The match was the first lunch time meeting of the season. The conditions were perfect: a cool, clear day with a soft pitch and no clouds in the sky. The Eagles brought a squad of 11 with Lyla and Emma AM initially on the sidelines.

The Eagles had struggled to focus and compose themselves during the warm up, and this showed as the match started. The Lionesses pressed hard from the start, with the Eagles unusually struggling to get the ball out of their half. The team focus and shape was exploited by the Lionesses, and quickly Emma B (Goalie) had to get muddy to deny the Lionesses a goal. After a good kick from the hand of Emma B, she was required to step up again and make another early save after the Lionesses’ striker got between the defenders and slightly scuffed the shot. There was a good game starting, although had the Eagles come to join it?

Slowly the Eagles defence having had to work hard for the first ten minutes found a route out of their half. It was Molly playing at wing back that lead the team out of their half and then linked in with Freya. Freya’s speed and skill on the ball took the ball down the left and linked in with Lyla for the Eagles first attacking corner. Ruby hit a good corner and the ball was back in touch for another corner which didn’t come to anything. The Lionesses goalkeeper successfully used her goal kick to start the next attack for the Lionesses.

The ball bounced well for Ella. She quickly found herself in traffic and unbelievably came through with the ball and clear pitch ahead. She took the ball right, and looked to be getting lost in the corner when she shot a cross that passed cleanly across the Lionesses goal. Disappointing there were no Eagles attackers to capitalise on it. The ball continued into touch on the left touchline. The Eagles had shown their claws. After another Tabitha “tornado” throw in the ball bounced around and was then deftly caught by the Lionesses dominant keeper. She commanded her team and changed sides and delivered a strong ball down the Eagle right hand side. Heidi was playing wing back, and the ball bounced well for the Lioness winger. Initially Heidi stood off and let the attacker come to her and then confidently went in for the ball. There was only going to be one winner and Heidi then dribbled the ball and passed to Tabitha who drew her attacker and passed again to Ruby who shifted the ball on to Molly on the left. Molly started another attack up the left. This was one of the strongest pieces of defensive attacking the Eagles have demonstrated.

Maeve was playing in central midfield for the start of the match, she picked up the ball and led multiple attack. She was confident and fast on the ball, there were attempts to link passes into space although today the Eagles couldn’t always find each other.

The Lionesses could have felt they were owed a goal, although half time came and the scores were drawn at 0-0.

The second half was a different game for the Eagles. With a change of ends, little wind, and a high sun the Eagles nearly exclusively played in the Lionesses half. Both teams were fighting hard, but Eagles fitness meant the ball bounced favourably for them. Maeve covered vast swaths of the pitch, and found herself twice in shooting position. Emma AM moved from right back to right midfield, where she was initially hesitant and then put her foot in, won the tackle and took the ball forward to find Lyla.

Amber moved into left midfield, and there were some nice touches receiving the ball from the strongest Eagles defensive line they have played. She was nearly on the receiving end of some excellent crosses. The Eagles clearly had a game plan that they wanted to play. Move the ball from the back, down the wing and cross or play into the box. It didn’t always work, but there were the bones of a structure. Tabitha and Ruby were central to this formation, they were clearly at ease linking up with the wing backs of Molly and Heidi.

Freya was strong in midfield her runs often found her clearing tacklers and then taking the ball down the left wing. Today the link in attack wasn’t consistent for the Eagles, but the game plan was.

As the game drew to an end the Eagles found themselves defending for the last five minutes of the second half. The game had a nervy feel at this point, there were tired legs all over the pitch and the ball was in the Eagle’s box. The powerful clearance kicks missed fire and nearly all the Eagles found themselves defending.

Emma B kept the ball out of the net and kicked from the hand to set the Eagle on a last attack. The ball was taken into the right corner by Lyla and with nothing on the ball eventually went for a goal kick. The whistle blew for full time.

What was the final emotion? disappointment, relief, exhaustion, elation…

It was an intense game with brilliance and errors on display and no goals.

Final score 0-0.