Our Ladies 1s had the pleasure of opening the home games at Cooper School for the season, welcoming Hampshire based Yateley for the morning pushback. The day was covered by the shroud of a met weather warning for thunder and heavy rain, however the pitch was basked in the low warm morning sun.

Maybe there were nerves for the new season but the games opening minutes were a bit cagey with both teams also making a couple of wayward passes. As the opening 10 minutes developed further Yateley settled first and started to win most of the possession. The first short corner of the game followed and Bicester were let off after a retake due to an early break from a defender.

A flurry of activity came as the game started to stretch, a defensive error called on Molly to react quickly to clear out to the 23, however the ball came straight back across the face of goal to the back post where a fantastic diving save denied Yateley again.

Bicester then won a short corner after a chain of great passes, it was taken well and drawing the Yateley keeper into action, the rebound fell to a green shirt and the shot heading straight in via the far post when Yateley’s last defender was able to give it a touch to see it out.

With play returning to mostly inside Bicester’s own half and some resolute defending behind the ball. Maybe the confidence of Yateley stepping further up the pitch allowed Bicester to open up Counter play, with a lovely fed pass giving them a 5 on 2 overload. Audrey picked up the ball and drove forward from the halfway unopposed, keeping cool to send Bicester 1 nil up going into the half against the flow of play.

Yateley again came out the blocks and within the 5 minutes of the second half being able to build on their play as the ball found an open red shirt at the top of the D, with a powerful strike across the goal finding the bottom far corner to bring the game level.

Bicester however did not falter, with an instant response getting on the front foot to win a series of short corners and creating multiple opportunities deep inside the Yateley half. With multiple chances coming it felt like a matter of time before Bicester found a goal.

Playing with a higher press and tempo than the first half, that time arrived. As Yateley struggled to get the ball out of their own half, the slip pass into the right hand side saw a shot beat the keeper only to be cleared off line by a Yateley foot, giving the penalty flick. Emilie stepped up to take the flick and buried the ball into the netting to the keepers right, to give Bicester the lead.

The high press working and Bicester now in more control of the game, were able to see it out the match to victory, in what was a game of two halves but overall giving them a great start to the new season. Their campaign continues on the road to Henley next up.

MoM : Audrey Lyon
Captain’s Player : Kat Denning
DoD: Emilie Knights-Toomer