Wereys O55s miss out on EH final
17 March 2024: Semi final day in the Over 55s EH Tier 1 masters championships and Wereys played host to Kettering who had beaten them in last year’s final. So it was without doubt that Kettering were going to be tough opposition, but the Wereys were keen for revenge!
Both teams started brightly, however Kettering’s superior pace and relentless attack put the Wereys’ defence under immediate pressure. 15 minutes in and a well taken strike from the top of the D saw the visitors take the lead, a second goal followed a few minutes later from a deft deflection leaving Vicky Moxham in goal no chance. However, Wereys got a foothold as the half progressed and after having one goal disallowed, they earned a penalty stroke which was clinically dispatched bottom left by Sarah Mainprise-Tait.
Still very much in the game, Wereys went out determined in the second half but sadly conceded a third goal early doors from a breakdown penalty corner, followed by another close range shot. But in true Wereys’ spirit, the team battled on tirelessly, created opportunities, and won a string of short corners which were superbly defended by Kettering. However, Wereys’ short corners eventually paid dividends with a beautiful strike from Tracy Fieldsend on the left slip.
Unfortunately, no bling this year but a great achievement to have made it to the semi finals, the Wereys should be very proud, and let’s come back fighting again next season!
Team Manager Anji
… and just for fun, thanks to ChatGPT, now in the style of Jane Austen
Upon the hallowed grounds of the Over 55s EH Tier 1 masters championships, the stage was set for a clash of titans as Wereys played host to the formidable Kettering, their adversaries who had bested them in the previous year’s final. Anticipation hung thick in the air as both sides prepared for battle, with Wereys harbouring a fervent desire for retribution against their seasoned rivals.
From the onset, the contest brimmed with intensity, yet it was Kettering’s swiftness of foot and unwavering offensive onslaught that immediately placed the Wereys’ defensive line in jeopardy. A mere quarter-hour into the fray, a masterful strike from the top of the D saw the visitors seize the advantage, followed swiftly by a second goal, cunningly deflected beyond the reach of the valiant Vicky Moxham guarding the goalmouth. Yet, as the first half progressed, Wereys found their stride, their resilience rewarded with a penalty stroke expertly dispatched by the indomitable Sarah Mainprise-Tait.
Undeterred, Wereys entered the second half with steely resolve, though fate dealt them a harsh blow with an early concession from a breakdown penalty corner, swiftly followed by another close-range assault. Nonetheless, buoyed by the indomitable Wereys’ spirit, the team pressed forward with unyielding determination, fashioning chances aplenty and earning a flurry of short corners valiantly defended by their Kettering adversaries. It was in one such moment of persistence that Wereys found solace, as Tracy Fieldsend’s exquisite strike from the left slip breached the opposition’s defenses.
Though denied the coveted laurels on this occasion, the Wereys can take pride in their remarkable journey to the semi-finals, a testament to their unwavering commitment and sporting prowess. Let us not falter, but rather return with renewed vigour and resilience in the seasons to come, for true victory lies not solely in the attainment of bling, but in the noble pursuit of excellence and the camaraderie forged upon the field of play.
