The Diamonds proudly sponsored by Impact Retail, MJB Motors, and CPS Group welcomed Croft Sapphires today after a two week break looking to return to winning ways. The Diamonds came flying out of the blocks and looked like their old selves forcing back the opposition with captain Ellie T Violet and Ellie O winning the ball high up the pitch and Amelia and Isla causing panic across the back line chances were being created but for some good goalkeeping and poor finishing the Diamonds could have been in front on numerous occasions in the first 5 minutes, with Isla, Amelia and Violet all testing the goalkeeper. Croft was keeping the back three of Emily, Alara, and Bethan honest, especially with their direct balls into the channels, and did start to have some joy from this tactic as the defense battled to protect Lexi U in goal who bravely volunteered to stand in for the injured Lexi B. Lexi U performed admirably and her distribution was fantastic when called upon.

As the half went on the game became more and more stretched and Millie, Anna, Lacey and Lily S were introduced to add some power and pace to the team to get to grips with the direct counter-attacking style that Croft was using to good effect. Following a succession of Diamonds corners, Croft's tactics paid dividends when a long through ball was missed by everyone and the centre forward was onto it in a flash and smashed the ball into the bottom corner for a goal that was a huge sucker punch.

The goal seemed to force the Diamonds on and they surged forward now Millie looked inspired today winning some huge tackles on the left-hand side of the pitch, it was the result of one of these tackles that the ball got fed inside to Lacey who passed it out to the right to Anna, Anna then played a first-time pass to Isla, Isla produced a great turn to evade 2 defenders and then beat another two players before curling her finish into the far bottom corner of the net.
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At half- time the girls were told that they were not meeting the ball and all of their problems were from letting the ball bounce and then it was about composure on the ball. Again they came out of the blocks flying and pushed croft back into their own penalty area and despite chances galore falling to Amelia, Isla. Ellie O, Lily S and Millie they were denied by some fantastic goalkeeping and last gasp defending.

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