Setting off to Sheffield with ten players, two more than they normally have for this away fixture, Wilmsbury (Wilmslow /Norbury) had one thing on their mind – to beat Sheffield for the first time.
And what a game it was! Wilmsbury came out dominating the first and second quarters with some slick attacking play and rock-solid defence from from S. Wilson and Graves. They had Sheffield on the back foot early, building a well-earned lead by halftime.
Then came the third quarter—a real test of resilience. Wilmsbury wobbled, resulting in a goalless fifteen minutes for the ten players, who were starting to feel the consequences of having no substitutes. They also had to battle through a penalty that saw one of their key players temporarily removed from the game. Just as Wilmsbury got back to full strength, Sheffield found themselves a player down after a foul on the other side of the pitch. Unfortunately, Wilmsbury couldn’t capitalise on the player advantage, as Sheffield controlled possession for most of the two-minute period and even managed to sneak in a no-angle goal—millimetres beyond Evans’ reach. A quick Wilmsbury time-out allowed the defensive unit to regroup and refocus after a shaky spell.
With the two teams entering the final quarter all tied up, Wilmsbury knew they had to give everything to secure their first league win of the season. And they did just that. Stepping up under pressure, Johns took over as the main draw taker and guided the ball safely into Wilmsbury’s attacking third with the help of Hammond and Jowett. This crucial possession allowed the team to press forward, and their relentless effort was visible all over the pitch. When the ball reached Sheffield’s attacking third, Dudley was a powerhouse in turnovers, using her strength to scoop up and distribute ground balls with precision.
The final minutes saw some excellent assists from G. Wilson and some electric one-on-one drives from Nolan which powered Wilmsbury into a clear lead. From there, the team smartly held onto possession until the final whistle, sealing a well-earned 12-8 victory. A true display of determination, teamwork, and grit—what a way to grab that first league win!
Well played, Wilmsbury!
