Ladies 1s 4 - 2 Eastbourne 1s

Sussex Ladies League Premier Division

Teenager JoJo Blunt was the star in East Grinstead Ladies 1^st team’s final match of the season, with an impressive hat-trick of goals.

EG began positively, with midfielder Emma Pearson winning a penalty corner within the first few minutes of the match.  The Eastbourne keeper denied Louise Keith on the post but EG had shown their intentions early.  JoJo Blunt scored her first goal after 8 minutes, driving in the circle from right midfield and coolly dribbling round the keeper for a superb individual goal.  Ellie Farrow provided great support from defence and continued to set up scoring opportunities for the EG forwards and midfielders.

Eastbourne built attacks of their own but Louse Shaill at Sweeper kept the EG defence organised.  Nicky Hamstead worked hard at centre back and made several key interceptions and tackles.  Nikki Robinson kept composure in goal and cleared the ball well.  EG attacked well down their left, with Briony Bray playing a crucial attacking role at left back.  She pushed forward well and linked up intelligently with Emma Pearson and Vicky Griffiths in the midfield.

EG’s second goal came from a penalty corner after 16 minutes.  After the keeper’s initial save, Louise Keith slotted the ball past several defenders into the goal.  However, two minutes later, Eastbourne scored themselves, having created an overlap on the left.  EG came straight back through Blunt, scoring her second goal with a solid strike from the left of the circle, and making the half-time score 3-1 to EG.

The second half started poorly for EG, who were caught napping by the determined Eastbourne forwards; they scored after just 2 minutes, bringing them to within one goal again.

The EG players increased their work-rate and gradually began to look more organised.  Pauline Joseph showed her strong tackling skills on the right, and linked up well with Steph Baggett at right forward.  Baggett threatened the Eastbourne circle regularly but the Eastbourne defenders worked well in groups to close her down.

JoJo Blunt’s third and final goal was her most impressive.  Collecting an excellent through-ball from Baggett on the 25 yd line, Blunt showed excellent skill and pace as she drove into the circle.  She successfully took on three Eastbourne defenders as well as their goalkeeper before calmly putting the ball in the goal for her hat-trick. 

This was a fitting end to EG’s season, in which the youngsters Blunt, Baggett, and Pearson have all played key roles for their side and developed individually beyond all expectations.  EG 1^st team finished a respectable fourth in their league, but were unable to match the success of the 2^nd and 3^rd teams, both league champions in their respective leagues.