Was there any first day nerves amogst the players? If there were they certainly did not not show it, neither too did the manager, but I can assure you he was very nervous. But all that was forgotten once the game kicked off. Playing into a stiff breeze The Belles had to spend a good deal of time defending against a useful looking Harpenden team. Being new to 11 a side football there was a lot to learn. Keeping the shape was always going to be difficult so to was the offside law. The Belles goal was threatened on several occasions, but by getting plenty of bodies behind the ball we were able to keep them out. Perhaps a little bit against the run of play The Belles went in front after twenty minutes when Katie Davis scored with a cross-shot which found the keeper out of position. Moments later Megan Willmott almost added a second with a shot that was only just wide.

The second half saw The Belles enjoy more possession of the ball, and it was no surprise when ten minutes into the second half the second goal arrived. The scorer was Clare Howe on her debut for the club, when she hit a first time shot inside the near post following a cross from the right hand side. Two minutes later it got better for The Belles. Katie Davis was fouled on the edge of the penalty area. She got up, dusted her self down and took the free kick. She struck it low and hard, the keeper did well to block the shot, but was unable to hold on and Leanne Lizaitis score from the rebound. On thing that should never happen, and that is to switch off after a goal has been scored, but that is what happened. Almost striaight from the kick off Harpenden scored, what from our point of veiw was a very sloppy goal goal. But within a minute the same thing happened at the other end, which allowed Amber McKenna to score on her debut for the club. Harpenden pulled a goal back with virtually the last kick of the game.

Time will tell if this was a good result or not, but then again a win is a win. I feel that we have beaten a side that will almost certainly win more than they lose as the season goes on. I am sure we will do the same. Well played girls, a winning start to the season, keep it going