goals down but feeling incredibly confident and good about our play. MH had 4 more players on the pitch than we did and we’d only conceded three!! It may sound odd to say, but that really boosted our confidence as we strutted proudly back on the pitch.

As we changed sides I had to admire the magnificent 45 degree slope on the left side of the pitch, and it properly buggered up my sense of balance because all through the second half I couldn’t kick the ball straight. It always ended up about 45 degrees off target. Not that I’m rubbish at kicking the ball or anything, but Newton’s first law of motion states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, hence my 45 degree miskicks being the equal and opposite reaction to that darn slope. Anyway. With my sizeable frame protecting the goal, the Stingers felt more at ease moving forward, and a series of passes starting with Rhianne and mixing it up with unlikely midfielder Katie Fingers and mini Spaniard Gracie produced our first sight of goal. Arriba, Arriba!!

On the counter MH raced back towards me, but luckily I had Nat in front of me, who held out her arms out like a big scarecrow and scared MH into knocking the ball wide. The second half went pretty much as the first did, unrelenting attacks by MH, perfectly timed tackles by Rhianne, Fingers, Helen and Nat, and super saves from me in goal. Gwen and Gracie continued to harass the MH midfield, but on the break, MH managed to score again. A cross from the right into the box, and the forward finished it off clinically. No way was I getting a hand to that. Might have broken a nail if I tried. I let a few more goals in, but had it not been for my fearless defence, I would have been camped out in the back of the net.

The final whistle went at 7-0, and a friendly MH side showed much respect to the now incredibly tired Stingers side with a standing ovation. I don’t think I’ve ever walked off a pitch feeling more satisfied with a 7-0 defeat!

My first Man of the Match award came along with this game, but in my opinion, it was a seven-way tie for Lady of the Match. Fantastic spirit, belief and a truly well enjoyed game all round. Needless to say with a full complement of Stingers we would have had this game sewn up. Well done to the Stingers Magnificent Seven, it was an honour to do battle with you.
Aisha Hayatuddini