East Grinstead Ladies started 2008 and the second half of the season with a convincing 7-2 win over Brighton and Hove 2’s.
 

EG started well from the first whistle and immediately put the Brighton defence under pressure. However, against the run of play Brighton scored a breakaway goal on 5 minutes, with EG having committed too many players forward.

To their credit Grinstead fought straight back, with some well-organised and sensible passing moves. Ellie Farrow and Pauline Joseph linked well down the right and some excellent running up front from Stephanie Baggett and Louise Keith created scoring opportunities. Indeed, Baggett soon capitalised, using her speed and skill very effectively to take an excellent individual goal.

The next twenty minutes were well fought, seeing both teams create chances and win penalty corners. EG’s defence was well organised, led by Captain Lottie Gregory at Sweeper. She and Michelle Wolfe at Centre Back maintained excellent communication throughout, ensuring EG’s marking was tight and effective. Nikki Robinson in goal took charge of the circle and protected her goal well.
 

Towards the end of the first half, Lottie Gregory fed a superb long range ball through to JoJo Blunt, who then linked well with Louise Keith to take advantage of the overlap. Blunt finished the move in style as she fired the ball into the corner of the goal from the edge of the circle, thus putting EG into the lead.
 

EG extended their lead just before the end of the first half with another excellent goal from Steph Baggett. Helen Prinsloo released an accurate early pass to Baggett, who dribbled past several Brighton defenders before slotting the ball past their keeper for a 3-1 lead.
 

The second half saw Grinstead take complete command of the game. After a few minutes, EG won a penalty corner, which Lottie Gregory converted into a goal following a well-worked routine. Two minutes later Vicky Griffiths scored from another penalty corner, taking the lead to 5-1.

To their credit Brighton continued to fight, and kept the EG defence on their toes. Excellent marking from Louise Shaill at left back ensured that Brighton’s options were limited, and Shaill and Pearson worked well together down the left to create further chances for Grinstead. Pearson’s tireless running and strong tackling frustrated the Brighton players and continued to break down any attacking play down their right.

Following confident build-up play from EG down the left, JoJo Blunt scored a second excellent individual goal 11 minutes into the second half, driving into the circle and round several Brighton defenders before calmly slotting the ball past the keeper to take EG ‘s lead to 6-1.

Grinstead’s seventh goal was scored by Vicky Griffiths following another penalty corner, well won by Louise Keith.  With a 7-1 lead, EG were caught napping at the end of the match, as Brighton scored with the last hit of the match. Nikki Robinson in goal made two excellent saves to keep the ball out of the net, but unfortunately the EG defence were unable to clear the ball and Brighton managed to slip the ball into the goal, making the final score 7-2

Scorers: S Baggett 2, JJ Blunt 2, L Gregory, V Griffiths 2