This was by no means an easy a game as the score would suggest. The Belles had to work hard to earn this win. Northwood did not pose much of a threat as an attacking force, but they defended doggedly, and they had a goalkeeper who pulled off several good saves. The heavy pitch certainly did neither team any favours and both teams had difficulty in getting to grips with the conditions. The first clear cut chance came after ten minutes when the Northwood keeper blocked a shot from Katie Davis, the ball ran loose to Clare Howe, but she snatched at the ball and missed the target completly. The Belles have scored some good goals this season, but when they finally broke the deadlock after fifteen minutes it came straight out of the old fashioned Wimbledon style. Bethany Smith broke up a Northwood attack and launched a long high ball straight down the middle. Clare Howe gave chase and as the ball eluded the defenders she went through one on one with the keeper before slotting the ball into the net and scored 9.5 for the dive as she lost her footing. Clare was in the thick of things again soon after, but this time the keeper did enough to make her miss the target. Two minutes before half time The Belles increased their lead. Again it was another long ball, and again it was Clare who was through on the keeper, but this time the keeper did well to force Clare to go wide. But she was still able to get the ball across the face of the goal, and Katie Davis scored from a tight angle beyond the far post, even then the keeper almost recovered to make a save. It had been hard going, but 2-0 was a decent return for the half.

It took fifteen minutes into the second half before the third goal arrived.It was the long ball again that set the goal up. Northwood were caught as they pushed players forward, Kate Harte played a long ball out, and Katie Davis had a clear run on goal, she went around the keeper and rolled the ball into the empty net. Two minutes later and it was 4-0. The Northwood keeper came almost up to the half way line to take a free kick. She miss kicked the ball straight to Katie Davis who just had to keep her head and run the ball into the net. There were some encouraging performances in the game today, none more so than Desiree Yearwood, who had her best game by far in a Belles shirt. Set to do a one on one marking job on Northwood`s play maker (thanks for the info Andy) she stopped her for most of the game, never giving her time to settle on the ball. With nine minutes to go The Belles fifth goal came, this time it was a good pass down the right hand side which set Katie through and her shot beat the keeper on the near post. Katie was then promptly substituted and as she came off came quote of the day. Andy congratulated her on scoring a hat-trick and Katie replied by saying "no I did`nt score a hat-trick, I scored four" With two minutes left Northwood pulled a goal back with a good shot from the edge of the penalty area into the bottom corner.

A decent, functional team performance, rather than an exceptionally good one.But the conditions did as I said at the top did nobody any favours. But any win is a good win. All the team were able to get some decent playing time today which was a good bonus.

"Also a big thank you to those who did much help on what was an awkward day for me" (Mick)

Squad today Thea Fraser, Alice Bowler, Megan Willmott, Serena Lawrence, Kate Harte, Bethany Smith, Alicia McIntosh, Leanne Lizaitis, Katie Davis, Clare Howe, Desiree Yearwood. Alex Matcham, Amber McKenna, Amy Garrett, Laura Pethybridge

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