Old Georgians Ladies 1XI fell short in a tight 2-1 defeat to Spencer W1 on Saturday. The match, held at Spencer Hockey Club, saw OG battling hard but unable to overturn Spencer's early goals.
First Half ActionSpencer took the lead early, with Hannah Griggs opening the scoring just two minutes into the game. Old Georgians found themselves chasing the match from the start, with Spencer putting them under early pressure. Despite Spencer's early dominance, OG's defence held firm, and standout performances from key players like Roxy Feather in goal kept the scoreline in check. However, just two minutes into the second half, Spencer doubled their lead through Anna Sherring in the 37th minute, making it 2-0 and putting OG in a tough spot.
A Strong Response Old Georgians rallied after the second goal, and it wasn't long before they responded. Yazi Chahal pulled one back for OG in the 38th minute with a brilliant finish, giving her side hope of a comeback. From there, OG dominated possession and pushed for the equaliser, with Captain Gemma Doran driving the team forward from the midfield.
Late Pressure, But No Equaliser In the final quarter, OG applied sustained pressure, creating several chances in search of a late equaliser. Spencer, however, held strong defensively, fending off wave after wave of attacks.
Ultimately, the 2-1 defeat will be a tough pill to swallow for Old Georgians, but the team can take positives from their second-half display and their continued fight until the final whistle. Head Coach Leigh Maasdorp will undoubtedly focus on turning their possession and chances into goals, which has been challenging this season.
Looking Ahead With their sights set on the upcoming fixtures, Old Georgians will look to bounce back in their next match, away at East London, as the search for their second win of the season. Despite the loss, the performances of key players like Roxy Feather, who again showed why she's one of the league's best goalkeepers, and the ever-reliable Nikki Lloyd and Orna Bools in midfield will provide plenty of confidence heading into the next round of games.
The next fixture will see OG face another strong side as they head to the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre; they will need to focus on capitalising on the chances they create if they are to climb up the table and compete for a top-four finish.